WaMu's APOLLO AMATEUR NIGHT

Tickets available through the Apollo Theater Box Office

AMATEUR NIGHT INTRODUCTION

Since 1934, every Wednesday night at 7:30PM aspiring artists and performers have graced the stage of the Apollo Theater in the hope that the magic of the hallowed stage and the approval of the infamous audience will launch their careers in the entertainment world. Apollo Wednesday night alumni is an impressive, ever expanding roster of world class talent including such legends as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Ben. E. King, Jackie Wilson, The Isley Brothers, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson, Fat Joe, Lauryn Hill, Dru Hill, Blu Cantrell and many others.

Watch the Apollo web site for up-coming Apollo Amateur Night Open Auditions, which are free and are one of the best ways to make your way to the TV show.

See a list of past Apollo performers and Amateur Night winners

AMATEUR NIGHT HISTORY

With this auspicious declaration issued by then owners, Cohen and Sussman, the Legend of the Apollo Theater was born. Friday, January 26, 1934 marked the beginning of the Apollo Theater's reign as the premiere entertainment venue in New York City responsible for launching the careers of many of the world's greatest and most influential performers.

Out of this era of giants, the most enduring and beloved amateur performance showcase was born (the brainchild of showman extraordinaire, Ralph Cooper Sr.) Amateur Night at the Apollo™. The purpose of Amateur Night was then and is now; to provide a platform where amateur performers can showcase and develop their skills.

The ultimate goal is to create a cadre of talented, well-trained and well-groomed performance professionals with an effective understanding of the entertainment industry. The showcase works to nurture aspiring performers in their artistic evolution as entertainers while creating access to professional performance and recording opportunities. Many of our Amateur performers have gone on to perform live opening acts at music concerts for professional artists like Nancy Wilson, George Clinton, Cameo. Others have performed on the Rosie O'Donnell Show, Good Day New York and other local and network television shows.

TREE OF HOPE

The legend and tradition of The Tree of Hope began outside the famous Harlem Lafayette Theatre once located between 131st and 132nd Streets on Seventh Avenue, known as the Boulevard of Dreams.

The Lafayette was then Harlem's top show biz venue featuring African-American talent. The Lafayette soon became the scene for aspiring actors, dancers and performers to mix, gather and exchange information and gossip. The Tree of Hope stood between the Lafayette Theatre and Connie's Inn and black performers believed the tree to be the purveyor of good luck to those who stood beneath its branches. The tree came to symbolize the promise that Harlem held for millions of aspiring African-Americans.

Around the time that the Apollo Theater first opened in 1934, the City of New York widened Seventh Avenue and the trees that had once lined the Boulevard of Dreams had to be removed. One of the trees doomed to this fate was the famous Harlem landmark, The Tree of Hope.