APOLLO OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, February 5th 12 noon to 4 p.m. &
Sunday, February 6 12 noon to 4 p.m.

Behind-the-scenes tours, dance demonstrations, children's activities and special performances are all part of the Apollo's annual Open House weekend. Members of the Harlem community, New York City residents and visitors alike, are welcome to glimpse into Apollo history, explore the theater and step onto the legendary stage where many of the icons in entertainment have launched their careers.

Free of charge. All welcome.

Open House Weekend will feature displays of never-before-seen Apollo memorabilia, live performances from past winners of the Apollo’s signature program, Amateur Night, and multi-media presentations on Apollo Theater history, among a host of other activities.

On Sunday, the Education Department will present interactive visual arts and crafts activities for children between the ages of 5-1o and their families. Healthy living initiatives will also be provided, with free blood pressure and glucose screenings by Harlem Hospital Center’s Community Health Education and Outreach Program and activities from Aetna Healthy Dancers/Healthy Families Initiative presented by the Dance Theatre of Harlem.  Additional health information and resources will be provided by Aetna, Healthy Eating and Living and Harlem Hospital Center.

Open House Weekend also includes an array of exciting performances. Hosted by Capone, artists from the BMCC Tribeca PAC, Harlem Arts Alliance, Harlem Opera Theater, Harlem School of the Arts, Hip-Hop Culture Center in Harlem, the MTA’s Music Under New York, NYCHA Community Programs, and Urban Word NYC will be performing on the legendary main stage. Amateur Night producers will be on hand during these performances scouting for talent for the new season of Amateur Night. Also performing is Amateur Night winner Tiffani Obi.

The Apollo Theater aims to serve the community as a cultural anchor and shed light on other organizations in Harlem and throughout New York City that help make Harlem one of the cultural capitals of the world. The Apollo’s Open House Weekend, sponsored by Target, with additional support provided by Aetna, is free to the public and will feature programming and offerings from: The Apollo Theater, BMCC Tribeca PAC, Children’s Art Carnival, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Genesis II, Harlem Opera Theater, Harlem Hospital Center, Healthy Living and Eating, Harlem School of the Arts,Harlem Stage,Harlem YMCA, Hip-Hop Culture Center in Harlem,Jazzmobile, MTA Music Under New York, The Museum of the City of New York, NYCHA Community Programs, Supa DJ King James, Urban Word NYC,WABC-TV,WBLS-FM, and WLIB-AM.

Open House Weekend Schedule

Saturday, February 5:   

Celebrate the Apollo Experience Noon-3PM
Performances by Harlem Opera Theater, Harlem School of Arts, Hip-Hop Culture Center, NYCHA Community Programs, Urban Word NYC and winners from Amateur Night at the Apollo. Hosted by Apollo Historian, Billy Mitchell, with music by Supa DJ King James. 

Family Dance Workshop: Dancing Through Time at the Apollo: 2pm – 4pm
Lindy Hop, Shorty George, Mash Potato and Twist your way back in time with dancer and choreographer Mickey Davidson. These family workshops will bring back memories for some and introduce others to classic social dances from the 1930s, 40, 50s and 60s.

2:00: Dances of the 1930s & 1940s.

3:10: Dances from the 1950s & 60s.
No prior experience necessary. Appropriate for ages 5 and over. Children must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Adults must be accompanied by a child. Space is limited. Pre-registration is strongly suggested. www.apolloeducation.org.

Sunday, February 6:  
A Day of Comedy and Dance

Performances by artists from BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Harlem Arts Alliance, MTA Music Under New York,Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Aetna Healthy Dancers/Healthy Families Initiative and winners from Amateur Night at the Apollo. Hosted by comedian and Amateur Night host Capone and WBLS-FM/WLIB-AM’s Dr. Bob Lee, with music provided by Supa DJ King James. 

Family Instrument Making Workshop: Shake Your Rattle & Roll: 2pm
Appropriate for ages 5 and over. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and adults must bring a child in order to participate. Musician Kevin Nathaniel and visual artist Miah will guide participants in creating and decorating handmade rattles.

No prior experience necessary. Appropriate for ages 5 and over. Children must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Adults must be accompanied by a child. Space is limited. Pre-registration is strongly suggested. www.apolloeducation.org.

Exhibitors:

The Apollo Theater Foundation, BMCC Tribeca PAC, Children’s Art Carnival, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Genesis II, Harlem Arts Alliance, Harlem Opera Theater, Harlem Hospital Center, Harlem School of the Arts,Harlem Stage,Harlem YMCA, Healthy Eating and Living, Jazzmobile, MTA Music Under New York, Museum of the City of New York, NYCHA,andUrban Word NYC are among the organization that who will have information tables and exhibits in our main lobby, back of orchestra, and sound stage lobby. 

The Apollo Theater Open House is sponsored by Target.  Additional generous support is provided by Aetna.

This program is also supported, in part, by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Council Member Inez E. Dickens, and Speaker Christine Quinn.

The Apollo Theater is grateful to the following donors whose major support helps to make possible our Community Programs: The Coca-Cola Company, the Neuberger Berman Foundation, and the Consolidated Edison Company of New York.