Dear Friends of The Apollo,

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As 2025 comes to a close, I want to thank you for standing with The Apollo during a year of profound transformation. This has been a moment of reflection and resolve—honoring our legacy while taking decisive steps to ensure the institution’s future. Your partnership has been essential at every turn.

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This year marked a historic milestone for The Apollo. After completing a full season across the Apollo campus before renovation, we gathered our community and brought the curtain down on the Historic Theater’s main stage to begin a generational restoration of this national landmark. It was both a deeply emotional moment and a forward-looking one—signaling not an ending, but a renewed commitment to stewardship and continuity.

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This restoration builds on the legacy of visionary leadership that has sustained the Apollo across eras. We are preserving the theater’s iconic façade, marquee, and architectural soul, while upgrading every major system behind the scenes to ensure safety, sustainability, and long-term excellence. At the same time, we are equipping the Historic Theater with the technology today’s artists require—modern rigging, digital controls, and integrated audiovisual and broadcast systems that allow the Apollo to operate at the highest level for decades to come.

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Together, these upgrades will strengthen our institutional sustainability, enhance the artist and audience experience, and position the Historic Theater to anchor a vibrant, year-round Apollo campus when it reopens in 2026—reaffirming our role as a beacon of artistic excellence, innovation, and community connection.

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While the Historic Theater undergoes its transformation, creativity at The Apollo has not paused. The Apollo Stages at The Victoria have become a dynamic home for artists and audiences alike—from the Harlem debut of Pulitzer Prize finalist Zora Howard’s HANG TIME, to the 10th anniversary of the Apollo Comedy Club, to education programs, community gatherings, and intimate performances that deepen our reach and impact. These stages have expanded not only where we work, but how we serve.

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This year also brought renewed leadership at a pivotal time. We were proud to welcome new members to The Apollo Board of Trustees whose insight and commitment strengthen our work as we shape the institution’s next century. I look forward to the impact our newest Board members - Jarryd E. Anderson, Carletta Higginson, Lylette Pizarro-McLean, and Krystle Watler - will make as part of this extraordinary community of stewards.

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Looking ahead to 2026, we are preparing for Culture in Motion—a new bold, flagship National Roadshow to expand The Apollo’s nearly 100-year legacy into communities across the United States and championed by board member Kwanza Jones. This multi-city initiative advances a new era of cultural connection, creative excellence, and nationwide community uplift, expanding our reach, deepening engagement, and inviting new audiences into the Apollo story. Rooted in the creativity, excellence, and cultural power that define us, Culture in Motion reflects our commitment to sharing the Apollo’s legacy at scale—and we look forward to inviting our community of supporters to experience this journey with us in the year ahead, as we build momentum for the next chapter of the institution.

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As the year draws to a close, I invite you to make a year-end gift to The Apollo. Your support fuels accessible arts education through the Apollo Theater Academy, community programs, opportunities for emerging artists through Apollo New Works, dynamic programming across our stages, and the historic restoration now underway. Every gift—at every level—helps ensure that The Apollo remains a home for creativity, excellence, and possibility.

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Thank you for believing in this institution and for standing with us during this transformative moment. Because of you, The Apollo will continue to inspire artists, audiences, and communities—now and for generations to come.

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Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful, peaceful, and inspiring holiday season.

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With gratitude,
Michelle Ebanks
President & CEO
The Apollo

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Dear Apollo family,  

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Together we have experienced an extraordinary 90th year at The Apollo, and as we continue the celebration and look forward to the dynamic programs and initiatives ahead in the coming months, we are grateful to you - our audience of supporters and friends - who continue to share the thrill of our historic stage with us year in and year out. This year, we embarked on the institution’s first large-scale expansion and modernization in its history. We expanded into the neighboring Victoria Theater in March, and we will soon begin renovation and restoration of our iconic Historic Theater. This will include a fully renovated and expanded lobby reimagined with a cafe and bar for performances and communal gatherings, a design that harkens back to the architecture of the theater’s original lobby, and additional enhancements to serve audiences and artists alike.

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Because this unprecedented renovation will progress in phases, The Apollo’s doors will remain open to the public and the dynamic programming of our stages will continue.  Our restoration is slated to be fully complete in 2026, and we invite you to stay tuned for updates at https://www.apollotheater.org/renovation.  

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In addition to these major upgrades to our beloved theater, The Apollo’s 90th year has truly overflowed with captivating and unforgettable programs. We inducted acclaimed producer and singer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds into The Apollo Walk of Fame as an Apollo Legend, and honored global superstar, USHER with The Apollo’s Icon Award at our annual Apollo Spring Benefit. We closed out the summer with a monumental celebration of Soca music with the sensational Machel Montano for a first-of-its-kind, four-day residency bringing Caribbean culture centerstage, capped off with a star-studded lineup of special guests including Patrice Roberts, Lord Nelson, Rikki Jai, Mical Teja, Gypsy.  Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson discussed her new memoir with Gayle King, and even sang a little bit, from The Apollo stage, and we welcomed author, activist, and Apollo Artist-in-Residence alumnus Ta-Nehisi Coates to discuss his new book, The Message. And as part of The Apollo New Works initiative that supports emerging and established artists in the development of a new work, we co-presented the New York premiere of The Divining by Ebony Noelle Golden with National Black Theatre. 

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Alongside our dedicated Apollo team, I hope you can join us for more of these special programs and our hallmark Amateur Night at The Apollo, Comedy Club, Music Café performances and so much more to be announced in the coming weeks.  

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Finally, I am filled with deep gratitude that The Apollo will be recognized with a  Kennedy Center Honor – the first organization to receive such an honor in the history of the Kennedy Center Awards, emphasizing The Apollo’s impact on the past, present, and future of American culture and the performing arts. We are being recognized alongside director and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola; American rock band The Grateful Dead; blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Bonnie Raitt; and jazz trumpeter, pianist, and composer Arturo Sandoval. The ceremony will air on CBS on December 23, 2024.

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I thank you for being a part of The Apollo family, and hope you’ll join us as we continue to celebrate 90 years of artistry, culture, and community! 

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Sincerely, 

Michelle Ebanks 

President & CEO 

The Apollo

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Dear Apollo Family,

As I write this, I am filled with gratitude, excitement, and a deep sense of honor to be a part of this transformative moment with The Apollo.

Six months into my role, I’m consistently moved by our rich history and the steadfast commitment of our incredible team. The collective efforts of my predecessor Jonelle Procope, the Board of Directors, staff, artists, and our beloved audiences have propelled us to new heights, surpassing significant milestones in our capital campaign and setting the stage for our next chapter.

Our mission is clear: to be the epicenter of Black culture, embracing both emerging talents and established legends, supporting artists at every stage of their career. The Apollo Stages at The Victoria, opening this February, will allow us to continue building upon that mission. This is not just a physical expansion, but an expansion of what’s possible—and of the myriad of ways The Apollo might foster artistic expression, inclusivity, and community engagement.

As we conclude this momentous year and prepare to celebrate The Apollo’s 90th anniversary, our commitment extends far beyond the stage. We are dedicated to deepening our roots in the community and expanding our role as a civic and economic cornerstone of Harlem, providing a space for critical conversations, and serving as a cultural leader within New York City and the global community. The enduring spirit and dedication to excellence at The Apollo will propel us into an exhilarating new chapter where culture takes shape.

Your generous, ongoing support enables The Apollo to amplify our impact and adapt to the changing needs of Harlem and the greater cultural community. With your help, we can continue to innovate and expand, providing the experiences that audiences, students, and educators have come to expect. If you are able, please consider supporting The Apollo here or be amongst the first to make The Apollo Stages at The Victoria a part of your legacy with a signature seat here. I look forward to seeing you at The Apollo soon.

Warm regards,
Michelle Ebanks
President & CEO
The Apollo

THE NEXT MOVEMENT

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Dear Apollo Family,

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Over the past several years, our lives have changed in many ways. Faced with a range of challenges, we forged new paths, tried new things, and found new ways to move forward. I am proud to be part of a historic institution that has always met the challenge of advancing our culture forward. The Apollo has built a dynamic platform for the elevation of Black voices and creativity through inspired innovation and a commitment to artistic excellence—forging a powerful legacy of forward movement. This fall we celebrate that ongoing tradition and look to the future with a season titled The Next Movement.  

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The Next Movement’s vibrant programming is led by trailblazing Black artists and thought leaders. Camille A. Brown and Dancers continue our commitment to dance culture with ink, part of Brown’s canon-building movement trilogy celebrating self-empowerment and resilience—now presented in full for the first time, in partnership with the Joyce Theater and featuring Brown’s final performances as a dancer in this repertory.

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Tomorrow, we launch our Arts & Ideas series, its mission is providing resonant access to groundbreaking thinkers and cultural figures. The series kicks off with fashion industry icon Edward Enninful, who, in advance of his coming memoir A Visible Man, discusses his unprecedented career path and role as a champion of inclusivity with renowned Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o.  Later in the season, and in recognition of the upcoming 50th anniversary of Hip Hop, multi-platinum artist, philanthropist, and South Bronx native Fat Joe will share intimate stories from his new memoir, The Book of Jose.

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Moving forward in our mission to amplify Africa’s rich influence on worldwide contemporary culture, next month Malian musician Oumou Sangaré, in partnership with World Music Institute, makes her Apollo debut—and a rare U.S. appearance—in a one-night-only performance.

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Nothing speaks more meaningfully to forward movement than broadening the experiences of young people. Our School Day Live program this fall looks at the origins and history of the blues, with a live orchestra, and following a two-year hiatus, our teaching artists return to meet NYC students in their schools.  Because learning is a lifelong process, we invite educators and the public to workshops led by Camille A. Brown & Dancers, and as part of the Apollo’s Live Wire series, we’ll take a deep dive into Hip Hop Style with local choreographers and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

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We invite you to discover or revisit Apollo favorites including Amateur Night at the Apollo, the incubator of major talent and one of America’s longest-running events; the Kwanzaa:Regeneration Celebration featuring Abdel R. Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theatre; the Apollo Music Café; Comedy Club; and community events for all ages.

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Our three-year Master Artist in Residence program, inaugurated with Ta-Nehisi Coates and now in its second iteration, supports the creation of new artistic and civic works moving us all towards a diverse 21st century American performing arts canon. The program continues with current resident, Grammy and Emmy-nominated musician/producer Kamasi Washington.

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Speaking of next movement, The Apollo will soon expand, welcoming audiences to an exciting new space just down the street. The Apollo’s Victoria, a renovated former movie and vaudeville house, will house two new black-box theaters for a range of Apollo programs, add administrative offices, and offer subsidized rental opportunities for community and non-profit arts organizations. Like all New Yorkers, we couldn’t be happier to have more space!

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The Apollo is always in motion, offering illuminating and joyful experiences that center and amplify Black voices. We invite you to experience The Next Movement and join us on our amazing journey forward!

Kamilah Forbes
Executive Producer

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THE RENAISSANCE IS NOW

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“We build our temples for tomorrow, strong as we know how, and we stand on top of the mountain, free within ourselves.”  The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain, Langston Hughes

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I believe that history is cyclical.  Like the Harlem Renaissance – which emerged out of the darkness of an authoritarian leadership regime, a major migration that dramatically impacted the demographics of who we are as America, and a global health pandemic – this moment in time again stands as a turning point for a new revival of artistic, creative, and innovative expression that has been inspired by the truths exposed in the wake of our current pandemics.

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For the past few months, I have been inspired and motivated by the work and words of critically acclaimed dramaturg, director, historian and Apollo New Works artist Talvin Wilks, who shared:

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Does a movement exist if there is no one to write about it, to document it, to claim it? The genius of Alain Locke and W.E.B. Du Bois and the impact of Crisis Magazine and Opportunity curated one of the greatest foundations of beauty, art, and propaganda. Let us remind ourselves that the anti-Black machinery in this nation was profound – restrictions on voting to the defense of lynchings – all happening at the same time as the Harlem Renaissance. It is against this backdrop that the Harlem Renaissance rises and flourishes, forged by the firebrand of Marcus Garvey, infused by the spirituality of Father Divine, instigated by the marching syncopation of Major James Reese Europe and the Harlem Hellfighters Band (369th Infantry Regiment), the beat of the Tom Tom, the Blues of Bessie Smith, Swing at the Savoy, The Duke at the Cotton Club, and the voices of Ida B. Wells and the anti-lynching movement. 

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What we learn from the Harlem Renaissance is that revolution has to be curated, it doesn’t just happen. It is conjured, believed, doubted, debated. It is established and elusive. As we mark nearly 100 years since the start of this historic era, we know that without it the very foundation upon which we stand would be sinking sand. The Harlem Renaissance serves as a significant moment of collective witnessing, collective contemplation, and collective action holding firm the tradition of celebrating Blackness. It is an essential anchorage, an essential movement in a long lineage of many movements, setting the stage for the Black Arts Movement, the Hip Hop Movement, and the Afrofuturistic movement. We hold this era in the highest esteem, in all of its contradictions and triumphs.

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Thank you, Talvin, for those deep and powerful words and connections that I hope resonate with you as much as they resonated with me.

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And so, it is at this intersection of artistry and activism that The Apollo responds with a season of signature programs, audience favorites, and a preview of the first of a series of commissioned projects and new works by artists who are pushing the boundaries of their artforms while expanding the cannon of African American works.  We embrace the notion of our duty as artists, to lead, to reflect, and to respond. As much as this is a motion of growth and resurgence, it is also a moment of healing and reflection.  After 19 months of physical and emotional isolation, it is artists who will lead the way – a path to begin to feel again with the fullness of our unspoken humanity.

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As we continue to welcome you back to the theater or engage with us digitally, we believe we are entering a new renaissance – an era that will propel the next century with extraordinary breath of cultural creativity. That is why we are thrilled to launch our fall season, “The Renaissance is Now,” which serves as a reminder that The Apollo has long been a hub of Black creativity, expression, and artistry and continues to be a trailblazer as we reimagine our future in pushing the culture forward and beyond.

– Kamilah Forbes

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If the past twelve months have shown us anything, it is the importance of making the most of the present, making our voices heard, and leaving a legacy that we as individuals and a as community can be proud of. It is in this vein that I introduce The Apollo’s all digital Spring season line up of film, festivals, music, comedy, and more.

Our work this season is centered around what it means to be Black and alive. In a society where we’ve been forced to affirm our humanity through rallying cries like Black Lives Matter, we celebrate the joy and historical legacy of The Apollo, while marking our presence in the social and cultural commentary of today’s society. We’re shifting the narrative from reverence to relevance. We honor the ritual and tradition of the past as we chart a path forward with our incredible roster of artists and audiences into the unknown. The works presented this season not only ask questions, but answer questions about who we are and want to be as Black people in America.

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The performing arts are critical to our connection to one another and extending our work into the digital space offers an invitation to connect a global audience across time and space. Whether it be through our WOW – Women of the World Festival Festival, featuring brilliant women across the world, or giving us a glimpse back in time as we celebrate hip hop culture of the 80s and 90s with 30 years of House Party. We also continue to amplify and highlight the brightest among us through our Apollo Late Nights, Apollo Film series and Apollo Theater education programs. No matter where you are in the world, we welcome you to experience the magic of The Apollo.

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Even virtually, the theater has unwaveringly remained a home and landing place for Black culture, innovation and truth telling. This moment is no different. Through all of the works this season and beyond, we seek to explore the myriad of individual identities that make up Black culture and how these identities come together to create a collective. Through each event we present, we acknowledge where we’ve been—and continue to— chart a path for where we plan to go. It is our goal to serve as a beacon of Black creativity and excellence.

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It is from this space that artists, audiences, young people and our global communities will see themselves powerfully reflected in the works we present on our Digital Stage and know that……we are here… we are important…. we are a force… and we are the shape of things to come.

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I look forward to continuing the journey with you and seeing you on the Apollo Digital Stage!

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– Kamilah Forbes

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