TODAY
Nov 13
| 7:30PM EDT
Nov 13
-
Nov 13
Amateur Night at The Apollo: Semi-Final
Apollo Historic Theater
Amateur Night at The Apollo: Semi-Final

The competition heats up as winners from the first round of Amateur Night return for a chance to advance one step closer to the $20,000 grand prize.  Known as one of New York’s most popular live entertainment experiences, Amateur Night at The Apollo attracts performers and audiences from around the world in a classic talent competition that has launched the careers of countless legendary artists, from Ella Fitzgerald,  Luther Vandross, Lauryn Hill, H.E.R, Machine Gun Kelly. and Jazmine Sullivan. 

Join the notoriously “tough” audience in an interactive evening unlike any other and lend your voice to decide who will “Be Good or Be Gone!” to win the triumphant grand prize.

Amateur Night at The Apollo sponsored by Coca-Cola, is hosted by the comedian Capone. Each show begins with a festive pre-party featuring video and music by DJ Jess. Keep a lookout for C.P. Lacey, the resident Executioner who sweeps bad talent off the stage!

Nov 20
| 7:30PM EDT
Nov 20
-
Nov 20
Amateur Night at The Apollo
Apollo Historic Theater
Amateur Night at The Apollo

Known as one of New York’s most popular live entertainment experiences, Amateur Night at The Apollo attracts performers and audiences from around the world in a classic talent competition that has launched the careers of countless legendary artists, from Ella Fitzgerald, Luther Vandross, Lauryn Hill, H.E.R, Machine Gun Kelly, Jazmine Sullivan and more. 

 

Join the fun with the weekly classic competition that sheds light on the careers of a whole new roster of stars. Be a part of the notoriously “tough” audience in an interactive evening unlike any other and lend your voice to decide who will “Be Good or Be Gone!” to win the triumphant grand prize. 

Amateur Night at The Apollo sponsored by Coca-Cola, is hosted by the comedian Capone. Each show begins with a festive pre-party featuring video and music by DJ Jess and Set It Off Man Greginald Spencer. Keep a lookout for C.P. Lacey, the resident Executioner who sweeps bad talent off the stage!

Nov 27
| 7:30PM EDT
Nov 27
-
Nov 27
Amateur Night at The Apollo
Apollo Historic Theater
Amateur Night at The Apollo

Known as one of New York’s most popular live entertainment experiences, Amateur Night at The Apollo attracts performers and audiences from around the world in a classic talent competition that has launched the careers of countless legendary artists, from Ella Fitzgerald, Luther Vandross, Lauryn Hill, H.E.R, Machine Gun Kelly, Jazmine Sullivan and more. 

 

Join the fun with the weekly classic competition that sheds light on the careers of a whole new roster of stars. Be a part of the notoriously “tough” audience in an interactive evening unlike any other and lend your voice to decide who will “Be Good or Be Gone!” to win the triumphant grand prize. 

Amateur Night at The Apollo sponsored by Coca-Cola, is hosted by the comedian Capone. Each show begins with a festive pre-party featuring video and music by DJ Jess and Set It Off Man Greginald Spencer. Keep a lookout for C.P. Lacey, the resident Executioner who sweeps bad talent off the stage!

Dec 4
| 7:30PM EDT
Dec 4
-
Dec 4
Amateur Night at The Apollo
Apollo Historic Theater
Amateur Night at The Apollo

Known as one of New York’s most popular live entertainment experiences, Amateur Night at The Apollo attracts performers and audiences from around the world in a classic talent competition that has launched the careers of countless legendary artists, from Ella Fitzgerald, Luther Vandross, Lauryn Hill, H.E.R, Machine Gun Kelly, Jazmine Sullivan and more. 

 

Join the fun with the weekly classic competition that sheds light on the careers of a whole new roster of stars. Be a part of the notoriously “tough” audience in an interactive evening unlike any other and lend your voice to decide who will “Be Good or Be Gone!” to win the triumphant grand prize. 

Amateur Night at The Apollo sponsored by Coca-Cola, is hosted by the comedian Capone. Each show begins with a festive pre-party featuring video and music by DJ Jess and Set It Off Man Greginald Spencer. Keep a lookout for C.P. Lacey, the resident Executioner who sweeps bad talent off the stage!

Dec 11
| 7:30PM EDT
Dec 11
-
Dec 11
Amateur Night at The Apollo: Quarter Final
Apollo Historic Theater
Amateur Night at The Apollo: Quarter Final

Known as one of New York’s most popular live entertainment experiences, Amateur Night at The Apollo attracts performers and audiences from around the world in a classic talent competition that has launched the careers of countless legendary artists, from Ella Fitzgerald, Luther Vandross, Lauryn Hill, H.E.R, Machine Gun Kelly, Jazmine Sullivan and more. 

 

Join the fun with the weekly classic competition that sheds light on the careers of a whole new roster of stars. Be a part of the notoriously “tough” audience in an interactive evening unlike any other and lend your voice to decide who will “Be Good or Be Gone!” to win the triumphant grand prize. 

Amateur Night at The Apollo sponsored by Coca-Cola, is hosted by the comedian Capone. Each show begins with a festive pre-party featuring video and music by DJ Jess and Set It Off Man Greginald Spencer. Keep a lookout for C.P. Lacey, the resident Executioner who sweeps bad talent off the stage!

Dec 14
| 7:30PM EDT
Dec 14
-
Dec 14
Amateur Night: Holiday Special
Apollo Historic Theater
Amateur Night: Holiday Special

The Apollo Amateur Night Holiday Special showcases talented alumni of the show’s “Stars of Tomorrow” segment, spotlighting the young performers hoping to follow in the footsteps of Apollo Legends like Ella Fitzgerald and H.E.R., whose careers were launched on the stage of The Apollo.

Amateur Night at The Apollo sponsored by Coca-Cola, is hosted by the comedian Capone. Each show begins with a festive pre-party featuring video and music by DJ Jess and Set It Off Man Greginald Spencer. Keep a lookout for C.P. Lacey, the resident Executioner who sweeps bad talent off the stage!

Audition for Amateur Night
Amateur Night at The Apollo invites singers, dancers, comedians, rappers, spoken word artists, variety acts, and musicians to take the stage every Wednesday and compete for a grand prize of up to $20,000.
Audition for Amateur Night at The Apollo anytime by completing the online audition form below. Those selected from the online audition have the opportunity to compete in Amateur Night at The Apollo.

Only one online audition per contestant. Multiple submissions will not be considered. No phone calls or emails please.
Audition Requirements
•   An “Amateur” is considered to be anyone who DOES NOT have a recording contract with a major label or studio.

•   The Apollo DOES NOT provide travel to New York City or lodging for contestants for auditions or performances.

•   Auditions should be in good taste with no profanity, including racial epithets or slurs (this includes the “N” word).

•   Child Star of Tomorrow category age requirement: 5 to 17 years of age.

•   Adult category age requirement: 18 years of age and above.

•    No lip-syncing, singing along with track lead vocals, or post-production engineering of lead vocals permitted.
APPLY NOW
Grand Prize Offerings
Adult Category
Price
$20,000
Net
profit
Grand Prize Offerings
Child Category
Price
$5,000
Net
profit
People on auditions at the Apollo
Live auditions are held at The Apollo located at 253 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027 on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Please arrive early.  Only the first 200 acts will be seen.
Audition Requirements
•   An “Amateur” is considered to be anyone who DOES NOT have a recording contract with a major label or studio.

•   The Apollo DOES NOT provide travel to New York City or lodging for contestants for auditions or performances.

•   Auditions should be in good taste with no profanity, including racial epithets or slurs (this includes the “N” word).

•   Child Star of Tomorrow category age requirement: 5 to 17 years of age.

•   Adult category age requirement: 18 years of age and above.

•   No lip-syncing, singing along with track lead vocals, or post-production engineering of lead vocals permitted.
Sign Up for Updates
Grand Prize Offerings
Adult Category
Price
$20,000
Net
profit
Grand Prize Offerings
Child Category
Price
$5,000
Net
profit

About
The Show

Introduced in 1934, Amateur Night at The Apollo is known as one of New York’s most popular live entertainment experiences. The classic talent competition attracts performers from around the world and has launched the careers of countless legendary artists, from Ella Fitzgerald to Lauryn Hill, H.E.R, D’Angelo, Jazmine Sullivan, and Machine Gun Kelly. Join the notoriously “tough” audience in an interactive evening unlike any other, and lend your voice to decide who will “be good or be gone” to win the triumphant grand prize of up to $20,000. Amateur Night is a family-friendly show, great for all ages, and also includes the Child Stars of Tomorrow competition where performers under 18 years of age vie for a chance to win $5,000.

Join The Party
The Legacy of Amateur Night
View More
The Iconic Talent Show Is Born
Amateur Night’s history begins with Ralph Cooper, an actor and producer who started the original Harlem Amateur Hour in April 1933 at Frank Schiffman’s Lafayette Theater. In 1934, Cooper began the Wednesday Amateur Night at Sidney Cohen and Morris Sussman’s 125th Street Apollo Theatre. Cooper’s Amateur Night in Harlem radio shows were broadcast live from The Apollo over WMCA and were carried on a national network of 21 stations. Photo Courtesy of Apollo Archives
From Amateur To Legend
After Amateur Night debuted at The Apollo in 1934, it quickly became the leading showcase for many young, talented, new performers, including a 15-year-old Ella Fitzgerald who went on to become the first female artist to win Amateur Night. Photo Courtesy of 1937 Duncan Butler/Frank Driggs Collection.
Be Good or Be Gone
Winners or competitors of the legendary show include James Brown, Busta Rhymes, Luther Vandross, D’Angelo, Sarah Vaughan, Lauryn Hill, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Jazmine Sullivan, H.E.R., Machine Gun Kelly, and many more. Amateur Night continues to maintain its position as the nation’s most popular arena for emerging and established Black performers.
An Icon Goes International
In recent years, The Apollo has increased its global reach by bringing Amateur Night to audiences around the world with international editions in England and Japan, as well as livestream broadcasts viewed by audiences from all corners of the globe.
A Competition Like No Other
Amateur Night at The Apollo becomes the quintessential talent competition, serving as the model for Star Search and American Idol. The show marries world-class talent with a distinctive, vaudeville-like atmosphere that has depended on audience participation since the very beginning. This popularity contest has proven an effective measure of star potential, becoming a launch pad for some of the nation’s greatest entertainers.
An Incubator for Artistic Expression
The showcase has played a major role in the emergence of innovative musical genres including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop. It works to cultivate aspiring performers in their artistic evolution as entertainers while creating access to professional performance and recording opportunities. Many Amateur Night performers have had professional success, and others have performed on American Idol, The Voice, America’s Got Talent, and other network television shows.
Amateur Night Winners
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
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CONGRATULATIONS AMATEUR NIGHT 2024 SEASON WINNERS
2024
Sogna Bella Santana Child Star Of Tomorrow Winner
Child Star Of Tomorrow Winner
Sogna Bella Santana
Cruz Angel Grand Finale Winner
Grand Finale Winner
Cruz Angel
No items found.
CONGRATULATIONS AMATEUR NIGHT 2023 SEASON WINNERS
2023
Nathanael Barlow Child Star Of Tomorrow Winner
Child Star Of Tomorrow Winner
Nathanael Barlow
Dee Dee Simon Grand Finale Winner
Grand Finale Winner
Dee Dee Simon
No items found.
See What Everyone’s Talking About
VISIT US
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Meet the Amateur Night Team
MARION J. CAFFEY
Producer
CAPONE
Host
C.P LACEY
Executioner
GREGINALD SPENCER
Set It Off Man
DJ JESS
Amateur Night DJ
Michael Mitchell
Musical Director
Dai Quan Davis
Drummer,Producer and Composer
Matt Oestreicher
Guitar, Keys and Charting
Reggie Young
Bassist
(212) 531-5305
The Apollo’s Historic Theater
253 W 125th Street,
New York, NY 10027
The Apollo Stages at The Victoria
233 W 125th Street, Third Floor
New York, NY 10027
*Tickets: Get tickets online through Ticketmaster.com or in person at our Box Office locations
*Groups Sales: To book your group of 10 or more, contact group.sales@apollotheater.org
WEEKDAYS
10AM - 6PM
SATURDAY
12AM - 5PM
SUNDAY
Closed
*Tickets: Get tickets online through Ticketmaster.com or in person at our Box Office locations
*Groups Sales: To book your group of 10 or more, contact group.sales@apollotheater.org
WEEKDAYS
10AM - 6PM
SATURDAY
12AM - 5PM
SUNDAY
Closed
(212) 531-5305
The Apollo’s Historic Theater
233 W 125th Street,
New York, NY 10027
The Apollo Stages at The Victoria
233 W 125th Street, Third Floor
New York, NY 10027
*Tickets: Get tickets online through Ticketmaster.com or in person at our Box Office locations
*Groups Sales: To book your group of 10 or more, contact group.sales@apollotheater.org
WEEKDAYS
10AM - 6PM
SATURDAY
12AM - 5PM
SUNDAY
Closed

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A staff member wearing a black shirt scans tickets for two people dressed in masks and jackets at an entrance.

All persons and bags are subject to search. Bags that have passed inspection must fit comfortably under your seat. Oversized bags are prohibited.

No outside food or beverage. Accommodations are made for patrons with medical needs. Please email access@apollotheater.org or call the box office at (212) 531-5305 for assistance.

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Thank you to our Season Sponsors
2024 / 2025
Season Sponsor Coca-ColaSeason Sponsor Ford FoundationSeason Sponsor Mellon FoundationSeason Sponsor Howard GilmanSeason Sponsor CITISeason Sponsor NYC_DCLASeason Sponsor NEAJLGreene Foundation FundSeason Sponsor Coca-ColaSeason Sponsor Ford FoundationSeason Sponsor Mellon FoundationSeason Sponsor Howard GillmanSeason Sponsor CITIJLGreene Foundation FundSeason Sponsor NEASeason Sponsor NYC_DCLA