Like the historic Harlem Renaissance which emerged out of the darkness of the Jim Crow South, a new revival of artistic, creative, and innovative expression has been inspired by the truths exposed in the wake of the pandemic.
The Apollo responds with a season of signature programs, audience favorites, and thrilling new works by artists who are pushing the boundaries of their artforms while expanding the canon of African American works. At the intersection of artistry and activism, these insightful and timely presentations honor our storied past, examine our present, and look ahead to our bold future.
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Amateur Night
Check out our calendar for the full schedule for Amateur Night at the Apollo.
The classic competition has returned to shed light on the careers of a whole new roster of stars. Be a part of the notoriously “tough” audience in an interactive evening unlike any other, and lend your voice to decide who will “Be Good or Be Gone” to win the triumphant $20,000 grand prize.
Coca-Cola is the lead sponsor of Amateur Night at the Apollo
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Season Highlights
Uptown Hall:
MLK, Activism, and the Arts Broadcast
For more than eight decades, the Apollo has served as a gathering place and convener for local community residents as well as people from across...
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Somi and Friends
Featuring Dianne Reeves, Thandiswa Mazwai & Msaki
Critically acclaimed for her “African grooves, supple jazz singing and compassionate social consciousness … both serious and seductive” by The New York Times, Somi is...
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In Conversation: Ta-Nehisi Coates and Black Thought
Hailed as “our most vital public intellectual” (Vanity Fair), MacArthur “Genius” Fellow Ta-Nehisi Coates has graced the Apollo stage many times including the theatrical premiere...
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Lyricist Lounge 30th Anniversary Celebration
What began as a regular gathering of some of New York's best underground MCs at various locations around New York City has grown into one...
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The Gathering:
A Collective Sonic Ring Shout
First practiced by enslaved Africans in the Caribbean and in the United States, a Shout (or Ring Shout) is an ecstatic, transcendent ritual in which...
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Uptown Hall:
MLK, Activism, and the Arts Broadcast
For more than eight decades, the Apollo has served as a gathering place and convener for local community residents as well as people from across...
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Community Meet Up: Young Changemakers
Apollo Young Producers present In Service: Young Changemakers The Apollo Young Producers are a dynamic group of alumni from the Apollo’s high school and...
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Black Notes/Femme Futures
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...
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Live Wire from the Archives: Bridging the Diaspora
From Babatundi Olatunji and Hugh Masekela to Miriam Makeba, Salif Keita, and Burna Boy, the Apollo stage has provided a nexus between the African and...
More InfoSomi and Friends
Featuring Dianne Reeves, Thandiswa Mazwai & Msaki
Critically acclaimed for her “African grooves, supple jazz singing and compassionate social consciousness … both serious and seductive” by The New York Times, Somi is...
More InfoLyricist Lounge 30th Anniversary Celebration
What began as a regular gathering of some of New York's best underground MCs at various locations around New York City has grown into one...
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Kuzaliwa: A Harlem Walking Tour with Black Gotham Experience
Derived from the Swahili word meaning “birth,” Kuzaliwa is a suite of creative works by Kamau Ware and the Black Gotham Experience that reflect upon...
More InfoIn Conversation: Ta-Nehisi Coates and Black Thought
Hailed as “our most vital public intellectual” (Vanity Fair), MacArthur “Genius” Fellow Ta-Nehisi Coates has graced the Apollo stage many times including the theatrical premiere...
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The Sound of Social Justice
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...
More InfoApollo Comedy Club
Apollo Comedy Club: Africa Now!
Presented in partnership with Bob Sumner (producer of Def Comedy Jam, creator of LaffMobb on Aspire), the Apollo Comedy Club celebrates these rich comedic roots...
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Presented in partnership with Bob Sumner (producer of Def Comedy Jam, creator of LaffMobb on Aspire), the Apollo Comedy Club celebrates these rich comedic roots...
More InfoApollo Music Café
Apollo Music Café: Liv Warfield
Liv Warfield’s powerhouse performances are akin to witnessing Tina Turner, Sade, and James Brown all in one. Her commanding vocals and enormous stage presence have...
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Apollo Music Café: Africa Now! – Nkumu Katalay and DJ YB
Born in the capital city Kinshasa of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nkumu Katalay blends the music of his homeland with contemporary sounds from the Americas...
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Apollo Music Café: Samara Joy
Having won the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition at the age of 19, Samara Joy is a self-possessed, deeply emotive vocalist with dynamic...
More InfoAfrica Now! Festival
Apollo Comedy Club: Africa Now!
Presented in partnership with Bob Sumner (producer of Def Comedy Jam, creator of LaffMobb on Aspire), the Apollo Comedy Club celebrates these rich comedic roots...
More InfoApollo Music Café: Africa Now! – Nkumu Katalay and DJ YB
Born in the capital city Kinshasa of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nkumu Katalay blends the music of his homeland with contemporary sounds from the Americas...
More InfoSomi and Friends
Featuring Dianne Reeves, Thandiswa Mazwai & Msaki
Critically acclaimed for her “African grooves, supple jazz singing and compassionate social consciousness … both serious and seductive” by The New York Times, Somi is...
More InfoLive Wire from the Archives: Bridging the Diaspora
From Babatundi Olatunji and Hugh Masekela to Miriam Makeba, Salif Keita, and Burna Boy, the Apollo stage has provided a nexus between the African and...
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Imagenation’s Cocktails and Sol Cinema
Queen of Glory Writer, first-time feature director, and star Nana Mensah (Netflix's The Chair and NBC's New Amsterdam) provides a rare glimpse into New York’s...
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Imagenation’s Cocktails and Sol Cinema
It's Different in Chicago Chicago is known by many as the birthplace of house music as well as an incubator for hip-hop hitmakers, yet the...
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ImageNation’s Cocktails and Sol Cinema
MUSE: Black Art Unseen ImageNation brings together a diverse collection of short films in a variety of genres ranging from documentary and experimental to psychological...
More InfoCareer Panels
Crossfade
The Apollo’s Career Panel series provides a behind-the-scenes look at lesser-known careers in arts and entertainment and shines a spotlight on people of color working...
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Costume Design – Telling the Story and Creating the Character
The Apollo’s Career Panel series provides a behind-the-scenes look at lesser-known careers in arts and entertainment and shines a spotlight on people of color working...
More InfoNew Black Fest
New Black Fest: The Harlem Renaissance Then & Now
Robyne Walker-Murphy explores the impact and transformative power of Black artists of the past and today with contemporary artists, Zora Howard (award winning playwright and...
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New Black Fest: Readings
How did the artists of the Harlem Renaissance respond to the historic events that shaped their time? And how are contemporary creatives dealing with the...
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New Black Fest: Readings
How did the artists of the Harlem Renaissance respond to the historic events that shaped their time? And how are contemporary creatives dealing with the...
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New Black Fest: Readings
How did the artists of the Harlem Renaissance respond to the historic events that shaped their time? And how are contemporary creatives dealing with the...
More InfoThe Gathering Community Events
Uptown Hall:
MLK, Activism, and the Arts Broadcast
For more than eight decades, the Apollo has served as a gathering place and convener for local community residents as well as people from across...
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Deep River: Black Currents in Classical Music
There is a rich tradition of Black composers, conductors, and musicians in classical music, from William Grant Still, Scott Joplin, and Florence Price to Marian...
More InfoHealing, Joy and Liberation: Mental Health and the Arts
Artistic and creative practices have long been thought to have positive effects on mental health and wellness, transmuting traumatic feelings and their effects into opportunities...
More InfoResistance and Healing: Engaging The Ring Shout
The ring shout is the oldest known African American performance tradition surviving on the North American continent. A fusion of call-and-response singing, percussion, and expressive...
More InfoHalf Off For Harlem
Harlem residents, employees, business owners, and students can save 50% on tickets to select performances throughout the season
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