ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CELEBRATIONS CONTENTS PRESIDENT & CEO 27 01 IN THE MEDIA FROM THE 31 EXECUTIVE PRODUCER 02 APOLLO AUDIENCE 33 SAY IT LOUD 03 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW 34 MUSIC AND DANCE 07 STATEMENT OF OPERATING ACTIVITY TWISTED MELODIES 35 11 STATEMENT OF NURTURING NEW TALENT FINANCIAL POSITION 13 36 ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY APOLLO PEOPLE 17 37 EDUCATION APOLLO SUPPORTERS 21 39 APOLLO DOCUMENTARY JOIN THE APOLLO 23 41 DESIGN PURE+APPLIED APOLLO THEATER PHOTOGRAPHERS INCLUDE SHAHAR AZRAN, JULIETA CERVANTES, ELENA OLIVO, KERSTEN STEVENS FROM THE FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT & CEO EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Our 85th Anniversary, a new HBO documentary, and the first physical expansion in Our 85th Season offered us a celebration and reflection. our history — it has been a banner year for the Apollo Theater! In addition to giving voice and a stage to upcoming and established performing Featuring more than 100 performances, the 2018-19 Season expanded our artists, we at the Apollo are committed to upholding our legacy and history of cultural commitments to celebrating African American culture, supporting artists, and serving innovation through the works we commission and produce in our theater. From as a resource for students, families, and the Harlem community. From dance and Between the World and Me to Women of the World to Africa Now, there is something theater to jazz, soul, and gospel, the Apollo’s 85th Anniversary Season amplified the for everyone to experience. voices of African American artists who honor the past and look to the future. I am reminded each curtain call that the power and strength of Black cultural In April 2019, the feature-length documentary The Apollo opened the Tribeca Film America is within us all, and at the Apollo, it is our responsibility to celebrate, claim, Festival with a star-studded premiere. Directed by Roger Ross Williams, The Apollo and consistently push the performing arts forward. weaves together rare archival footage and intimate, behind-the-scenes verité from Apollo is both home and the soul of American culture. It is here, on 125th Street, the stage adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me. It explores the that we claim again and again our place in crafting American culture. A lot of stories current struggle for racial justice, the role of art in that struggle, and the broad range and histories sit inside our building. As we look to our future, and consider ways to of African American achievement that the Apollo represents. expand and welcome you and welcome more of you into our home, Apollo will remain This year the Apollo was also selected to operate and manage two new theaters a multidisciplinary arts institution with music at its core — what I like to call the in the Victoria Theater redevelopment project (two doors east of the Theater). These epicenter of Black culture. spaces will allow us to increase the number of artists we present, build on our As neighborhoods like ours in Harlem change, it is important for Black cultural educational programs, and develop new works that speak to our community. As with centers to remain, not only as a present space for witnessing Black artistic excellence, our current spaces, they will also be used by other nonprofits, artists, and community but as a living archive, a place where we can continue to create magic on stage and groups, and play an important role in Harlem’s cultural ecosystem. audiences can see themselves reflected. The Apollo raised $3.2 million to equip the new theaters to meet artists’ and Each night I’m in the Theater and the lights go dim, and the audience silences, audiences’ needs. We thank Empire State Development, New York State Council there is a moment of transformation. There’s no denying there’s a bit of magic here, on the Arts/Regional Economic Development Corporation, Upper Manhattan and I invite you to experience it with us. I always walk out feeling transformed, Empowerment Zone, Booth Ferris Foundation, and The New York Community Trust – knowing I’m in the right place. At home at the Apollo. LuEsther T. Mertz Advised Fund for their support of this transformative project. The achievements of the Apollo Theater’s 85th Anniversary year would have been Kamilah Forbes, Executive Producer impossible without the dedication of our Board of Directors, staff, and the many individuals, foundations, and corporations who generously support us. We thank you all. Dick Parsons, Chair, Apollo Theater Board of Directors Jonelle Procope, President and CEO SAY IT An all-star concert of musicians who worked with James Brown commemorated the significance of what was to become the Black Pride anthem. SAY IT 6 LOUD I’M BLACK AND I’M PROUD AT 50! “James Brown’s “Say It This all-star concert of musicians led by Musical Director Christian Loud,” released in the McBride featured special guests thick of the summer of Lisa Fischer, Nona Hendryx, Avery Sunshine, and Stokley Williams, 1968, was an instant who brought the house down with their contemporary take on soul anthem for Black and R&B honoring the legacy of James Brown and the Black Pride Americans who felt music he inspired. like they were running Harlem’s Reverend Al Sharpton — a longtime friend out of options and just of James Brown — hosted the trying to survive.” evening, and musicians from Mr. Brown’s ensembles were featured New York Times in the house band, including Alfred “Pee Wee” Ellis (co-author of Say It Loud), Fred Wesley, and Robert “Mousey” Thompson. MUSIC & DANCE “Last night, mega-hit producer Teddy Riley returned to his hometown after more than 20 years and tore down the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem New York City for two sold-out shows. The beautiful and ageless MC Lyte performed ‘Ruffneck’ leaving us wanting more from one of our favorite female MCs of that era.” THE SOURCE MUSIC & DANCE APOLLO’S WOMEN OF THE AFRICA NOW! POPULAR MUSIC WORLD FESTIVAL Presented in partnership with the CONCERT SERIES The Women of the World (WOW) World Music Institute, AFRICA The Apollo’s Theater’s 85th Festival, extends the Apollo’s role NOW! included: a conversation Anniversary Season included our as a cultural and civic anchor with Luvvie Ajayi and Yvonne Popular Music Concert Series. dedicated to providing forums Orji of Jesus and Jollof Live with Featured artists included Dipset, for meaningful discussion and performances by Kaleta & Super Teddy Riley/New Jack Swing, and exchange of ideas. Taking place Yamba Band. That same evening, The O’Jays. during Women’s History month, Apollo Music Café presented the four-day program was the third rising stars Tosin and Allinor BALLET HISPÁNICO iteration of this biennial festival and Young Paris. Additionally, Ballet Hispánico, the nation’s at the Apollo. Focusing on female the Apollo launched a new premiere Latino dance company, artists and activists, all of the partnership with the NY African returned to Harlem with two performances, panel discussions, Film Festival and screened Mainstage performances as well as film screenings, and interactive The Wedding Ring (Zin’naariyâ!). school performances in December dialogues were grounded in 2018. Co-commissioned by the the spirit of resistance through AFROPUNK Apollo Theater, the physically artistic expression. Highlights of In honor of Black History Month, charged work CARMEN.maquia the Festival included: an evening the Theater partnered with fused contemporary dance with with Suze Orman; a Teen Summit AFROPUNK, for a weekend nods to the Spanish paso doble produced by the Apollo’s Young of music and film including and flamenco. Producers Club, poet Nikki innovator Kamasi Washington Giovanni; activist Angela Davis; and his 10-piece band, The Next DANCE THEATRE and a concert headlined by multi- Step, who play across musical OF HARLEM talented singer, Alice Smith. genres from jazz, to hip-hop, In February 2019, the Apollo classical, and R&B. welcomed Dance Theatre of Harlem as part of DTH’s 50th Anniversary Season. The legendary company performed lecture demonstrations, as well as two School Day Live and one Family Workshop performance, which helped the Apollo inspire the next generation of dancers. TWISTED MELODIES TWISTED MELODIES In May 2019, the Apollo presented Twisted Melodies, a powerful one-man show inspired by the life of ’70s soul singer, composer, and Apollo legend, Donny Hathaway. Co-produced by the Baltimore Center Stage and Congo Square Theatre Company in association with Mosaic Theater Company, Twisted Melodies was an immersive and crushing play about the brilliant musician’s inner “‘Twisted Melodies’...seeks struggle written and performed by to deconstruct popular Kelvin Roston, Jr. conceptions about madness and music...Rather than romanticize Hathaway’s fate, the play demands that we see him as both marvelous and morally complicated, a man who had to fight himself in order to be heard.” NEW YORK TIMES NURTURING NEW “Apollo Theater has long served as a home for the incubation and development of new artists working across a variety of art forms and the 2019 season continues that commitment with the Salon Series, Music Café and Comedy Club.” KAMILAH FORBES, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER NURTURING 16 NEW TALENT AMATEUR NIGHT AT APOLLO MUSIC CAFÉ THE APOLLO Apollo Music Café featured the Running for 40 shows each best of today’s up and coming season, the Apollo’s signature artists with a mix of performers, talent show, Amateur Night at including powerful performances the Apollo features competition by such standout artists as: John by emerging talent, with Holiday, The Hamiltones, and Nick participation from live and digital Rashad Burroughs. audiences. With performers selected via year-round live and SALON SERIES online auditions, Amateur Night Now in its 13th year, the Apollo continues to launch the careers Salon Series provides critical of many new artists who go on to support for artists in their creation perform at noted venues locally, of new work across disciplines, as nationally, and internationally.