Apollo Programs

The Apollo enjoys international renown for its contributions to the evolution of American popular music of the 20th century. Since its opening in 1934, the Theater has served as a launch pad for some of the most important and innovative performers of our time. This tradition of supporting working artists and providing unique performance and entertainment experiences continues through a range of performance programs.

APOLLO PERFORMANCE ProgramS

Apollo Amateur Night- The Apollo’s signature talent competition/showcase since 1934 featuring amateur contestants, special guest appearances, comedic segues, and the Apollo’s in-house band.
Cross Cultural Exchange– National and international musical artists from diverse cultural backgrounds perform on the Apollo’s historic Mainstage; concerts that focus on cross cultural influences and inspirations in world music today and underscore the universal nature of the musical experience.
Harlem Jazz Shrines – The Apollo Theater, Harlem Stage/Aaron Davis Hall, Jazzmobile, and collaborative partner Columbia University, join to present an annual, week long jazz festival in May featuring big band performances, intimate jam sessions, lectures and panel discussions, artist talks, and dance contests and parties in homage to the shrines that fostered the art of jazz in Harlem.
Music Café– A new music series presenting innovative, underground artists working in a range of creative genres in the Apollo’s intimate Soundstage.
Salon Series– The Apollo’s residency program that provides artists with key critical support in the creation and development of new work presented in the Apollo’s intimate Soundstage followed by an audience and artist discussion.

Highlights of the Apollo’s Spring 2011 season includeD:

One-night-only concerts by Afro-Pop pioneer Salif Keita and Apollo Legend Smokey Robinson.
The debut of the new Apollo Music Café series, presenting innovative artists working in a range of creative genres in the Theater’s intimate Soundstage.
A special Apollo Amateur Night, celebrating Broadway and featuring guest appearances by Brian Stokes Mitchell, Tsidii Le Loka, Jason Samuels Smith and Chaz Shepherd.
Wycliffe Gordon’s Jazz a la Carte was presented as part of the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival in tribute to the Apollo jazz variety shows of the 1930s, combining music of the big bands of the day along with new commissioned big band music featuring performances by contemporary artists including Savion Glover, Carla Cook and Nikki Yanofsky.
A concert celebrating the legacy of Afro-Cuban Jazz musician Mario Bauza, featuring the Bobby Sanabria Big Band, Felipe Luciano, Candido, David Amram and Jon Faddis.
The opening of Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment—the first exhibition to explore the history and cultural impact of the Apollo—at the Museum of the City of New York.