Theater Watch: Romance, Sounds of Spain, and a Story of Friendship

If you find yourself in need of a little romance this week, Red Bank's Count Basie Theater has the answer with “The King of Romance,” Engelbert Humperdinck, performing on Wednesday and The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s “Best of Spanish Flair” on Saturday. 

If deep romantic words and scorching Spanish notes aren’t your thing, don’t fret. On Friday you can rock out to the Dave Bromberg Big Band and Tuesday you can enjoy some alone time while your kids are off watching a production of Charlotte’s Web. 

On Wednesday, March 16, at 8 p.m., Engelbert Humperdinck, “The King of Romance,” returns to Count Basie to celebrate the 40 anniversary of his career. Humperdinck rose to fame in 1967 when, amid the psychedelic music topping the charts, he released a ballad titled “Release Me.” The song was an immediate hit and was quickly followed by the release of two more ballads which also rose to the top of the charts. His laid-back ways and handsome looks swiftly earned him a large following of women and also helped earn him the reputation of a “crooner,” which he is still thought of as today. 

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s “Best of Spanish Flair,” featuring conductor Thomas Wilkins and Oren Fader on guitar, will heat up Count Basie on Saturday, March 19 at 8pm. 

The concert will feature music by Spanish composers, but also pays homage to Spanish style works composed from French and Russian composers. The program will feature music by composers such as George Gershwin, Manuel de Falla, Arturo Marquez, Aaron Copland, Rimsky-Korsakov and Bizet. 

Each composer offers a different aspect of Spanish music to delight the ears. Gershwin focuses on percussion; Copland brings folkloric melodies. Manuel de Falla and Bizet bring out the sounds of love and sultry romance. This array of music played and conducted by some of the finest musicians is sure to be a delight to the senses.

Also on tap this week at Count Basie is the David Bromberg Big Band, who will take the stage on Friday, March 18 at 8pm.  The David Bromberg Big Band is a wild ride through a different variety of styles such as jazz, blues, country and folk. Bromberg performs with a 12 piece band and is almost always a sold out performance at the Count Basie Theater. Bromberg has been called “electrifying” by the New York Times and his performances at the Count Basie never disappoint.

For the younger crowd this week, TheatreWorks USA presents Charlotte’s Web at the Count Basie today at 10am and 12:30pm. The production is based on E.B. White’s famous tale of friendship between Wilbur the pig and Charlotte the spider, and is being performed for grades K-5.

For more information and to purchase tickets to Engelbert Humperdinck or the David Bromberg Big Band, please visit http://www.countbasietheatre.org/. Tickets for the NJ Symphony Orchestra can be purchased by calling 1-800-ALLEGRO or by visiting http://www.njsymphony.org/. For information on tickets for Charlotte’s Web, please call TheatreWorks USA at 1-800-497-5007.

• Tuesday, March 15: Charlotte’s Web at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 16: Engelbert Humperdinck — 8 p.m.
• Friday, March 18: David Bromberg Big Band — 8 p.m.
• Saturday, March 19: NJ Symphony Orchestra's Best of Spanish Flair — 8 p.m.