The Apollo Theater Foundation Inc

Programs: Performing arts programs: the apollo celebrated its 83rd season in fy'17, which featured more than 150 world-class multidisciplinary programs on its stages. Each year, the programming showcases the apollo's incredible growth as a performing arts presenter in nyc, continuing its legacy of bringing diverse artists to the apollo's world famous stage, and creating a platform for the best in emerging artists in dance, theater, and music. The apollo's season began october 22, 2016 with 100: the apollo celebrates ella, a centennial celebration of jazz legend ella fitzgerald who started her career on amateur night at the apollo in 1934. The apollo collaborated with music producer gregg field on a one night only, sold-out event with the count basie orchestra and featured vocalists patti austin, andra day, monica mancini, cassandra wilson, lizz wright, and afro blue--howard university's premier vocal jazz ensemble. Throughout fy'17, the apollo celebrated "the first lady of song" with performances and special programs. Ballet hispanico, the nation's premiere latino dance company, returned to the apollo with a new work co-commissioned by the apollo theater entitled linea recta, choreographed by columbian-belgian choreographer annabelle lopez ochoa. The program also included encore performances of danzon and club havana. The ballet hispanico engagement included one mainstage performance as well as two school day live performances, which took place 11/18/16 - 11/19/16. Each year, the apollo presents holidays at the apollo, a series of holiday-themed programming. The first noel moved to the mainstage from its soundstage world premiere (in 2015). Presented in partnership with the classical theatre of harlem, the apollo collaborated on the 10- performance run on its 1,500-seat mainstage theater, which took place 12/10/16 - 12/18/16. The apollo's 11th annual kwanzaa celebration featured two dance performances on 12/31/16 from abdel salaam's forces of nature dance theater. On february 25, 2017 (2 shows), the apollo theater presented afropunk's unapologetically black: the african-american songbook remixed, as a part of its "uptown takeover". The apollo concert showcased protest music with a contemporary concert with creative and musical direction by robert glasper with igmar thomas & the revive big band, and featuring bilal, toshi reagon, jill scott, tunde adebimpe (tv on the radio), staceyann chin. On march 11, 2017, the apollo presented its 5th annual africa now! Concert in partnership with world music institute, celebrating the best of today's african music scene. Highlighting west african sounds, the africa now! Artists included: mbongwana star, songhoy blues, lura, and dj nenim. The wow festival was held may 4-7, 2017, and brought more than 7,300 people to the apollo to explore issues that face women around the world and in nyc. Wow was made up of 36 events, including: 21 expert-led interactive dialogues, 9 performances, 5 panel discussions, and 1 film screening, involving 117 artists and speakers, as well as a marketplace of different women's organizations with opportunities for civic engagement. The festival featured many exciting participants, including lupita nuong'o, gabby douglas, among many others. The wow festival included an abbey lincoln tribute concert, a mainstage concert that was the artistic highlight of the festival, honoring the legacy of lincoln who had a voice capable of evoking the joys and pains of life. She carved a niche as a singer, songwriter, activist, actress, and storyteller for over 40 years. Four incredible female jazz artists came together to honor her career - dee dee bridgewater, cassandra wilson, esperanza spalding, and terri lyne carrington - for evening of music. The partners for this program were the john f. Kennedy center for the performing arts and the kimmel center for the performing arts. Amateur night ran each wednesday throughout the year for 40 shows featuring competition from emerging talent, with participation from live and digital audiences. Participants were selected by amateur night producer, marion caffey, via year-round live and online auditions. Amateur night launches the careers of many new artists who go on to perform at venues locally, nationally, and internationally, and has been doing so since 1934.

education, community, and family programming:the apollo remains a leading cultural anchor for upper manhattan and the 125th street corridor, engaging an annual audience of more than 200,000, including harlem and new york residents as well as national and international tourists. In addition to performing arts, the apollo offers community programs that address important issues and meaningfully engage our neighborhood including: the annual free harlem healthy soul festival; a free annual open house; apollo historic backstage tours; the free uptown hall series fostering dialogue around pressing issues in our community; a month of free and affordable holiday programming each december; and an array of free and low-cost programs throughout the year, including a wide-reaching ticket access program ensuring broad accessibility to the theater's range of performing arts and entertainment. The apollo theater is committed to engaging students and youth through innovative education initiatives. The apollo theater academy offers hands-on programs to develop career and leadership skills in under-served teens by engaging them in "behind the scenes" arts and entertainment professions including technical theater apprenticeships, administrative internships, and informative panel discussions. The apollo oral history project is an in-depth in-school program where harlem students transform local history into original theatrical and multimedia projects. Extending the apollo experience to a new generation of theatergoers while supporting classroom learning and in-school work, school day live and family showtime performances allow more than 11,000 students, teachers, and families to experience world-class performing arts presentations on the apollo stages. Through its performing arts program, education and community initiatives, and other endeavors such as digital media and the archives, the iconic apollo theater extends its legacy as a world renowned performing arts center and a nurturing home for diverse artists. The theater continues to showcase popular and emerging talent and engage audiences with its artistic, education and community programming. With demonstrated longevity as a significant american cultural center, the apollo remains a celebrated and accessible venue for diverse audiences, artists and communities.