By Mabel Pais

As 2021 marches on, with renewed hope and exciting plans, here’s the Apollo Theater’s virtual Spring season line-up.

“Although we will be gathering virtually this season, we are committed to providing opportunities for joy, reflection and entertainment during these turbulent times,”said Jonelle Procope, Apollo Theater’s President and CEO. “As many of you know, the Apollo Digital Stage has been a first for our institution, and we’re incredibly grateful to the artists who presented their work with us and to you, our generous Apollo audience members, who have tuned in—whether as a regular or for the first time. Though our Theater remains dark for in-person performances, we’re thankful we can still convene the Apollo family in new and exciting ways. We will continue offering digital programs until we can come together again on 125th Street.”

To learn more, visit apollotheater.org/digitalstage

Kicking off the virtual spring season on Saturday, February 27 “Apollo Film and Screen/Play Presents: 30 Years of House Party,” an evening featuring a conversation with the film’s stars, Kid ‘N Play—Christopher “Kid” Reid, Christopher “Play” Martin—and director Reginald Hudlin, performances by legendary hip-hop group Full Force, Lisa and other surprise guests and highlights from the cult musical comedies “House Party” (1990) and “House Party 2” (1991). In March, Apollo will honor Women’s History Month with its bi-annual WOW (“Women of the World”) Festival presented in partnership with the WOW Foundation. This year’s theme “Black Women Transcending” will feature more than 80 thought leaders, scholars, and artists over two days of panels, workshops, and performances. Throughout the season Roc Nation’s Infinity Song will be brought to the stage of the “Apollo Music Café” and offer a range of Apollo Education events for families and audiences of all ages, including a career panel, “Footprint – Design and Creativity in Sneaker Culture,” an exploration of the cultural, societal, and aesthetic impact of the fashion industry behemoth: the sneaker. For the full roster of Apollo events this spring, visit apollotheater.org This season’s transformative programming was made possible with Apollo Theater’s Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes. She has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Direction for “Between the World and Me.”

To see this impactful work streaming for free, visit hbo.com/watch-free-episodes

Arts organizations around the country face a difficult road ahead, and Procope said, “we’re incredibly grateful to the foundations and generous individuals who have supported the Apollo over the past year.” To make a donation, access apollotheater.org/donate

About the Apollo

On January 26, 1934, the Apollo Theater opened with the show “Jazz a la Carte” headlined by Benny Carter and his Orchestra, Ralph Cooper and Aida Ward. Soon after, The Apollo became the premiere place for the performing arts and entertainment in Harlem. As the institution celebrates 87 years, it reaffirms its commitment to centering Black art and culture, especially now as it continues to build on the Apollo Digital Stage.

To join The Apollo in its 87th anniversary celebrations, follow it on its social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter so you don’t miss a beat about what’s up next!

 In celebration of 87 years of the world-famous Apollo Theater! As a special gift to its patrons and viewers, the Apollo Archives are available to premiere a rarely seen performance video live from the iconic stage.

Check out the link below for a very special performance from Apollo Legend, Stevie Wonder, and be sure to follow @apollotheater for more exclusive content and behind the scenes looks into the archives.

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APOLLO & WNYC HOST

MLK and the Fierce Urgency of Now!

Monday, January 18 | 3pm EST

REBROADCAST ON FEBRUARY 25, 2 PM EST

This is a crucial moment for important conversations about our country’s past, present and future. The Theme of this year’s event hosted by Apollo Uptown Hall with WNYC Radio was ‘MLK And The Fierce Urgency Of Now!’

The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was celebrated, Jr. on Monday, January 18th at 3pm ET on the Apollo Digital Stage and Facebook. This program was also aired on WNYC’s The Takeaway at 3pm on 93.9 FM Eastern Standard Time. This year’s special edition of WNYC’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration, presented as part of the Apollo Theater’s Uptown Hall series unpacked the implications of the 2020 US Presidential Election through the prisms of civil rights and modern-day social justice movements.  At the event, Congressman James E. Clyburn, Reverend Dr. William Barber, II, Dr. Bernard Lafayette, Jr., Nikole Hannah-Jones, Queen Afua, gave in-depth interviews and narrative exploration to examine Dr. King’s civil rights philosophy, tactics, challenges and triumphs within the lens of today’s social and political climate.

PROGRAM

THE APOLLO THEATER AND WNYC PRESENT

APOLLO UPTOWN HALL: MLK AND THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW!

WNYC and the Apollo Theater in Collaboration with ‘March on Washington Film Festival’ presented the 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration, “MLK and the Fierce Urgency of Now,” as part of the Apollo’s Uptown Hall series, on Monday, January 18 at 3pm.

This year’s digital version of the MLK Apollo Uptown Hall unpacked the implications of the 2020 US Presidential Election through the prisms of civil rights and modern-day social justice movements. WNYC’s co-hosts Brian Lehrer, Jami Floyd and The Takeaway’s Tanzina Vega presented in-depth interviews and narrative exploration with political leaders, authors, artists, and activists, to examine Dr. Martin Luther King’s civil rights philosophy, tactics, challenges and triumphs within the lens of today’s social and political climate.

Featured guests included:

Congressman James E. Clyburn, Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina

Reverend Dr. William Barber, II, President of Repairers of the Breach and Co-Chair of ‘The Poor People’s Campaign’

Dr. Bernard Lafayette, Jr., Civil Rights activist and Co-Founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee

Nikole Hannah-Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and creator of ‘The New York Times’ 1619 Project’

Letitia James, Attorney General for the State of New York

Dr. Uche Blackstock, ‘Yahoo! News’ Medical Contributor and Founder & CEO of ‘Advancing Health Equity’

Dr. Jeff Gardere, Associate Professor of Behavioral Medicine at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

Queen Afua, Five-time best-selling author and CEO of the ‘Queen Afua Wellness Center’

Leslé Honoré, Blaxican artist and activist, who will read from her book of poems ‘Fist &Fire’

The program will be rebroadcast on February 25 on WNYC FM and AM Stations at 2 p.m. EST.

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness)