The Carlton Theatre was constructed from 1925-26 as a vaudeville theatre and movie house, designed by Newark-based architect William Lehman, who is credited with a dozen theaters in New Jersey and New York. The 2,000 seat theatre was carried out in the Neoclassical Revival style. It remained in private ownership until purchased by the Monmouth County Arts Council in 1973 for cultural programming. It was renamed the Count Basie Theatre in 1984 and has been operated by the nonprofit applicant since 1999. An $8 million rehabilitation and restoration project was completed in 2008-2011, and the theater attracts more than 200,000 ticket buyers annually.

The Trust grant would help fund the structural stabilization of the roof and masonry walls, in which cracks have been observed since the previous construction work was completed.

For more information, visit: www.countbasietheatre.org