Focusing on New Apollo Productions and
Honoring Historic Legends with Contemporary Performances As Part of the Theater’s 80th Anniversary
Get On the Good Foot: James Brown Project Celebrates the Godfather of Soul with Original Choreography Set to His Music
Celia Cruz’s Apollo Legacy Honored with
Tribute to the Guarachera de Cuba: The Queen Celia Cruz
New Productions Honor Chico O’Farrill, Duke Ellington, and Richard Pryor
Signature Programs Amateur Night, Apollo Club Harlem, Africa Now, Salon Series, and Apollo Music Café Return
The Apollo Theater announced today a dynamic season of programming for 2013 – 2014 which will include music and dance performances in a range of genres, showcases of established and emerging artists, and education programs led by featured artists and scholars. The season represents the non-profit institution’s continued commitment to developing new productions that draw on the legacy and global influence of the world-famous Theater. This year those productions will include James Brown: Get on the Good Foot—A Celebration in Dance, showcasing the influences of the late “Godfather of Soul,” and the return of Apollo Club Harlem, an original musical revue which transforms the Apollo into a classic Harlem nightclub, choreographed and hosted by Apollo Legend Maurice Hines.
These productions will be complemented by the Apollo’s signature series: Amateur Night, America’s original talent show, which will celebrate its 80th year on the main stage; Apollo Music Café, the popular series which showcases independent musicians in an intimate club-like atmosphere on the Theater’s Soundstage; and the Salon Series, residencies in which artists develop and test new work across disciplines. The Apollo continues its legacy as a cornerstone for the Harlem community with education and community engagement programs for school children, young professionals, and community members, led by notable performers, scholars, and community leaders.
The season builds on the Theater’s longstanding role as a creative catalyst for Harlem, New York, the nation, and around the globe and will feature groundbreaking and diverse presentations, highlights of which include:
· James Brown: Get on the Good Foot—A Celebration in Dance – An evening-long dance program developed by six choreographers from around the world showcasing the stylistic and cultural influences the “Godfather of Soul” continues to have. Under the artistic direction of acclaimed choreographer Otis Sallid, dancers from the Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO) will pay tribute to Brown through original dance numbers and a musical score comprised of classic music by the soul icon and new works by composers influenced by Brown.
· Ellington at Christmas – This special two-part program will include excerpts from Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite and Sacred Music Concerts. Ellington has a rich history at the Apollo, where he headlined frequently in the 1930s and 40s. The Ellington at Christmas program will feature tap phenomenon Savion Glover and vocalist Lizz Wright, Ellington historian David Berger’s 16-piece jazz orchestra with solo vocalists, the 100-voice Abyssinian Baptist Church Choir, and Harlem dance students.
· Apollo Club Harlem – The second annual original revue directed and hosted by Apollo legend Maurice Hines celebrates Harlem’s glorious jazz history by transforming the Theater into a legendary Harlem nightclub recalling the days of Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday. Table seating in the Orchestra section surrounds the audience with the action and harkens back to the Apollo’s golden age.
· Tribute to the Guarachera de Cuba: The Queen Celia Cruz – The Queen lives on! – Celia Cruz is remembered at the Apollo for her energetic performance style and assertions of Afro-Latina pride, which continue to resonate with the Harlem community. The Apollo Theater, in partnership with the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute, presents a special concert to commemorate the life and legacy of Celia Cruz. This extraordinary event, produced in collaboration with Omer Pardillo, also marks the 50th Anniversary of Cruz’s debut performance at the Apollo Theater in May 1964. The concert, featuring signature numbers from Cruz’s songbook, will be performed by a new generation of Afro-Latina vocalists.
· Africa Now! – In collaboration with World Music Institute, the Apollo will present its second annual Africa Now! festival, spotlighting today’s African music scene. The festival will feature a powerful lineup of artists who have drawn upon their cultural roots for inspiration—and who are actively involved in the global music landscape. The weekend-long festival will include one blowout concert, a meet-the-artist panel, family event, a film screening, and two Apollo Music Café performances. Past festival artists have included: Blitz the Ambassador (Ghana), Nneka (Nigeria), Lokua Kanza (The Congo), and South Africa’s The Soil and Freshlyground.
- Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival – The Apollo, in collaboration with Harlem Stage and Jazzmobile, presents the fourth annual Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival.The Festival celebrates the rich legacy of jazz in the uptown community, bringing both established and emerging artists to famed Harlem venues including the Apollo Theater, Showman’s, and Minton’s Playhouse.
- Harlem Jazz Shrines’ Apollo Mainstage Event: Afro Latin Jazz Suite – Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra – In recognition of the 65thanniversary of Chico O’Farrill’s Afro Cuban Jazz Suite, the centerpiece of the Afro-Cuban jazz repertoire, and in celebration of the Apollo’s ongoing role in the development of Latin jazz, the Theater will commission and present the world premiere of Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro Latin Jazz Suite, a recasting of this masterpiece with a new generation of young jazz masters.
· Amateur Night – Since its inception in 1934, Amateur Night has been one of New York City’s most popular live entertainment experiences, launching the careers of thousands of performers and attracting audiences from all over the world. The weekly talent competition celebrates its 80th season with a new opening song and several special theme nights including: Soul, Gospel, Broadway, and Jazz.
· Apollo Music Café – Showcasing creative underground artists in a series of diverse performances across genres—including R&B, hip-hop, soul, jazz, pop, funk, and rock—Apollo Music Café continues for its fourth season. Presented in the Theater’s intimate Soundstage, Music Café offers a lounge-like atmosphere to experience innovative, avant-garde performances, with a bar and stage-side seating. This season’s Apollo Music Café artists include: Martha Redbone, Stephanie McKay, B. Steady, Chris Turner, Alecia Chakour, and Jason Walker.
“We’re excited to present a season filled with so much original programming that ties back to the Apollo’s history and community,” said Mikki Shepard, Executive Producer of the Apollo Theater. “Programs in our new season remember legends like Celia Cruz and James Brown—who helped make the Apollo the institution we know it as today—by capitalizing on contemporary styles, forms, and talent. In that way, the Apollo is continuing our history of recognizing established artists and discovering new talent.”
Complete season programming information follows below.
APOLLO LEGACY
The Apollo Theater’s Legacy Series celebrates and re-envisions the music, theater, and dance legacy of the Apollo, Harlem, and African-American culture. The projects are forward-looking, contemporary productions focused on the artists, arts forms and places that were central to the growth and development of African-American and American culture. These projects include emerging and established artists, historic and contemporary interpretations of classic music and dance work, and new compositions and choreography. In the 2013-2014 season, the Apollo will present:
James Brown Project: Get on the Good Foot
World Premiere – October 22, 2013 – 8 p.m.
October 25, 2013 – 8 p.m.
October 26, 2013 – 8 p.m.
The Apollo Theater’s James Brown Project: Get on the Good Foot is a major evening-long dance program conceived by acclaimed choreographer/artistic director, Otis Sallid. The project is designed to shed light on Brown’s enormous worldwide influence and as a fresh perspective on the rich history of the Apollo Theater. Through the universal language of dance, the Get on the Good Foot pays homage to an American master who influenced the globe with his innovative music and precision choreography. In addition to original choreography to the Apollo Legend’s own music, the performance will feature new compositions inspired by Brown, and will feature extensive cultural participation activities including Live Wire discussions, School Day, and Family Show performances designed to highlight Brown’s work. Additionally, there will be a post-show dance party featuring Burnt Sugar Arkestra.
Get on the Good Foot will be performed by the Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO) and will feature new dance work from six choreographers, includingCamille Brown (United States), Ronald K. Brown (United States), Souleymane Badolo (Burkina Faso), Thang Dao (Vietnam), Aakash Odedra (United Kingdom), and Abdel Salaam (United States), among others. Kathak, tango, tap, and hip-hop art forms will be featured in the work.
Unspeakable: A dramatic fantasia. Inspired by the Life of Comedian Richard Pryor
November 1 and 2, 2013 – 8 p.m.
Creative Mind Entertainment & OBC Dream Theatre in association with the Apollo Theater present a new work in development. Unspeakable,” conceived & directed by Rod Gailes OBC, is an unflinching look at the life and times of an iconic comedic genius. Covering a span of sixty-one years, we travel through the emotional landscape that is Richard Pryor. The presentation, covering the period of 1967 through 1982, is not just about Pryor’s comedy, nor is it a straight-up biography— it is a juxtaposition of both his comedy and his life, illuminating the root of his comic genius while simultaneously revealing the real Pryor.”
Ellington at Christmas
December 7, 2013 (two performances) – 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Duke Ellington was an Apollo Legend and headliner and performed during a period that was often considered the Apollo’s golden years, during the 1930s and 40s. Ellington’s music stretched into many genres, including blues, gospel, film scores, popular, and classical. This special holiday presentation is a two-part program that includes excerpts from Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite and his Sacred Music Concerts, under the musical direction of David Berger. The first part of the program will be Ellington’s The Nutcracker Suite, which was recorded in 1960. The Suite features jazz interpretations of The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky, arranged by Ellington andBilly Strayhorn.
The Ellington at Christmas program at the Apollo will include Savion Glover, vocalist Lizz Wright David Berger’s 16 –piece orchestra, narrator/vocalist, the 100-voice Abyssinian Baptist Choir, and Harlem dance students.
Apollo Club Harlem
February 20-23, 2014 (five performances)
Transforming the legendary theater into a nightclub reminiscent of Harlem clubs of the 1930s and 40s, the second annual Apollo Club Harlem is a 90-minute, fast-paced revue that showcases the Apollo’s glorious musical legacy. Contemporary performers join host, director, and choreographer Maurice Hines in a performance that recalls the era when Harlem was home to New York’s hottest clubs, and where the music of Billie, Ella, Dinah, Sarah, Duke, and Dizzy became legend. Sultry, sexy crooners, dazzling dancers, and swingin’ big bands served-up a potent mix of high-class hijinks and entertainment.
Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival
May 5-11, 2014
The Harlem Jazz Shrines project is a Harlem-wide jazz festival presented in collaboration with Harlem Stage and Jazzmobile. The Festival celebrates the rich legacy of jazz in the uptown community, bringing both established and emerging artists to famed Harlem venues. In addition to concerts at still existing jazz shrines, such as the Apollo, Showman’s, and Minton’s Playhouse, events also take place at Harlem Stage Gatehouse, Columbia University, and a variety of locations throughout the Harlem area. The Festival is designed to draw a diverse audience of neighborhood residents, New Yorkers, and tourists.
Tickets for Harlem Jazz Shrines programs begin at $10. The availability of $10 tickets provides access to everyone and allows people the option of attending several events each day, continuing the tradition of non-stop jazz throughout Harlem.
Afro Latin Jazz Suite
Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
May 10, 2014 – 8 p.m.
The 80th anniversary of the Apollo Theater coincides with the 65th anniversary of the composing of the Afro Cuban Jazz Suite, the centerpiece of the Afro-Cuban jazz repertoire, composed by Chico O’Farrill and featuring Machito and his Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Charlie Parker, Flip Phillips, and Buddy Rich.
To celebrate the anniversary of both milestones and of the Apollo’s contribution in the development of Latin jazz, the Apollo Theater will present a new commission by Arturo O’Farrill that re-envisions Chico O’Farrill’s masterpiece. The Afro Latin Jazz Suite will be a re-imagination of the historic work that incorporates new flavors of Latin jazz and features a new generation of young jazz masters. The multi-movement suite will borrow musical textures from Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela, as well as Cuba, Puerto Rico, and other Pan American and international sources. The soloists, reprising the role of the then young jazz masters featured in the original, will also be amongst the most forward looking and creative voices in jazz today.
Showman’s Jazz Club
In collaboration with the Apollo Theater
May 6-10, 2014
As in previous years of the successful festival, the Apollo Theater collaborates with Showman’s Jazz Club to present a week of performances by local Harlem artists and Harlem favorites. We also look to feature bands that play the B3 Hammond Organ, an instrument iconic to Showman’s musical heritage. Selected performers are invited to headline one evening of the week and play two to three sets. Past performers have included: Lakecia Benjamin & Soul Squad, and Cynthia Holiday, among others.
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS
Tribute to the Guarachera de Cuba: The Queen Celia Cruz
Presented in partnership with the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute and in collaboration with Omer Pardillo
March 22, 2014 – 8 p.m.
The Spirit of the Queen lives on! The Apollo Theater, in partnership with the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute, presents Tribute to the Guarachera de Cuba: The Queen Celia Cruz, a special concert to commemorate the life and legacy of Celia Cruz. This extraordinary event, produced in collaboration with Omer Pardillo marks the 50th Anniversary of Cruz’s debut performance at the Apollo Theater in May 1964. The concert, featuring signature numbers from Cruz’s songbook, will be performed by a new generation of Afro-Latina vocalists. Celia’s energetic performance style, larger than-life stage presence, and proud assertions of Afro-Latina pride resonated well with both Latino and African-American audiences, helping to transform the Apollo into a truly transcultural space, bringing Harlem’s two most prominent communities together through music.
The concert will honor the four phases of Celia’s musical career: Celia con La Sonora, Celia con Tito Puente, Celia con La Fania and Celia La Unica – La Negra Tiene Tumbao.
Tickets for Tribute to the Guarachera de Cuba: The Queen Celia Cruz go on sale on Monday, December 2.
Africa Now!
Presented in partnership with World Music Institute
April 3 – 5, 2014
This annual festival spotlighting today’s African music scene centers around one blow-out concert event on the legendary Apollo stage and will feature a powerful line-up of African artists who have drawn upon their roots for inspiration and transplanted them onto the global music landscape. Other activities include a meet-the-artist panel, a family event, a film screening, and two Music Café showcases. Past festival artists have included: Blitz the Ambassador (Ghana), Nneka (Nigeria), Lokua Kanza (The Congo), and South Africa’s The Soil and Freshlyground.
Tickets for Africa Now! go on sale on Monday, September 9.
SIGNATURE PROGRAMS
Amateur Night
Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo and its notoriously “tough” audience have played a major role in cultivating artists and in the emergence of innovative musical genres including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop. Ella Fitzgerald; Sarah Vaughan; Billie Holiday; Sammy Davis, Jr.; James Brown; Bill Cosby; Gladys Knight; Luther Vandross; D’Angelo; Lauryn Hill; and countless others began their road to stardom on the Apollo’s stage. There is no more enduring and significant talent showcase in American history than Apollo’s Amateur Night. The Apollo Amateur Night season includes 40 performances, all culminating with one grand prize winner at the end of the season. Special themed shows include:
Amateur Night: Nothin’ But Soul w/Guest Artist July 3, 2013
Amateur Night: Harlem Week Celebration August 14 and 21, 2013
Amateur Night: Gospel Night w/Guest Artist September 11, 2013
Amateur Night: Holiday Special December 14, 2013
Amateur Night: 2014 Season Opening January 29, 2014
Amateur Night: Broadway March 19, 2014
Amateur Night: Harlem Jazz Shrines w/Guest Artist May 7, 2014
Apollo Music Café
October 2013 – June 2014
The Music Café is designed to attract intergenerational and forward-thinking artists and audiences alike. Featuring diverse performances across a myriad of genres—R&B, hip-hop, soul, jazz, pop, funk, and rock, the monthly series introduces new artists and musical projects to the local music circuit. The Music Café season includes 18 performances and will feature artists including Martha Redbone, Stephanie McKay, B. Steady, Chris Turner, Alecia Chakour, and Jason Walker.
Dates and performers TBD.
HOLIDAYS AT THE APOLLO
A December month-long celebration of holiday traditions and special programming that includes:
Ballet Hispanico
November 22 and 23, 2013
· School Day Live: Ballet Hispanico
· Annual Main stage presentation
Apollo Amateur Night Holiday Special
Saturday, December 14, 2013 – 7:30pm
With the Apollo Stars of Tomorrow and special guest performances
Featuring an incredibly talented array of instrumentalists, singers, and dancers from ages 11-18, this program, hosted by Capone, captures the spirit of young performers all hoping to follow in the footsteps of Apollo Legends like Michael Jackson and Ella Fitzgerald, whose careers were launched on the stage of the Apollo. Tickets for Amateur Night Holiday Special go on sale on Monday, October 21.
Coca-Cola Winter Wonderland
Saturday, December 14, 2013 – 2 p.m.-6 p.m.
The Apollo brings the magic of the holiday season to Harlem sponsored by Coca-Cola. Just before the Amateur Night Holiday Special and under the Apollo’s iconic marquee, a variety of holiday-themed activities and performances free and open to the public are offered. Hosted by Billy Mitchell, Apollo Theater tour director, festivities include picture-taking with Santa Claus, giveaways, and performances by some of New York City’s best choirs. Additionally, in the spirit of giving, the Apollo will be a designated location for a toy drive.
Kwanzaa Celebration
Regeneration Night
Friday, December 27, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
Featuring Abdel R. Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theatre with special guests
Hosted by Imhotep Gary Byrd
The Apollo Theater celebrates Kwanzaa with its popular annual show, featuring the renowned New York-based dance company Abdel Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theatre. Since 2006, the Apollo has established an annual show to celebrate this holiday tradition on one day of the Kwanzaa holiday. The Apollo’s celebration is a joyful evening of dance and music honoring the principles of Kwanzaa—family, community, and culture. Tickets for Kwanzaa Celebration go on sale on Monday, October 21.
SALON SERIES
April 2014
The Apollo’s Salon Series, hosted on the Apollo Soundstage, expands on the theater’s tradition of nurturing artists by providing critical support in their creation of contemporary new work that cuts across arts disciplines.
EDUCATION – PUBLIC PROGRAMS
The Apollo Theater Education Program extends the Apollo’s commitment to enhancing the life of the community. The Education Program focuses on four distinct areas of learning and engagement: residencies, workshops, and tours for schools; curriculum materials aligned to state and national learning standards and study guides derived from the Theater’s history; career development for teens and adults through the Apollo Theater Academy; and discussions and lectures for the public that highlight the history of the Apollo and its impact on American art, culture, and entertainment.
Please note, the below dates are tentative:
Apollo Career Panels
Career Panels at the Apollo are a part of the Apollo Theater Academy, a program which advances career and leadership skills through seminars, workshops, panels, and internships focused on professions “behind the-scenes” in the arts and entertainment industries.
November 18, 2013 Career Panel/Careers in Music
March 17, 2014 Career Panel/Women in Production
Live Wire Discussion Series
Discussions led by arts, entertainment, community, and business scholars and VIPs on topics pertinent to the Apollo Theater’s history and/or events that advance the public knowledge and appreciation of the Theater’s role in shaping American culture. Interviews will be linked to Apollo Performing Arts events, the Apollo Archives initiative, and Apollo Hall of Fame inductions. Discussions and interviews will be recorded and podcasts created to extend the audience reached through the endeavor and for inclusion in the Archives.
October 17, 2013 Live Wire: The JB Ultimate Roundtable
October 24, 2013 Live Wire: Anatomy of Funk – A Talk with Otis Sallid and the GONTGF Creative Team
February 6, 2014 Live Wire: Black Style on Stage
May 8, 2014 Live Wire: Latin Jazz
Master Class Talent Development Seminar
The new series continues the legacy of the Apollo as a place where artists and entertainers learned informally about the principles and ethics of show business. Formalizing this tradition, the seminar curriculum will provide participants with guidance on the basic elements of their craft, personal presentation in the public arena, business and legal considerations, and marketing and publicity. Each seminar will be facilitated by an industry professional.
November 16, 2013 Master Class/ TBA
March 2014 Master Class/TBA
Family Showtime
Over the course of its more than 75 year history, and in addition to its role as a source of entertainment, the Apollo has often as an initial opportunity to discover live music, dance, and theater. Many adults cite the Apollo as their first exposure to live performance through attendance at shows at the theater. Family Showtime is a revived initiative of the Apollo Education Program, designed to continue this legacy and to provide families with young children and teens the opportunity to experience live, high quality cultural events in the Harlem community. Events during the 2013-14 season include:
October 26, 2013 Family Showtime matinee: James Brown: Get on the Good Foot – A Celebration in Dance
April 5, 2014 Family Showtime: Africa Now!
May 10, 2014 Family Showtime: HJSF Latin Jazz
School Day Live
Apollo School Day Live extends the “Apollo Experience” to new generations of theater-goers while providing exciting opportunities to learn about the arts, history, and culture.
October 25, 2013 School Day Live James Brown: Get on the Good Foot – A Celebration in Dance
November 22, 2013 School Day Live: Ballet Hispanico
May 9, 2014 School Day Live: HJSF – Latin Jazz
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Community programs extend the Apollo Theater’s commitment to enhancing the life of the community and further its mission as a community resource. Programs are designed to engage children, adults, schools, families, artists, and community-based organizations. Events and programs include:
Harlem Week
Every August the Apollo Theater is proud to partner with Harlem Week, a city-wide initiative to celebrate and drive tourism to the Harlem neighborhood. The Apollo will partner through the following activities:
· Apollo Amateur Night celebrates Harlem Week: August 14 and 21, 2013
· Harlem Day: Amateur Night on Stage at Harlem Week: August 17, 2013
Apollo Uptown Hall
The Apollo Theater continues to be a gathering place and “town hall” for local community residents as well as people from all across New York City. This has been demonstrated by the huge turnout and response to events such as the Bradley-Gore presidential debate, President Obama’s election campaign and presidential election night outcome, and Michael Jackson’s and James Brown’s passing. Launched in September 2012, Uptown Hall is a forum for presenting and discussing timely issues relevant to the community, the country, and the world. Incorporating video, texting, and live performance to enhance and develop an interactive forum for community gathering, the audience is key to the format to encourage cross-cultural dialogue and debate, and for different points of view to be aired. Planned events include a tribute to Martin Luther King.
Apollo Open House
February 7 – 9, 2014
In celebration of African-American History Month, the Apollo Theater will open its doors for a FREE weekend to give visitors a glimpse into our rich history with a sneak preview of our future presentations. Open House Weekend will feature displays of Apollo memorabilia, live performances from past winners of the Apollo’s signature series, Amateur Night, family workshops, and multi-media presentations on Apollo Theater history, among a host of other activities.
Advance discounted tickets for the Apollo’s 2013-14 season are available exclusively through the Apollo Advantage program beginning May 27. Visitapollotheater.org for more info.
ABOUT THE APOLLO THEATER
The Apollo is a national treasure that has had significant impact on the development of American culture and its popularity around the world. Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo Theater has played a major role in cultivating artists and in the emergence of innovative musical genres including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop. Ella Fitzgerald; Sarah Vaughan; Billie Holiday; Sammy Davis, Jr.; James Brown; Michael Jackson; Bill Cosby; Gladys Knight; Luther Vandross; D’Angelo; Lauryn Hill; and countless others began their road to stardom on the Apollo’s stage. The Apollo Theater’s new artistic vision builds on its legacy. New Apollo programming has music as its core, driving large scale and more intimate music, dance and theater presentations. The Apollo will continue to present historically relevant presentations, as well as more forward-looking, contemporary work. Based on its cultural significance and architecture, the Apollo Theater received state and city landmark designation in 1983 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more information, visit www.apollotheater.org.
Films on the Green is coming to Brooklyn in 2013!