President Statements

Dear Friends,

I am filled with gratitude for the response I received after our recent announcement about the Apollo’s future. When I became president of the Apollo in 2003, the theater was in disrepair. We had a strong vision for it that did not match the day-to-day reality. Our goals were clear: to save the venerable theater and turn it into a thriving non-profit institution that would have a transformative impact on artists, audiences, and American society.

In the last 20 years, the Apollo team and I, with hard work and a determined dedication, charted a path, overcame impediments, and seized opportunities to realize this vision:

• We launched amazing artists, presented exceptional performances, produced groundbreaking new works, and partnered with artists and companies from across the U.S. and around the world;
• We created a forum for meaningful conversation among our local and national communities;
• We provided important educational programs and pathways to careers in the arts—for our neighbors in Harlem and throughout the city, with internships, career panels, workshops, and more;
• We restored the Apollo as a national beacon for Black creativity, identity, community, and pride; and
• We built a resilient non-profit institution, which now stands as the leading and largest African American performing arts center in the U.S.—and our reputation and impact continue to grow.

Our next bold step will be restoring and renovating the Historic Theater to better serve audiences, artists, staff, and community, while simultaneously ramping up to launch the Apollo’s Victoria Theater,. This will enable us to realize a decade’s old goal of expanding to create a performing arts center in the heart of Harlem that enables us to grow our work with artists, students, young people and our entire community.

The Apollo remains steadfast in its commitment to uplifting Black artists and amplifying voices across the diaspora, whether that be with our artistic and education programs, or by direct community involvement.

In early November, we are thrilled to be partnering with the Joyce Theater in a crosstown celebration of Camille A. Brown’s “The Trilogy.” The Apollo will present the final piece, “ink,” on November 4 and 5, which will mark the choreographer’s final performance onstage with her company. We are honored to serve as a bookend for Camille’s time on stage, and we hope you will join us. More information on the performances, as well as how to purchase tickets can be found here.

Our dedication to educational access has found new form in our recently launched Apollo Apprenticeship program, which provides college students with pre-professional experience in the arts and entertainment industries, offering a wide range of programs and resources as they navigate the field. Applications are open until November 14; to apply or find more information, please see here.

Finally, given the Apollo’s long-standing tradition of encouraging civic engagement, I urge you to exercise your right to vote the upcoming midterm elections. If you have questions about registering or finding your polling site, please visit our Apollo Cares page here.

Apollo is now the strongest it has ever been, and so I feel confident that it is the right time to pass the baton to the next leader who will continue to push the Apollo’s mission forward. I will be stepping down as president and CEO in June 2023 and look forward to supporting the Apollo as an audience member.

I am so proud of what this theater has become, and I recognize that none of it would be possible without your continued generosity. If you would like to support the Apollo as it heads into the next chapter, please consider giving today.

Thank you for your continued support. I look forward to seeing you in the theater in the next months.

Sincerely,

Jonelle Procope
President & CEO
Apollo Theater

Dear Friends,

As summer starts to wind down, I hope you find moments of joy and rejuvenation while you look ahead to the fall. At the Apollo, the joy never stops, and we are immensely excited to share our upcoming fall season with you. The season centers on the theme “The Next Movement,” which honors the Apollo’s dynamic energy and forward motion along with the audiences and artists that we serve.

From musical performances, cutting-edge dances, and insightful conversations with cultural icons, there is no shortage of events for everyone. A few of our season highlights include:

• A conversation with fashion icon and British Vogue Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful ahead of the U.S. release of his memoir, A Visible Man, and just in time for Fashion Week 
• Camille A. Brown’s ink, featuring Brown alongside her company, Camille A. Brown & Dancers, in two performances that will mark the legendary choreographer’s final performance on stage as a dancer 

• A rare U.S. performance by Grammy-winning artist Oumou Sangaré, one of West Africa’s most celebrated vocalists presented in partnership with our friends at World Music Institute 
• Multi-platinum-selling hip hop artist Fat Joe, who pulls back the curtain on his life and career in a conversation about his new memoir The Book of Jose 
• The return of Apollo-favorites such as Kwanzaa: Regeneration Celebration featuring Abdel R. Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, Apollo Music Café, Comedy Club, and numerous education and community events for all ages 

Wednesday nights continue to electrify our stage with our live and in-person Amateur Night competitions, and we hope to hear your voice in the crowd. For those who have dreamed of finding stardom on the Apollo stage, we’ll also be holding in-person auditions for the next Amateur Night season at the Apollo on September 24. You can learn more about the audition process here.  

I’d like to express my immense gratitude for the ongoing support we receive from our generous donors. If you are able, we hope you’ll consider supporting the Apollo’s mission to serve as a beacon for Black culture and center artists of color and their work as we continue to push froward “The Next Movement” by making a donation here. We are excited and honored to have all of you as part of our Apollo family. Onward! 

Sincerely, 

Jonelle Procope
President & CEO 

  

Dear Friends,

We are thrilled to be capping off a vibrant spring season at the Apollo and heading steadfast into the summer. As we continue to celebrate the arts and support our local and global communities, we stay true to our season’s theme “The Renaissance is Now!”. On Monday, June 13, we’ll host our annual benefit in person for the first time in two years, and it will surely be a joyful evening. As a non-profit cultural organization, the Apollo is elated to bring us all together to support and amplify the Theater’s commitment to our community and to providing a platform for the African American narrative. This year, it will be hosted by actor, comedian, and “Saturday Night Live” cast member Kenan Thompson

Our Impact Award will be presented to the extraordinary filmmaker and philanthropist Tyler Perry, owner of the largest film production studio in the United States, and the first African-American to outright own a major film production studio. In addition to his film and theatrical work, Mr. Perry has been supporting the solution to humanitarian issues such as homelessness, access to clean water, and civil rights through generous donations by his foundation, The Perry Foundation. Renowned Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg will be on hand to bestow Perry with this award. The evening will also feature musical performances by The Roots and Apollo-favorite DJ Derrick “D-Nice” Jones, along with special appearances by Stephanie Mills, Ogi and more.

To further commemorate the annual event, the Apollo will release approximately 400, limited edition non-fungible tokens (NFT) on the eco-friendly Flow blockchain. Complimentary tokens featuring the iconic marquee on 125^th Street will be issued to each person who purchased a ticket or donated to Apollo’s Spring Benefit. The commemorative NFT will be a digital keepsake celebrating our largest fundraising event of the year, and we are excited to share more in the weeks ahead. For more information about the Apollo’s commemorative NFT, visit www.ApolloTheater.org/NFT.

June will be filled with other exciting events as we celebrate Black Music Month. Throughout the month we’ll host live music under our marquee, presented by the Apollo, Make Music New York, the Festival of New York, and WBAI. This event is part of the first-ever Festival of New York, alongside 300 cultural partners such as Lincoln Center and the Queens Night Market, which will celebrate community and collaboration through performances, fairs, classes, exhibits, concerts, games and more all summer. Additional highlights of the Apollo’s summer include an in-person career panel with industry professionals on their beat-making and music production careers.

The live and in-person Amateur Night competitions continue to bring down the house on Wednesdays. With the semifinals just around the corner in July, we’re excited to see who will move on to compete for the Grand Prize this fall. We hope you will be able to join us for an upcoming show.

Recently, I was selected by Howard University, my alma mater, for an honorary doctorate alongside other cultural leaders for our humanitarian and philanthropic contributions to society. I am humbled and filled with gratitude to continue working with an amazing team to do the work of cultivating artists, catalyzing creativity, and uplifting the community that happens every day at the Apollo. I continue to be proud of the rigorous roster and range of artistic events at the Apollo and all of the ways in which we reach our community.

Again, I’d like to express my immense gratitude to the generous donors who have helped us navigate these times and supported us in our commitment to providing arts, education and entertainment for our community. If you are able, we hope you’ll consider supporting the Apollo’s strong mission into the future by making a donation here. And I look forward to seeing you at the Theater.

Sincerely,

Jonelle Procope
President & CEO

Dear Friends,

Spring is upon us, and with it comes a renewed energy and optimism. As the community and the Apollo move forward, I would like to share what’s happening at the Theater. This season centers around the renaissance happening right now. To experience a renaissance is to experience rebirth, and as the Apollo continues its lively Spring season, I can hardly think of a more apt phrase. This year has brought many fantastic events and countless opportunities to come together online and in-person, including:

• The return of Amateur Night competitions at the theater with a live audience. With the semifinals just around the corner, we’re excited to see who takes home the Grand Prize, and hope you will be able to join us for an upcoming show;
• The return of an in-person Dining with the Divas, our special luncheon highlighting extraordinary women from various industries who serve as role models within their communities. It was wonderful to be in the presence of so many inspiring women and I’d like to especially thank the luncheon’s sponsors for their support.

And there is still so much to come, including:

• The Apollo commissioned New Black Fest, a festival created in celebration of emerging Black playwrights. The festival, from April 22-25, includes readings of 18 original short plays curated by Keith Josef Adkins and the Apollo, as well as a special panel discussion.
• The Gathering: A Collective Sonic Ring Shout on May 7, presented in partnership with American Composers Orchestra and co-curated with National Black Theatre. This moving evening will feature works from Nona Hendryx, Toshi Reagon, and Jason Michael Webb and many more, anchored by composer Joel Thompson’s Seven Last Words, an operatic meditation on the last words of unarmed Black men killed by police or authority figures. The powerful program will feature a 70-member orchestra and 60-member choir.
• As part of our return to in-person performances, we’re now issuing paperless tickets. You can learn more about that, along with our other safety protocols, here.

Additionally, the Apollo’s education team continues to offer a robust lineup of programming that will further incubate Black talent and nurture future generations of the creative workforce. A full list of events can be found here.

I’d like to also acknowledge that April is National Jazz Appreciation Month, celebrating the legacy of one of America’s truly unique art forms. Jazz has a special history at the Apollo, with countless luminaries performing on our stages over the past nine decades, from Lena Horne and Louis Armstrong to contemporary artists such as Jon Batiste, Esperanza Spalding, and Apollo’s current Master Artist-in-Residence, Kamasi Washington. In honor of National Jazz Appreciation Month join us on the Apollo Digital Stage on April 29 at 2pm for an uplifting conversation between our Master Artist in Residence Kamasi Washington and Apollo’s Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes.

Again, I’d like to express my immense gratitude to the generous donors who have helped us navigate these unprecedented times and to continue to provide programming and services to our community. If you are able, we hope you’ll consider supporting the Apollo’s upcoming season and future by making a donation here.

Sincerely,

Jonelle Procope
President & CEO

Dear Friends,

First and foremost, I want to extend my wishes for a happy and healthy New Year to you all. While the last few years have been challenging, I hope you found joy and optimism this holiday season. I am filled with gratitude, humbled, and honored to lead an organization that is a shining beacon of culture. I know that things are still a bit uncertain, but when we work together, we will get through whatever lies ahead.

This season’s theme, “The Renaissance is Now!,” is a reminder that the Apollo has long been a hub of Black creativity, cultural expression, and artistry in Harlem. This winter and spring, we will continue to inspire audiences both in the historic Theater and on the Apollo’s Digital Stage. We have an exciting lineup for 2022, including:

• The return of Amateur Night at the Apollo on February 16. Attracting performers and audiences the world over, the legendary talent show is a chance to witness the next star in the making;
• A special conversation between Apollo Master Artist-in-Residence Ta-Nehisi Coates and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter of the Grammy Award-winning band The Roots on their artistic inspirations on March 30;
• The Lyricist Lounge 30^th Anniversary on April 16, honoring the legendary safe space for hip-hop artists to hone their skills that is now an integral part of hip-hop culture;
• The Gathering: A Collective Sonic Ring Shout on May 7, presented in partnership with American Composers Orchestra and National Black Theater. It features a diverse array of contemporary, multidisciplinary artists including Joel Thompson, Carlos Simon, Courtney Bryan, Toshi Reagon, and Jason Michael Webb with a 70-member orchestra and 60-voice choir composed of both professional and amateur singers from African American churches and choral ensembles across New York;
• Our bi-annual Africa Now! festival featuring East African jazz vocalist Somi with surprise guests; a special screening of Queen of Glory written, directed, and starring Nana Mensah; and special panel discussions and late-night events; and
• The return of our late-night offerings, Apollo Music Café and Apollo Comedy Club, featuring an array of the best independent and emerging artists including Prince protégé Liv Warfield who opens the Music Café on January 15.

You can learn more about our complete season lineup, including community conversations, education events, additional film screenings, and access tickets on our website here. To ensure our community, staff, and artists remain safe, we have implemented a number of protocols, including requiring proof of vaccination and masks for everyone entering the Theater as required by state and local health officials. For more details, please visit our website here.

Building on the Apollo’s decades-plus relationship with SiriusXM, I’m thrilled to share that the company has generously donated $5 million to the Apollo for the support of artists and creating access for new audiences.  In recognition of this gift, we are naming the orchestra level of the historic Theater the SiriusXM Orchestra. I look forward to sharing more about our continuing collaboration with SiriusXM in the months ahead.

Unfortunately, due to COVID, there have been delays in the opening of our new spaces in the Victoria Redevelopment Project.  We are now expecting to open in early 2023. The Apollo’s Victoria Theater will enable us to build on our longstanding role as a supporter of artistic creation and collaboration in Harlem and for Black and African diasporic arts and artists, and as a central hub for the community. I look forward to welcoming you to what will be an exciting next chapter for the Apollo and for our community.

Our annual Dining with the Divas luncheon will take place in just a few weeks. This annual program raises funds for the Apollo’s School Day Live program, which brings young people to the Apollo for special performances. This year’s luncheon is on track to be the best one yet and is sold out. It is truly a testament to our community, and we are incredibly grateful to those who participate and contribute every year.

I’d like to especially thank the many generous donors who have sustained us over the past year and continue to support our work. For those who are able, we hope you’ll consider supporting the Apollo’s upcoming season and future by making a donation here.

Sincerely,

Jonelle Procope
President & CEO

It’s hard to believe summer is coming to an end, but what a summer it has been. We were honored that the City chose the Apollo to host a concert as part of New York’s homecoming celebration last month. Featuring Nona Hendryx, Bishop Hezekiah Walker, the Nat Adderley Jr. Quintet, Forces of Nature Dance Theatre Company, and the cast of Broadway’s Ain’t Too Proud, among others, the evening provided a welcome opportunity to help revive our community and celebrate the reopening of arts and culture in New York City.

As we reopen our doors, we believe we are entering a new renaissance that will revive the cultural creativity that was curtailed over the past 19 months. That’s why we are thrilled to launch our fall season, “The Renaissance is Now!” It serves as a reminder that the Apollo has long been a hub of Black creativity, cultural expression, and artistry in Harlem. This fall we will inspire audiences both in the historic theater and on the Apollo’s Digital Stage. Ahead of the much-anticipated return of Amateur Night at the Apollo in February 2022, we will resume in-person auditions at the Apollo on October 9 and 10, so emerging artistic talents can vie for a spot in our signature talent show. For more information on how to audition in-person or digitally, please click here.

The Digital Stage will host a special presentation of the rarely seen documentary Devil’s Pie: D’Angelo about the singer’s rise to stardom, sudden disappearance, and return to music; and our beloved Kwanzaa Celebration: Regeneration Night returns, featuring Abdel Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theatre. We are also thrilled to welcome Jamie Foxx back to the Apollo stage live and in-person as he celebrates the release of his memoir, “Act Like You Got Some Sense.” New York Comedy Festival will come to Harlem with actor and comedian Amanda Seales’ “Smart Funny & Black Live!” and Broadway veteran Shoshana Bean’s holiday concert, Sing Your Hallelujah will also return. You can visit our gift shop in person, and for those who would like a closer look behind the scenes of the Apollo, join us for an upcoming virtual tour, hosted by our very own resident historian Mr. Billy Mitchell, aka Mr. Apollo. For more information on the upcoming season and to access tickets, please click here.

As we continue to navigate the ongoing health crisis, we have implemented a number of protocols to keep our community, staff, and artists safe, including requiring proof of vaccination and masks for everyone entering the theater as required by state and local health officials. For more details, please visit our website here.

I’d like to especially thank the many generous donors who have sustained us over the past year and continue to support our work. For those who are able, we hope you’ll consider supporting the Apollo’s upcoming season and future by making a donation here. I look forward to seeing you at the Apollo and on our Digital Stage very soon!

Sincerely,

Jonelle Procope
President & CEO
Apollo Theater

It’s been an extraordinary month at the Apollo, from the incredible performances and tributes at the recent Apollo Resounding benefit to the induction of the incomparable Mary J. Blige into the Apollo’s Walk of Fame. I am also delighted to let you know that MacKenzie Scott made a generous donation to the Apollo. Her gift comes at a critical time for the institution as the Apollo works to rebuild its schedule of live performances and education and community programs. And today, I have more exciting updates to share with you. In 2018, we announced that for the first time in nearly nine decades the Apollo was expanding its physical footprint, becoming the operator and manager for the cultural space located a few doors down within the Victoria Theater Redevelopment Project. After a pause due to the pandemic, I’m excited to announce that we will officially be opening the space, including two flexible theaters, one with 99 seats and the other with 199 seats, in March 2022.

This expansion allows us to provide vibrant, year-round artistic, educational, and community programs that build on the cultural heritage of Harlem and celebrate the enormous well of creativity found in our neighborhood. What’s more, Apollo’s Victoria Theater addresses the lack of cultural space uptown, providing greater access to professional-level theater venues for local artists, artist collectives, and small and mid-size Harlem and NYC-based arts organizations for the development and presentation of performance-based work and brings additional opportunities for audiences to engage with and visit Upper Manhattan, further driving economic investment in the Harlem community.

When the Apollo first began its journey to the Victoria with the Empire State Development (ESD) team in 2012, we never would have imagined that a pandemic would create so much uncertainty about the future for non-profit arts organizations nationwide. After being selected through a Request for Proposals process by ESD to oversee the cultural spaces, we took on responsibility for managing the design and construction of the theaters, including raising the capital to not only build the Victoria but also run it. Concurrently, we’ve been developing a number of programs to address local non-profits’ needs for space uptown to create and perform artistic work and community-centered initiatives.

Beginning in November, the Apollo will offer eligible, mission-aligned, non-profit arts and cultural organizations the opportunity to apply for Culture Forward, Apollo’s brand-new subsidy program that will significantly reduce the cost of using the theaters. The Apollo will offer selected organizations professional, high-quality technical equipment and the essential staff needed for events at the Victoria, all-inclusive, at substantially reduced rates for both performances and rehearsals. Additional details on the Culture Forward application process will be announced in the fall. This exciting project continues to evolve, and the Apollo is also in conversation with other local non-profit arts organizations about longer-term commitments to ensure the Victoria has year-round programming, part of the original mandate for the space by ESD.

Looking forward, the Apollo’s Victoria Theater will officially open in March with a special three-concert presentation of Dreaming Zenzile, a modern jazz theater-piece based on the extraordinary life of the late South African singer and political activist Miriam Makeba. Grammy-nominated vocalist and songwriter Somi Kakoma created and will perform the work, which is presented in association with National Black Theatre.

The Apollo has always valued your thoughts, please send your feedback to [email protected] In the meantime, I very much hope you will join us on the Apollo’s Digital Stage in the months ahead, and I look forward to sharing more about our upcoming fall season and the additional celebrations we are planning for the Victoria Theater soon.

Sincerely,

Jonelle Procope

Dear Friends,

The Apollo has never been just a theater. We are the embodiment of an ideal, a mission, and a spirit that is more expansive than can be held in our building. With that in mind, I hope you will join us on Monday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET as we celebrate this spirit with Apollo Resounding, our virtual spring benefit taking place on the Apollo Digital Stage. The benefit will amplify the Apollo’s commitment to the needs of our community and the resounding calls for justice, equity, and humanity.

In addition to world-class performances from some of the Apollo’s most beloved artists, the evening will honor Felicia and Ben Horowitz, recipients of the inaugural Impact Award for their philanthropic leadership; and our good friend, producer and DJ, Derrick “D-Nice” Jones, who will receive the Percy E. Sutton Award in recognition of his work championing the value of the arts and philanthropy as a crucial part of the fabric of our community. The evening will also feature tributes to Motown Records Chairwoman and CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam; activist and educator Brittany Packnett Cunningham; and President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund Sherrilyn Ifill. I can’t wait for you to see what we have in store.

Last week, we were thrilled to induct nine-time Grammy Award-winning and two-time Academy Award nominee Mary J. Blige into the Apollo’s historic Walk of Fame, and in case you missed it, highlights of the day will be featured in Apollo Resounding. We were delighted to once again honor an artist who not only has a deep relationship with the Apollo, but also has an immense impact on American music and popular culture.

Funds raised by Apollo Resounding will support our innovative artistic and educational programming, with a portion set aside to give back to independent businesses and non-profit organizations in Harlem that were heavily impacted by COVID-19. For more details on this initiative established in partnership with 125th Street BID and Harlem Commonwealth Council, please visit here.

On June 4, in celebration of Black Music Month, the Apollo’s Kamilah Forbes will be participating in a live virtual discussion about the Emmy Award-winning HBO documentary, The Apollo. She’ll be joined by interim CEO of Def Jam Records Jeff Harleston and producer Lisa Cortés to discuss the Apollo’s unique history and its continued cultural relevance. The film will also be available to stream on demand from June 2 through June 9, and you can RSVP for free here.

The Apollo is rising, but we haven’t left our roots. As we physically welcome our community home this fall with a limited number of in-person performances, and continue our popular programming on the Apollo Digital Stage, we are expanding our presence in Harlem with the Apollo’s new theaters at the Victoria. Scheduled to open in early 2022, we will be able to offer exciting resources for our audiences, our artists and our community in the months ahead.

I’d like to especially thank the many generous donors who have sustained us over the past year. The Apollo, and arts organizations around the country, continue to need your support. For those who are able, we hope you’ll consider supporting the Apollo’s upcoming season and future by making a donation here.

Sincerely,

Jonelle Procope

Dear Friends,

As we welcome spring, I cannot help but reflect on the past 12 months. It has been a challenging year, but it is also one that has given me hope. I hope that our community will continue to work together to ensure that our families and neighbors remain healthy, and hope that we will safely welcome our community physically into our Theater later this year.

While we are eager to return in-person, I am bolstered by the fact that since March 2020, the Apollo has provided audiences across the globe with many exciting ways to come together. Since launching the Apollo Digital Stage last year, we’ve welcomed more than 420,000 online viewers. From a performance by Wyclef Jean to the celebration of 30 Years of House Party, and a special Verzuz evening with Amateur Night alum and R&B superstar D’Angelo to the bi-annual WOW (Women of the World) Festival, the Digital Stage has been busy. In case you missed any of it, you can check out many of the programs here. On-demand access to WOW, featuring more than 80 thought leaders, scholars, and artists, is also available through April 20.  I hope you’ll take a moment to be inspired.

Our Education team is also hard at work, offering events for students, families, and audiences of all ages, including a career panel exploring the impact of the fashion industry behemoth: the sneaker. And I’m thrilled that the Apollo Theater’s virtual internship program for high school students returns this summer.  It gives teens an opportunity to explore technical theater production. If you are or have a teen who might be interested, you can learn more here. We hope you will also join us for the many exciting events ahead.

Please be sure to mark your calendars for the Apollo’s spring benefit on Monday, June 7. We’ll come together to celebrate Black Music Month, our artists and our audiences. We’ll share more details in the weeks ahead.

The Apollo’s transformative programming would not be possible without our Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes. Please join me in congratulating Kamilah on her NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Direction for HBO’s Between the World and Me. As you know, Kamilah developed and directed the stage adaptation for the Apollo, which was performed across the country.  We’re so proud she was recognized for her brilliant work. And you may have caught the Apollo’s resident historian, Mr. Billy Mitchell, on the Grammy Awards last month when he shared how he got his start at the Apollo Theater. In case you missed it, or his presentation of Rap Song of the Year to Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé, we hope you’ll read more here.

As the Apollo looks forward to reopening, we want to thank the many generous donors who have sustained us this year. The Apollo, and arts organizations around the country, continue to need your support. For those who are able, we hope you’ll consider supporting the Apollo Theater’s upcoming season and future, by making a donation here.

Sincerely,

Jonelle Procope

Dear Friends,

I’m delighted to share that in October, the Apollo Theater Board of Trustees unanimously elected Charles Phillips as our new Chairman of the Board. As you may know, Charles is not new to the Apollo. Since 2015, he has served on the Board, most recently as Vice Chairman, and has provided astute advice, counsel and oversight to me and the leadership team over the years. Charles is a well-known leader across a number of sectors—he is currently Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Recognize, the former CEO and Chairman of Infor, and board member of ViacomCBS and American Express—and his background and expertise will be invaluable in guiding the Apollo Theater during this critical time. He also has a deep love of music and an interest in emerging artists that aligns with the Apollo’s mission to provide a home for Black artists and Black culture. Reaffirming his deep connection and immense commitment to our Theater, Charles marked his new role with a generous $1 million gift to the Apollo Theater’s Emergency Fund, which was created to ensure the Theater’s continued financial stability.

Last spring, Charles’ support, coupled with donations from many generous donors, enabled the Theater to meet our $4 million emergency fund goal, allowing us to create dynamic, free events and education programs on the Apollo Digital Stage and ensuring that we continue to serve our community. We couldn’t be more grateful for the myriad efforts Charles has made to help our Theater thrive, both now and for generations to come.

Charles succeeds longtime Chairman of the Board Richard “Dick” Parsons, an outspoken advocate for artistic excellence, and a dear friend and colleague. Having led the Apollo Theater Board since 2002, Dick anchored the turnaround of the Theater and set the institution on the path to success by preserving our cultural landmark as a place for artistic innovation and unforgettable programming. It is under his guidance that the Apollo is expanding its footprint to include two new theaters at the Victoria Theater, and I am incredibly grateful to him for his leadership and dedication to the Apollo for nearly 20 years. That said, this is not a goodbye; Dick has been elected Chairman Emeritus and will remain on the Executive Committee while continuing to champion our mission and programming, educational, and community initiatives.

I hope you will join me in celebrating Charles’ new role and his immense generosity, and commending Dick for his immeasurable and ongoing support. The Apollo Theater is renowned for its dynamic artists, from Ella Fitzgerald and Luther Vandross to Lauryn Hill and performances such as Between the World and Me and the events currently on our Digital Stage. It’s a tribute to Dick, Charles, and our innovative Board of Trustees that the Apollo can amplify and celebrate these voices while nurturing the artists of our future. If you would like to be a part of the Apollo’s future, please considering making a donation here.

Best wishes for safe and joyous holiday season,

Jonelle Procope

Dear Friends,

I am thrilled to share that, last week, the 2019 HBO documentary The Apollo received the Emmy Award for “Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.” It is an honor to receive this recognition, as the film tells the singular history of our theater, our community, and the important role that art and Black artists play in American culture.

Autumn has officially arrived, and the Apollo’s fall programming is in full swing. Thank you to the 20,000 viewers who tuned in earlier this month for Wyclef Jean’s return to the Apollo’s mainstage for the live performance of his groundbreaking album, The Carnival. For those who missed it, you can still view the concert on the Apollo’s Digital Stage, as well as our recent conversation with Grammy Award Winner John Legend and scholar, writer, and activist Salamishah Tillet. Inspired by their mutual role model, Nina Simone, and her belief that it is the artist’s responsibility to reflect and respond to contemporary issues, Legend and Tillet came together for a timely discussion about art, social justice, and what Legend believes the role artists can and should play at this critical moment in our history.

Speaking of our responsibilities to make our voices heard during this crucial time, for those who have not yet filled out the 2020 Census, I encourage you to do so. You have until September 30 and it takes less than 10 minutes to fill it out. The Census will make a crucial difference in shaping the future of our communities and the amount of federal funding they receive over the next 10 years.

Last, but most importantly, we are only 43 days away from the 2020 election. Please make sure you are registered to vote. Early voting begins in New York State on October 24 and extends to November 1. Election day is on November 3. So please make a plan to vote in person or, if you are using an absentee ballot, mail in your ballot. Your voice matters!

With your support, we will continue to be a home for artists, a home for you, and for generations to come. If you are in the position to make a gift to support the Apollo’s programs, please consider doing so by clicking here.

Thank you, and be well,

Jonelle Procope

Dear Friends,

As many of you know, the Apollo Theater doesn’t slow down for the summer, and we’ve been hard at work putting together an exciting line-up of virtual programming to keep you connected to our world-famous stage. On Wednesday, we celebrated HARLEM WEEK 2020 with an online dance party featuring Apollo Music Café regular DJ Hard Hittin’ Harry, followed by the very first chance to hear from two Apollo New Works artists: Ebony Noelle Golden and Kamau Ware. The artists joined Apollo Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes to discuss what they’re creating for our first multi-work commissioning initiative, and the significance of the Apollo’s ongoing support and amplification of Black voices. In case you missed it, you can watch a recording of the conversation on the Apollo Digital Stage.

The Apollo is committed to developing the next generation of diverse arts leaders, and our arts education team is on the front lines ensuring that we provide the skills and support to make it happen. Earlier this summer, the education department pivoted their six-week summer internship program to take place completely online, culminating on August 11 with the Apollo’s Teen Takeover. It was so inspirational to watch these students using their powerful voices to share their visions for a more equitable future. You can watch their production, entitled “Dear Future…”, here. The fall internship program will also be virtual, and I encourage you or those with teens at home to visit the Apollo’s website for more information on how to participate.

Earlier this week, we shared news about some exciting fall Apollo programming, kicking off with a very special performance by Wyclef Jean of his Double Platinum album The Carnival, presented in partnership with ADCOLOR. The free concert will be streaming live from the Apollo’s Main Stage (with minimal crew and no physical audience). Wyclef will bring the energy and Apollo sound back to our Theater for the first time since we closed our doors in March. I hope you’ll tune in to the Apollo Digital Stage on Wednesday, September 9 at 8:00pm ET for what is sure to be an extraordinary night. To check out the rest of our virtual fall season line-up, I encourage to you visit our website here.

Also tremendously exciting, the 2019 HBO documentary The Apollo has been nominated for “Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special” at this year’s Emmy Awards, which air on September 20. The nomination is a testament to our community and the stories we’ve been fortunate to share over the past eight decades. That said, there are many more stories about the Black experience that need to be told, especially regarding violence against Black and Brown communities in America. To continue the conversations that we started at the Apollo in 2018 with the world premiere staged adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me, HBO will be adapting the production for the small screen, once again directed by our very own Kamilah Forbes and premiering this fall (more here).

I would also like to thank the NYC COVID-19 Response and Impact Fund for their generous support of the Apollo Theater. As effects of the pandemic continue to challenge our Theater, we’re grateful that we’re able to continue our mission-driven work and support our staff and our community.

This year is unlike any other we’ve faced, and we rely on our incredible community of supporters to continue our mission. As August is Black Philanthropy Month, we’re teaming up with the Young, Black & Giving Back Institute for the “Give 8/28” campaign, which raises financial support for black-led non-profits around the country on one of the most historic days for Black culture. It’s the day Emmett Till was brutally murdered, the day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his indelible “I Have a Dream” speech, the day Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana, and the day President Obama accepted the Democratic nomination in 2008—signifying both the highs and lows of the Black-American narrative. “Give 8/28” takes place on August 28, 2020, but I hope you will consider donating to the Apollo today. If you would like to be a part of the Apollo’s future, please considering making a donation here.

Finally, we are just 74 days from one of the most important elections in our lives. Please make sure you are registered to vote, because your voice matters.

I value your thoughts, please send your feedback to [email protected]. If you would like to be a part of the Apollo’s future, please considering making a donation here.

Sincerely,

Jonelle Procope

It goes without saying that we are in unprecedented times. And yet, it is also important to recognize that this is not new – as a nation, as a community and as a theater that supports the work of artists who have too often been oppressed, silenced, and ignored.

As is all too often the case, the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately ravaged Black and Brown communities and created immense personal and financial hardship for many across the country. In addition to our fight for survival, numerous small, Black-owned businesses are struggling, while simultaneously dealing with health challenges or the loss of loved ones due to this virus. There is no minimizing the pain being felt by so many.

And then another virus, one which has plagued our country for 400-years, has burst onto our screens and into the media through the murder of George Floyd: eight minutes and forty-six seconds of horror. In the aftermath of the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, and countless others, thousands across the country – people of all races and ethnicities are marching and raising their voices to demand justice. It is my hope that we can channel our anger and rage into constructive change. We must finally create a new narrative that addresses our nation’s history of racism.

And so, the question remains: how can we, the Apollo Theater, help to safeguard our democracy, our freedom, and our humanity?

The Apollo will do what we have always done. Our history is rooted in the fight for human dignity and racial equality and mirrors the history of our community. For more than 86 years, the Apollo has been a home–at times the only home–for Black artists and activists. For more than eight decades, we have amplified the movements and conversations around civil rights, social justice and racial inequality. Even with our physical doors closed, we won’t stop now.

At the Apollo we have rallied around the power of art and culture to transform, connect and heal.

Because, whether we stay home and quarantine, take to the streets in peaceful protest, or fight for justice and equality in other ways, we always need to remember that we are in this TOGETHER. And until we can come together to recognize racism as the pandemic that it is and create lasting change, the story will remain the same.

One way we can begin to change the narrative is to vote like your life depends on it, because it does!

Sincerely,

Jonelle Procope

Dear Friends,

Thank you to everyone who joined us for “Let’s Stay (In This) Together: A Benefit to Support the Apollo Theater.”  The Apollo has always been a place for the community to convene in moments of celebration and during our darkest times. We remain committed to providing a platform for artists and audiences to express themselves by using the arts to advocate for the safety, dignity, and justice for Black people worldwide. It was inspiring to me to have thousands of people from around the world come together online to support the Theater and the Harlem community. I also want to thank the artists who shared their performances and words, Gibson—our lead supporter, and the generosity of viewers who donated. The gifts from those of you who donated to the Apollo during the event will provide critical funding to safeguard our institution and support our innovative artistic and educational programs that serve more than 200,000 people annually. While there is still much work to be done, your help has been essential. Thank you!

We are proud to call Harlem our home, with its rich and distinctive culture, and we are grateful to our Harlem community for its unwavering support of the Apollo. To that end, we have set aside a portion of the funds raised on June 4 to give back to local, independent businesses and non-profit organizations in the neighborhood through the Harlem Entrepreneurial Micro-Grant Initiative. This initiative will provide micro-grants to small businesses that help to define the culture and vitality of our community. We are grateful to our partners at Harlem’s 125th Street Business Improvement District and the Harlem Commonwealth Council for joining us in this project. The deadline for applications is Thursday, June 25, so there are just a few more days to apply. To learn more and to apply, please click here.

I hope that throughout June, you were able to visit our Digital Stage as we celebrated Black Music Month. On our Digital Stage, you will find our recent conversation with DJ D-Nice, never-before-seen archival footage of Stevie Wonder, and resources and performances for those seeking to engage in conversations and activities around race and injustice. We will continue to add virtual performances and more that showcase the vibrant sounds of the Apollo for you and your family and friends to enjoy all summer long.

For more than eight decades, the Apollo’s strength and resiliency have been as constant as the talent on our stages. As we approach the end of the fiscal year, the need for financial support has become crucial, and we are reaching out to donors and friends of the Theater to help us reach our goal to raise $4 million. The outpouring of support is truly meaningful and has brought us much closer to reaching this goal, but if you are in the position to make a gift to the Apollo, please consider doing so now by clicking here.

Thank you, and be well,

Jonelle Procope