Monmouth Freeholder Director Tom Arnone announced Thursday that money will now be available to the more than two dozen performance and theater venues in the county to help pay for virus-related expenses.

The announcement came as the Count Basie Center for the Arts held its first production since the pandemic stopped all performances back in March.

"I'm sure they have done a tremendous amount to put the social distancing, safety side and you know what? That's a cost factor. They've been shut down, now they have a burden of a cost. So it's our job right now is to assist them with the money the federal government has given us," Arnone said.

The audience for Thursday night's performance was capped at 150 people with social distancing measures in place.

It was also the first show at Count Basie's newest venue, The Vogel.