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Fresh off the success of 125th & Freedom comes The Divining: Ceremonies from in the name of the m/other tree, conceived and curated by Ebony Noelle Golden, is a powerful series of ritual performances, processions, and visual installations that invite you to experience the intersection of art, activism, and spirituality.
Guided by the wisdom of ancestors and the urgency of now, this theatrical ceremony combines movement, poetry, percussion and visual art in a call to reclaim our connection to the land and to each other. The Divining: Ceremonies in the name of the m/other tree weaves together the rhythms of climate change, environmental justice, and the deep roots of Harlem's heritage.
Audiences are invited to travel throughout Harlem in this walking processional with the cast of The Divining: ceremonies from in the name of the m/other tree and members of our community. Featuring micro-rituals, poetry and percussion audiences will be guided to sacred sites throughout Harlem ending at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria. Audiences are encouraged to wear white or blue.
About the Production:
Feverish floods and land-quakes unfold when three mother trees vanish. The mystical and magical town of Here is swept up in the undertow. Sisters Teeny and Vetiver spiral. The people must decide. Return to their ancestors’ ways or perish with the faithless.
About Apollo New Works:
The Apollo New Works initiative expands upon The Apollo’s mission to support the creation of new work by Black artists. Emerging and established multidisciplinary artists are commissioned and provided space, time, and resources to create, develop, and present work across The Apollo stages — including The Apollo Stages at The Victoria, which will serve as the main incubation space. Commissioned works will include world premiere performances, festivals, and programs rooted in music, dance, theater, poetry, and more.
Presented by The Apollo & National Black Theatre
Commissioned by The Apollo’s Harlem 100 initiative
Written, Directed and Choreographed by Apollo New Works Artist Ebony Noelle Golden
Featuring Jupiter Performance Studio
Creative Team:
Ebony "Es" Webster | Associate Choreographer
Kofi Hunter | M/D Composer
Jessica Howard | Vocal coach
Rodrigo Muñoz | Costume Designer
Ray Archie | Sound Design
Izmir Ickbal | Scenic Design
Viktor Givens | Scenic Environmentalist/Installation Artist
Belynda M'Baye | Props Design
Emma Deane | Lighting Design
Graham Zellers |Lighting Design
Sierre Leverett | Script Associate
Omisade Burney-Scott | Dramaturg
Dr. Omi Osun Joni L. Jones | Dramaturg
Dr. Alexis Pauline Gumbs | Additional text/Dramaturg
Toshi Reagon | Project Mentor
Jack Meister-Lopez | Production Stage Manager
Brianna Guillen | Assistant Stage Manager
Amber Snead | Casting Director
Funders And Supporters
Apollo Theater, National Black Theatre, Double Edge Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, Mercury Store, The Shed-Open call Program, Hi-Arts, Toshi Reagon & Wise Reagon Art, Pilsbury House + Theatre, Green Apu Productions & Central Mesa, New England Foundation for the Arts - National Theater Project, Network of Ensemble Theaters, NYSCA, LMCC- UMEZ and Arts Engagement, MacDowell, Saltwater RoadArtist Residency and Performance Institute, Mumbet’s Freedom Farm, Mississippi Center for Cultural Production, Mondo Bizarro, Yaddo
Fresh off the success of 125th & Freedom comes The Divining: Ceremonies from in the name of the m/other tree, conceived and curated by Ebony Noelle Golden, is a powerful series of ritual performances, processions, and visual installations that invite you to experience the intersection of art, activism, and spirituality.
Guided by the wisdom of ancestors and the urgency of now, this theatrical ceremony combines movement, poetry, percussion and visual art in a call to reclaim our connection to the land and to each other. The Divining: Ceremonies in the name of the m/other tree weaves together the rhythms of climate change, environmental justice, and the deep roots of Harlem's heritage.
Audiences are invited to travel throughout Harlem in this walking processional with the cast of The Divining: ceremonies from in the name of the m/other tree and members of our community. Featuring micro-rituals, poetry and percussion audiences will be guided to sacred sites throughout Harlem ending at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria. Audiences are encouraged to wear white or blue.
About the Production:
Feverish floods and land-quakes unfold when three mother trees vanish. The mystical and magical town of Here is swept up in the undertow. Sisters Teeny and Vetiver spiral. The people must decide. Return to their ancestors’ ways or perish with the faithless.
About Apollo New Works:
The Apollo New Works initiative expands upon The Apollo’s mission to support the creation of new work by Black artists. Emerging and established multidisciplinary artists are commissioned and provided space, time, and resources to create, develop, and present work across The Apollo stages — including The Apollo Stages at The Victoria, which will serve as the main incubation space. Commissioned works will include world premiere performances, festivals, and programs rooted in music, dance, theater, poetry, and more.
Presented by The Apollo & National Black Theatre
Commissioned by The Apollo’s Harlem 100 initiative
Written, Directed and Choreographed by Apollo New Works Artist Ebony Noelle Golden
Featuring Jupiter Performance Studio
Creative Team:
Ebony "Es" Webster | Associate Choreographer
Kofi Hunter | M/D Composer
Jessica Howard | Vocal coach
Rodrigo Muñoz | Costume Designer
Ray Archie | Sound Design
Izmir Ickbal | Scenic Design
Viktor Givens | Scenic Environmentalist/Installation Artist
Belynda M'Baye | Props Design
Emma Deane | Lighting Design
Graham Zellers |Lighting Design
Sierre Leverett | Script Associate
Omisade Burney-Scott | Dramaturg
Dr. Omi Osun Joni L. Jones | Dramaturg
Dr. Alexis Pauline Gumbs | Additional text/Dramaturg
Toshi Reagon | Project Mentor
Jack Meister-Lopez | Production Stage Manager
Brianna Guillen | Assistant Stage Manager
Amber Snead | Casting Director
Funders And Supporters
Apollo Theater, National Black Theatre, Double Edge Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, Mercury Store, The Shed-Open call Program, Hi-Arts, Toshi Reagon & Wise Reagon Art, Pilsbury House + Theatre, Green Apu Productions & Central Mesa, New England Foundation for the Arts - National Theater Project, Network of Ensemble Theaters, NYSCA, LMCC- UMEZ and Arts Engagement, MacDowell, Saltwater RoadArtist Residency and Performance Institute, Mumbet’s Freedom Farm, Mississippi Center for Cultural Production, Mondo Bizarro, Yaddo
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Arrival Time:
Ticket holders are required to arrive by 3:30 PM. Please note that late arrivals may result in your ticket being reassigned to someone on the waitlist.
RSVP Status:
RSVPs for Saturday, September 14th performance of The Divining: Ceremonies in the name of the m/other tree are now closed. However, those still wishing to attend may join the waitlist. Waitlist tickets will be distributed in person at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning after 3:30 PM on the day of the performance.
Late Seating:
There will be no late seating. We kindly ask all guests to arrive on time.
Step behind the curtain of the world-famous Apollo Theater. Located at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria’s Laura & Frank Baker Gallery, Got To Be There: The Apollo, Its People, and Its Stories is a first of its kind exhibition curated by The Apollo Archives. This collection of rare photographs, video recordings, and artifacts offers a rare glimpse into The Apollo’s 91 year history.
Free and open to the public with select viewings and conversations throughout the season, this stunning exhibition offers a glimpse into the many roles that The Apollo has played and continues to play in service to the arts, the Harlem community, and global pop culture at large.
Open Daily 10am – 6pm & 2 hours before curtain during performances
The 17th Annual Fire This Time Festival breaks ground this winter at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria! Don’t miss the incredible lineup of six world-premiere 10-minute plays cover a range from the humorous to moving, pointed, and political, all directed by preeminent director and creator, Ken-Matt Martin.
“To bring The Fire This Time Festival to The Apollo is to root our work in the very heart of Black artistic excellence. The Apollo has always been a beacon for voices that define culture and truth. This partnership allows us to continue nurturing the playwrights and storytellers who are illuminating our world in powerful new ways.”
Kelley Girod, Founder of The Fire This Time Festival and Apollo New Works Director.
Online tickets for the shows on January 23rd and January 24th are currently sold out. A limited number of tickets will be available to purchase in-person at our Box Office. In person tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis. The Apollo's Box Office will be open from 10am to 8pm for Friday performances and from 12pm - 8pm for Saturday matinee and evening performance. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early and experience Got To Be There: The Apollo, Its People and Its Stories in the Laura and Frank Baker Gallery.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
ABOUT THE FIRE THIS TIME FESTIVAL:
Founded in 2009 by playwright and Apollo’s Director of New Works, Kelley Nicole Girod, The Fire This Time Festival provides a platform for early career playwrights of African and African American descent. Since its founding, the Festival has produced the plays of dozens of emerging writers whose works explore a wide range of themes and perspectives. The Festival also supports actors, directors, and technical personnel to help seed the pipeline with diverse talent and amplify underrepresented voices in theater in New York and beyond. The Fire This Time playwrights have gone on to have their plays produced in cities across the United States and work as writers in film and television. The Fire This Time Festival has evolved into an annual January event and continues to grow, expanding upon its core short play presentations to offer panel discussions, staged readings, a playwright’s lab and other programs. The Festival has become a destination for diverse audiences, producers, and artists seeking new possibilities and opportunities in contemporary theater.
Culture In Motion™ is a roadshow experience that meets people exactly where they are—igniting creativity, amplifying voices, and boosting the spaces it touches. From live performances and Apollo-style showcases to SUPERCHARGED® empowerment experiences, Culture In Motion blends heritage, innovation, and community connection into an on-the-move experience designed to spark creativity and strengthen community everywhere it goes.
Culture In Motion Roadshow kicks off in Los Angeles at The Beehive, where we’ll host the world’s longest running talent competition. We’re bringing Amateur Night auditions, presented by Coca-Cola, and looking for the best singers, dancers and instrumentalists to join us at The Beehive. Top selected contestants will receive a Coca-Cola swag bag. The top musician will also receive a career opportunity to work with music engineers, writers, and producers at the Coke Studio at L.A. Live to hone their craft. Anticipated timing for Coke Studios career opportunity will be between April - June 2026, with exact date and timing to be determined by Coke Studios.
Don’t miss your chance to shoot your shot in the talent competition that launched the careers of stars like Ella Fitzgerald, D’Angelo, Jazmine Sullivan, H.E.R, and more! Signup now for your Amateur Night audition spot.*
*Due to the ongoing Historic Theater renovation, performance in New York is not guaranteed for finalists.
Auditions are part of a free, family-friendly, block party–style community experience bringing together music, storytelling, youth engagement, and creative access. If you don't want to audition but join us at The Beehive LA for a full day to connect, create, and celebrate culture together, go to the
LA – Community Boost Block Party registration page.
Featuring ONIKA MCLEAN, MARK SIMMONS, STEPHON RAICKETT
HOSTED BY MUGGA
Jumpstart your weekend with a fun night of laughter, drinks, and tasty bites with the best up and coming talent in comedy today. Curated by Bob Sumner (legendary producer of Def Comedy Jam, creator of Laff Mobb on Aspire), The Apollo Comedy Club presents a night of comedic sets that will have you rolling in laughter.
Perfect for date night, or a night out with friends, don’t miss your chance to heat up your Thursday with the hottest ticket in Harlem. Doors open at 9pm; Showtime is 10pm.
There is a $10 food/beverage minimum.
Apollo Comedy Club is part of The Apollo’s Winter/Spring 2026 season.
Singer, songwriter, pianist, and historian Nia Drummond moves fluidly through opera, jazz, soul, gospel, and spirituals — genres that form the living archive of Black musical expression. In this month of Black History and Love, join Nia for an evening of music that lives at the crossroads of tradition and transformation.
The Essence of Lace is the debut fashion viewing of the Christopher Reavley Collection, presenting a 30-piece women's luxury ready-to-wear collection crafted with precision, elegance, and modern femininity. This immersive experience celebrates the timeless romance of lace while reimagining it through contemporary silhouettes, elevated tailoring, and refined textures.
Featuring JOEY B., KHRISTIN Y.S.F. BROOKS, COMEDIAN BUDDY LOVE
HOSTED BY DREW FRASER
Jumpstart your weekend with a fun night of laughter, drinks, and tasty bites with the best up and coming talent in comedy today. Curated by Bob Sumner (legendary producer of Def Comedy Jam, creator of Laff Mobb on Aspire), The Apollo Comedy Club presents a night of comedic sets that will have you rolling in laughter.
Perfect for date night, or a night out with friends, don’t miss your chance to heat up your Thursday with the hottest ticket in Harlem. Doors open at 9pm; Showtime is 10pm.
There is a $10 food/beverage minimum.
Apollo Comedy Club is part of The Apollo’s Winter/Spring 2026 season.
Turn down the lights and get ready for a night of Quiet Storm with singer and songwriter Alex Tyree. With lush vocals and unhurried melodies, Alex creates a night of music written in the sacred language of life and love.
Celebrate Women’s History Month with The Apollo and Harlem-based film collective Melanin Madness. After a sold-out 2025 Halloween-themed screening, we’re running it back, this time for the ladies. As always and in true Apollo fashion, the audience is a part of the experience so grab your crew and get ready to talk back, cheer and join the party in this evening of community, culture, and fun.
About Melanin Madness:
MELANIN MADNESS interactive screenings turn classic and cult films into full-on cultural celebrations! With props, character cards, and playful hosts, audiences shout lines, sip on keywords, and dive into the joy of cinema—loud, proud, and in community! Led by Obie-Award Winner Eric Lockley (The Movement Theatre Company, Harlem9), his team of multidisciplinary artists have been creating immersive theater collectively for over 5 years. Featuring: Jovany Andujar (NYC Educator), Dolores Pereira (Culture curator, Co-founder of Loud and Lyfted and DND:Two Queens Doing Things) and Jordon Waters (TheyGotTime Productions, creator of The Art of Killin’ It and Party Killer). Past partnerships include Maysles Cinema with screenings of Octavia Spencer’s villainous turn in MA, the hilarious Halle Berry cult-classic BAPS and the spectacular Jenifer Lewis’ Jackie’s Back as a tipsy sing-along. Come have a drink, laugh and engage!
Featuring SOFIA NEGRON, DEZZ WHITE, SHAWN HARVEY
HOSTED BY LARRY LANCASTER
Jumpstart your weekend with a fun night of laughter, drinks, and tasty bites with the best up and coming talent in comedy today. Curated by Bob Sumner (legendary producer of Def Comedy Jam, creator of Laff Mobb on Aspire), The Apollo Comedy Club presents a night of comedic sets that will have you rolling in laughter.
Perfect for date night, or a night out with friends, don’t miss your chance to heat up your Thursday with the hottest ticket in Harlem. Doors open at 9pm; Showtime is 10pm.
There is a $10 food/beverage minimum.
Apollo Comedy Club is part of The Apollo’s Winter/Spring 2026 season.
From Lotus Avenue to the A-train, ELHAE makes a quick stop in Harlem for an acoustic performance that blends alternative R&B with Hip Hop. His catalog includes thematic and seductive gems such as “Fun Fact”, “I Choose You (w. Ambre)”, “Doesn’t Matter (w. Kehlani)” and the deliciously pulsating dance hit “Touch (w. GoldLink)“.
Featuring DWIGHT PRYDE, CALVON BROWN, MIKE ROSS
HOSTED BY STILETTO
Jumpstart your weekend with a fun night of laughter, drinks, and tasty bites with the best up and coming talent in comedy today. Curated by Bob Sumner (legendary producer of Def Comedy Jam, creator of Laff Mobb on Aspire), The Apollo Comedy Club presents a night of comedic sets that will have you rolling in laughter.
Perfect for date night, or a night out with friends, don’t miss your chance to heat up your Thursday with the hottest ticket in Harlem. Doors open at 9pm; Showtime is 10pm.
There is a $10 food/beverage minimum.
Apollo Comedy Club is part of The Apollo’s Winter/Spring 2026 season.
Accessibility
The Apollo is here for everyone. Artists, audiences, and all supporters should be able to experience The Apollo fully and in a way that is comfortable for them.
The Apollo has taken comprehensive steps to ensure that entrances, seating, restrooms, and more are as accessible and compliant as possible. Learn more about accessibility options and support services that might be right for you.
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.
