Tickets: Free with RSVP
Important Information:
For the safety of our audiences and staff, all ticketholders and attendees of this event must provide proof of vaccination in order to enter the theater. In addition, all attendees are required to wear face coverings while inside the theater. Click here for more information about our COVID safety policies.
Genre: Arts & Ideas
Conversation, Education
For centuries, Black artists have used music as a form of protest and to bring people together to fight for freedom. For this Live Wire event, Apollo Fellow and arts curator Justice Robinson explores political performance from the 19th century to the present day and the systems within which Black entertainment exists.
The Apollo’s Live Wire series was created to spark deeper insight and consideration of the contribution of Black arts and culture to the broader American canon. These electrifying events feature discussion with unpredictable and impromptu performative elements that shed new light on the timely topics of today. This program will be taking place on the Apollo’s Soundstage.
Leadership support for the Apollo Education Programs is provided by BNY Mellon, Fund II, the Hearst Foundations, the Jerome L. Greene Arts Access Fund in the New York Community Trust, The Pinkerton Foundation, and public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with New York Council Members Ben Kallos and Bill Perkins.
Ticket Information
Please contact the Apollo Box office at [email protected] or (212) 531-5305 if any other special assistance is required for your visit.
Covid-19 Guidelines
For the safety of our audiences and staff, all ticketholders and attendees of this event must provide proof of vaccination in order to enter the theater. In addition, all attendees are required to wear face coverings while inside the theater. Click here for more information about our COVID safety policies.
Panelists
Justice Robinson
Justice Robinson
Curator
Justice Robinson is an Atlanta native and current Senior at Barnard College graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and American Studies. She’s been an Education Fellow at the Apollo Theater since February 2021 where she co-produced the Apollo’s Annual Teen Takeover and now is curating this May’s Live Wire: The Sound of Social Justice.
She has a passion for the performing arts, as a thespian, director, producer, writer, and hip-hop dancer and hopes to continue working to bring new and diverse stories to our stages and screens. Justice recently finished her senior thesis in Solo Performance where she performed her piece: An Ode to Black joy, Black rituals, and Black everyday life.
After graduation, Justice will join United Talent Agency in NYC as an Agent Trainee with goals to participate in their Foundation department.
Amiri Tulloch
Amiri Tulloch
Moderator
Amiri Tulloch is a music producer and multimedia artist from New Jersey, currently attending school in New York as a student journalist and aspiring arts educator. Greatly influenced by Black people’s many creative legacies throughout history, Amiri uses sampling to create his own interpretations. His music is especially informed by free jazz, roots reggae, and hip-hop. Amiri has an intellectual interest in the intersection of critical race theory and the power of music, and what music does for the black community. He uses his own music to explore these curiosities and is thrilled to dive into discussion with the incredible panelists for a thought provoking discussion on the power of protest music.
Steff Reed
Steff Reed
Panelist
Steff Reed is a Musician, Educator, and Activist. By sharing his story, Reed shows others that they are not alone. He is a Black Man that loves and gives greatly, modeling that emotional sensitivity and compassion can make us stronger as a community.
As a singer, songwriter, producer and multi instrumentalist, Steff Reed is known to affect audiences with his spiritual, uplifting energy and song. He is unafraid to be vulnerable and open in his own story, sharing lessons of resilience, healing, self-betterment. Reed blends genres of folk rock, alternative rock, pop rock to culminate in inspirational, humanitarian messages.
Over the years, Reed has gained national acclaim as a producer and song-writer having worked with the likes of Trey Songz, Jhene Aiko, EricRoberson, Swizz Beatz, Kenny Lattimore and Gordon Chambers on songs that made it to the Billboard Charts.
As an Educator, Reed has taught thousands of youth between the ages 4-24 over the last 15 years. In 2013, he was nominated for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award and taught a “Power of Love” workshop at NYU/Ed Sullivan Fellows.
Reed is currently building a Brooklyn-based non-profit, Power of Love, in partnership with Judson Memorial Church. His latest music project is of the same name. By using his socialcapital and influence, Reed is scaling his impact to empower wider audiences and impact real political change.
Steff is inspired by socially-conscious artists like John Lennon, Prince, Tracy Chapman,U2, Jean Michel Basquiat, and Jimi Hendrix.
Stephen J. Tyson Jr. (aka ELLECT)
Stephen J. Tyson Jr. (aka ELLECT)
Panelist
Stephen J. Tyson Jr.(aka Ellect)is a musician, educator, activist, and founder of JusListen Entertainment LLC, a multimedia arts company that promotes critical thinking and freedom of artistic expression through Hip-Hop culture.
As a musician, Ellecthas over 1 million plays across streaming music platforms and has performed at legendary venues including the Apollo Theater. He has written and produced music for “StarTalk Radio” hosted by Neil DeGrasse Tyson and has twice been featured as a musical guest on “Sway In The Morning” on Sirius XM radio, where he shared his passion for Hip-Hop culture & education, and performed live on air.
As an educator, Stephen has a strong passion for youth development with over 20 years of experience in the field including several years as a college advisor for the Harlem Children’s Zone. He currently serves as Program Director for City Year Philadelphia and is an adjunct professor at Arcadia University, where he is also earning an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.