APOLLO THEATER ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF 2017 WINTER/SPRING PROGRAMS The Apollo Theater Presents AFROPUNK Unapologetically Black: The African American Songbook Remixed A Celebration of Black Protest Music Creative and Musical Direction by Robert Glasper Featuring special guests Jill Scott, Bilal, Toshi Reagon and Staceyann Chin Saturday, February 25th, -7:30 p.m. Africa Now! Presented in Partnership with the World Music Institute Highlighting the Best of the African Music Scene Featuring Musical Force Mbongwana Star, desert punk / blues band, Songhoy Blues, Vocal Powerhouse Lura & House/Afropunk Sensation DJ Nenim Saturday, March 11th, - 8:00 p.m. The Return of WOW – The Apollo Theater presents Southbank Centre London’s WOW - Women of the World Festival A John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Production with Special Guests Esperanza Spalding and Dee Dee Bridgewater Under the musical direction of Terri Lyne Carrington Bringing Together Women Artists, Activists, and Leaders from Around the Globe Featuring an Evening with The Moth and a Tribute to Legendary Songstress Abbey Lincoln Thursday May 4th - Sunday May 7th The Return of the Theater’s Signature Programs Apollo Music Café, Apollo Comedy Club, Amateur Night at the Apollo, and Apollo Uptown Hall As well as ongoing Education and Community Outreach Programs (Harlem, NY – January 18, 2017) – The Apollo Theater today announced additional details for the Winter/Spring programs as part of its 2017 season. The new schedule includes a slate of dynamic programming encompassing festivals, and collaborations with artists and world class arts organizations as well as a wide array of thought-provoking and socially engaging community forums and a host a of education programs for students, young professionals and families. This current season extends the nonprofit institution’s commitment to the creation of new, innovative works that draw upon the Theater’s rich legacy to support emerging and established artists, and to provide a safe space to explore and push boundaries. A few highlights of the Apollo’s Winter/Spring 2017 programs include: The Apollo Theater Presents AFROPUNK Unapologetically Black: The African American Songbook Remixed A Celebration of Black Protest Music, which is a partnership with the international cultural movement AFROPUNK (Saturday, February 25, 2017), that pays homage to black protest music and the influential artist activists. Under the creative and musical direction of accomplished pianist and producer Robert Glasper, this big band performance will feature special guests from the popular and alternative music scenes including three-time GRAMMY-Award® R&B star Jill Scott, R&B crooner Bilal, singer/songwriter Toshi Reagon and Staceyann Chin. The return of the Apollo’s notable series Africa Now!, presented in partnership with the World Music Institute (Saturday, March 11, 2017), celebrates the best of today’s music from across the African continent. This installment of Africa Now! will include performances from Congolese sensation Mbongwana Star, West African desert punk group Songhoy Blues, Cape Verdean vocalist Lura, and the Nigerian born DJ Nenim. WOW – Women of the World Festival (May 4-7, 2017), marks the Apollo’s second collaboration with London’s Southbank Centre. The festival will honor and recognize the work of women from diverse backgrounds and explore a variety of issues that affect women across cultural, civic, and social boundaries with a mix of performances, conversations, workshops. WOW also includes a special presentation from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts that honors the legendary jazz vocalist and activist Abbey Lincoln featuring three-time GRAMMY-Award® winning jazz songstress Dee Dee Bridgewater and Esperanza Spalding. This performance is under the music direction of multi-talented award-winning composer Terri Lyne Carrington. Additionally, the weekend features an evening of powerful storytelling with The Moth. The Apollo Salon Series presents Maurice Chestnut’s new Work-In-Progress, “Beats + Rhymes + Tap Shoes.” The Apollo Salon Series is the Theater’s new works program, providing valuable resources and exposure to some of today’s most innovative performing artists. Beats + Rhymes + Tap Shoes is a dance piece that explores and reimagines the music of popular hip hop group, A Tribe Called Quest, through tap and jazz. Additionally this season, the Theater will host an Open House free to the public (February 4, 2017); a special edition of Apollo Uptown Hall: Trial By Jury, will take on the most provocative, polarizing and debated word in America -The “N-Word”(February 26, 2017); a new season of Amateur Night, now in its 83rd year (beginning February 22, 2017) and the continued celebration continue honoring the centennial of Apollo legend Ella Fitzgerald with Apollo Live Wire – Ella! A Centennial Celebration (Thursday, May 3, 2017). The Apollo’s popular performance series Apollo Music Café (January 13, 2017) also returns along with Apollo Comedy Club (January 12, 2017), spotlighting the best up-and-coming talent in music and comedy. “We’re excited to present a season filled with such great original programming that ties in directly to the Apollo’s DNA of innovation, collaboration and community,” said Kamilah Forbes, Executive Producer of the Apollo Theater. “This season embodies our commitment to bringing in programming that is as diverse as our audiences and that builds upon the Apollo’s rich legacy in contemporary ways.” Winter/Spring 2017 season programming calendar follows below: 2 The Apollo Theater Presents AFROPUNK Unapologetically Black: The African American Songbook Remixed A Celebration of Black Protest Music Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 7:30pm Creative and Musical Direction by Robert Glasper Featuring special guests Jill Scott, Bilal, Toshi Reagon and Staceyann Chin From Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit, to Public Enemy’s Fight the Power, to James Brown’s Say it Loud, and Bob Marley’s iconic call-to-action, War, the Apollo stage has been an incubator and platform for music that sparks consciousness, celebrates empowerment, and births revolutions. The Theater continues in this tradition by partnering with the international cultural movement, AFROPUNK, to present Unapologetically Black, an all-star big band performance experience under the creative and music direction of jazz pianist and composer Robert Glasper. The evening, featuring special guests from both the popular and alternative music scenes including soul music chanteuse Jill Scott, Bilal, Toshi Reagon and Staceyann Chin will pay homage to black protest music and artists who have celebrated the power of being unapologetically black. Described by the New York Times as “The most multicultural festival in the US,” AFROPUNK began as a web magazine dedicated to celebrating alternative culture and activism, reaching millions across its social networks. Aside from having festival stops in Brooklyn, NY, Atlanta, GA, and Paris, this event marks the first time AFROPUNK will be making a stop in Harlem, NY, bringing two world-renowned institutions of arts and culture together. Africa Now! : Presented in Partnership with World Music Institute Saturday, March 11, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. Featuring: Mbongwana Star, Songhoy Blues, Lura and DJ Nenim The Apollo’s fifth installment of this popular concert series celebrates the best of today’s African music scene and features Kinshasa born music sensation Mbongwana Star, whose eclectic melodies combine a perfect blend of Congolese rhythms and European post-punk bass. Songhoy Blues’ unique sound honors the essence of the Mali people, while fusing elements of contemporary rock and hip hop. Labeled as one of the most vibrant and charismatic singer’s in Cape Verdean’s new generation of singers, Lura brings the power in her up-tempo and energizing performance. Afrofunk sensation DJ Nenim is no stranger to the stage. His eclectic playlists have placed him in some of the biggest clubs in Nigeria. The Apollo Theater Presents Southbank Centre London’s WOW – Women of the World Festival Thursday, May 4 –Sunday May, 7 2017 Presented by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Featuring Esperanza Spaulding and Dee Dee Bridgewater Musical Direction by Terri Lyne Carrington WOW – Women of the World Festival - returns to the Apollo main stage this spring after a successful premiere at the Apollo in 2015. Founded in 2011 by Southbank’s Artistic Director Jude Kelly and originating at Southbank Centre, London, the international festival celebrates women’s achievements and explores the issues that women face globally. The Apollo’s WOW Festival will feature a unique mix of performances, discussions, workshops, and celebrates the work of women from diverse backgrounds. 3 Highlights of the WOW Festival include a tribute to civil rights activist and legendary songstress Abbey Lincoln presented by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; under the musical direction of Grammy Award-winning composer and producer Terri Lyne Carrington, and featuring jazz singers Esperanza Spalding and Dee Dee Bridgewater. The NEA Jazz Master was beloved for her powerful and unique voice, as well as for pursuing her art with integrity and turning music into a genuine celebration of life. Additionally, the weekend features an evening of powerful storytelling with The Moth. The Moth is dedicated to promoting the art & craft of storytelling and celebrates the ability of stories to honor both the diversity and commonality of human experience, and to satisfy a vital human need for connection. The Moth has presented over 18,000 stories to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. The evening includes five true stories, told live and without notes. The festival schedule includes special presentations of Apollo Signature Programs (Live Wire, Apollo Comedy Club, Apollo Music Café, and Apollo Uptown Hall) among other sessions and workshops. SIGNATURE PROGRAMS Amateur Night at the Apollo Sponsored by Coca Cola Opening Night February 22, 2017 Weekly, Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. through November2017 The Apollo Theater’s signature program, Amateur Night, continues to be a resource for discovering new talent and a defining experience for many emerging artists.