Outside and inside it is a veritable and architectural triumph.”[3] Because of financial struggles and declining movie attendance nationally, Albee was removed from the leadership of the theater.

[citation needed] Besides Count Basie, musicians such as James Brown and Tony Bennett, as well as headline performers such as Al Green, George Carlin, Boz Scaggs, Counting Crows, Olivia Newton-John, Brian Wilson, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Ben E. King, Darlene Love, and Jon Stewart have performed at the theater.

Bruce Springsteen made several surprise guest appearances at Count Basie Theatre, and Jon Bon Jovi has attended and organized many charity concerts there.

Notable past participants include singer, songwriter, and record producer, Charlie Puth, Broadway actress, Jillian Mueller,[5] The X Factor finalist Cari Fletcher,[6] The Voice runner-up, Jacquie Lee,[7] Steve Vai, keyboardist Michael Arrom,[8] and Conan Gray bassist Christine Meisenhelter.

[9] On May 26, 2006, the organization presented its first annual Basie Awards for excellence in high school theater in Monmouth County, New Jersey.

A $28 million capital campaign was started in 2016 to support an expansion that doubled the Center's footprint, adding a second venue, The Vogel, the Grunin Arts Education Building, a new member lounge, and significant increases in size to the Basie's original theater lobby.

[12][13] Newly built in 2020, the Vogel is a club-sized two-story music venue at the Basie Center with 800 in standing room capacity.