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Fresh off the success of 125th & Freedom comes The Divining: Ceremonies from in the name of the m/other tree, conceived and curated by Ebony Noelle Golden, is a powerful series of ritual performances, processions, and visual installations that invite you to experience the intersection of art, activism, and spirituality.
Guided by the wisdom of ancestors and the urgency of now, this theatrical ceremony combines movement, poetry, percussion and visual art in a call to reclaim our connection to the land and to each other. The Divining: Ceremonies in the name of the m/other tree weaves together the rhythms of climate change, environmental justice, and the deep roots of Harlem's heritage.
Audiences are invited to travel throughout Harlem in this walking processional with the cast of The Divining: ceremonies from in the name of the m/other tree and members of our community. Featuring micro-rituals, poetry and percussion audiences will be guided to sacred sites throughout Harlem ending at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria. Audiences are encouraged to wear white or blue.
About the Production:
Feverish floods and land-quakes unfold when three mother trees vanish. The mystical and magical town of Here is swept up in the undertow. Sisters Teeny and Vetiver spiral. The people must decide. Return to their ancestors’ ways or perish with the faithless.
About Apollo New Works:
The Apollo New Works initiative expands upon The Apollo’s mission to support the creation of new work by Black artists. Emerging and established multidisciplinary artists are commissioned and provided space, time, and resources to create, develop, and present work across The Apollo stages — including The Apollo Stages at The Victoria, which will serve as the main incubation space. Commissioned works will include world premiere performances, festivals, and programs rooted in music, dance, theater, poetry, and more.
Presented by The Apollo & National Black Theatre
Commissioned by The Apollo’s Harlem 100 initiative
Written, Directed and Choreographed by Apollo New Works Artist Ebony Noelle Golden
Featuring Jupiter Performance Studio
Creative Team:
Ebony "Es" Webster | Associate Choreographer
Kofi Hunter | M/D Composer
Jessica Howard | Vocal coach
Rodrigo Muñoz | Costume Designer
Ray Archie | Sound Design
Izmir Ickbal | Scenic Design
Viktor Givens | Scenic Environmentalist/Installation Artist
Belynda M'Baye | Props Design
Emma Deane | Lighting Design
Graham Zellers |Lighting Design
Sierre Leverett | Script Associate
Omisade Burney-Scott | Dramaturg
Dr. Omi Osun Joni L. Jones | Dramaturg
Dr. Alexis Pauline Gumbs | Additional text/Dramaturg
Toshi Reagon | Project Mentor
Jack Meister-Lopez | Production Stage Manager
Brianna Guillen | Assistant Stage Manager
Amber Snead | Casting Director
Funders And Supporters
Apollo Theater, National Black Theatre, Double Edge Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, Mercury Store, The Shed-Open call Program, Hi-Arts, Toshi Reagon & Wise Reagon Art, Pilsbury House + Theatre, Green Apu Productions & Central Mesa, New England Foundation for the Arts - National Theater Project, Network of Ensemble Theaters, NYSCA, LMCC- UMEZ and Arts Engagement, MacDowell, Saltwater RoadArtist Residency and Performance Institute, Mumbet’s Freedom Farm, Mississippi Center for Cultural Production, Mondo Bizarro, Yaddo
Fresh off the success of 125th & Freedom comes The Divining: Ceremonies from in the name of the m/other tree, conceived and curated by Ebony Noelle Golden, is a powerful series of ritual performances, processions, and visual installations that invite you to experience the intersection of art, activism, and spirituality.
Guided by the wisdom of ancestors and the urgency of now, this theatrical ceremony combines movement, poetry, percussion and visual art in a call to reclaim our connection to the land and to each other. The Divining: Ceremonies in the name of the m/other tree weaves together the rhythms of climate change, environmental justice, and the deep roots of Harlem's heritage.
Audiences are invited to travel throughout Harlem in this walking processional with the cast of The Divining: ceremonies from in the name of the m/other tree and members of our community. Featuring micro-rituals, poetry and percussion audiences will be guided to sacred sites throughout Harlem ending at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria. Audiences are encouraged to wear white or blue.
About the Production:
Feverish floods and land-quakes unfold when three mother trees vanish. The mystical and magical town of Here is swept up in the undertow. Sisters Teeny and Vetiver spiral. The people must decide. Return to their ancestors’ ways or perish with the faithless.
About Apollo New Works:
The Apollo New Works initiative expands upon The Apollo’s mission to support the creation of new work by Black artists. Emerging and established multidisciplinary artists are commissioned and provided space, time, and resources to create, develop, and present work across The Apollo stages — including The Apollo Stages at The Victoria, which will serve as the main incubation space. Commissioned works will include world premiere performances, festivals, and programs rooted in music, dance, theater, poetry, and more.
Presented by The Apollo & National Black Theatre
Commissioned by The Apollo’s Harlem 100 initiative
Written, Directed and Choreographed by Apollo New Works Artist Ebony Noelle Golden
Featuring Jupiter Performance Studio
Creative Team:
Ebony "Es" Webster | Associate Choreographer
Kofi Hunter | M/D Composer
Jessica Howard | Vocal coach
Rodrigo Muñoz | Costume Designer
Ray Archie | Sound Design
Izmir Ickbal | Scenic Design
Viktor Givens | Scenic Environmentalist/Installation Artist
Belynda M'Baye | Props Design
Emma Deane | Lighting Design
Graham Zellers |Lighting Design
Sierre Leverett | Script Associate
Omisade Burney-Scott | Dramaturg
Dr. Omi Osun Joni L. Jones | Dramaturg
Dr. Alexis Pauline Gumbs | Additional text/Dramaturg
Toshi Reagon | Project Mentor
Jack Meister-Lopez | Production Stage Manager
Brianna Guillen | Assistant Stage Manager
Amber Snead | Casting Director
Funders And Supporters
Apollo Theater, National Black Theatre, Double Edge Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, Mercury Store, The Shed-Open call Program, Hi-Arts, Toshi Reagon & Wise Reagon Art, Pilsbury House + Theatre, Green Apu Productions & Central Mesa, New England Foundation for the Arts - National Theater Project, Network of Ensemble Theaters, NYSCA, LMCC- UMEZ and Arts Engagement, MacDowell, Saltwater RoadArtist Residency and Performance Institute, Mumbet’s Freedom Farm, Mississippi Center for Cultural Production, Mondo Bizarro, Yaddo
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Arrival Time:
Ticket holders are required to arrive by 3:30 PM. Please note that late arrivals may result in your ticket being reassigned to someone on the waitlist.
RSVP Status:
RSVPs for Saturday, September 14th performance of The Divining: Ceremonies in the name of the m/other tree are now closed. However, those still wishing to attend may join the waitlist. Waitlist tickets will be distributed in person at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning after 3:30 PM on the day of the performance.
Late Seating:
There will be no late seating. We kindly ask all guests to arrive on time.
The Nuyorican Poets Cafe presents the Grand Slam of 2024 a spoken word extravaganza hosted by Tony McPherson with sounds by DJ Luna Rosa. After eleven months of weekly slam winners competing every Final Friday the time has come for one poet to be named the Grand Slam Champion and win $1,000, a produced show in the new building and potential spot on our 2025 national slam team.
The Nuyorican Poets Cafe is a nonprofit organization rooted in the legacy of spoken word truth-telling. Founded by Puerto Rican /Afro Caribbean poets and visionaries, we honor this sacred history by creating an accessible forum for developing poetic theatrical, musical, and visual media works in the spirit of downtown New York subculture and experimentalism. Since closing our building for a major renovation, we have taken our programming offsite at different locations throughout NYC, the country, and the world. We are happy to bring the 2024 Grand Slam to the Apollo Stages at The Victoria.
The Apollo is proud to present Loss, produced by The Theatre Centre, at the Under The Radar Festival.
Loss brings an intergenerational family story to life through a stunning blend of live music, video, and powerful storytelling. Created by the Canadian visionary Ian Kamau and his father, famed documentarian Roger McTair, this multimedia performance dives deep into grief, healing, and the strength of community.
This isn’t just a show—it’s a journey that will move your spirit and spark conversations. Don’t miss your chance to witness the future of theater, where every moment pulls you deeper into an immersive, emotional experience.
The Apollo celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Black women-led theatrical dance company and social activism ensemble, Urban Bush Women with a stunning visual exhibition in the Laura and Frank Baker Gallery. With special pop-up performances on select dates, Lineage Legacy and Liberation: An Examination of Urban Bush Women’s Art-Making and Community Organizing Praxis contains rare photographs, performance footage, manuscripts, costumes and memorabilia from the groundbreaking ensemble’s 40-year history.
Curators:
UBW Co-Artistic Directors Mame Diarra Spies & Chanon Judson and Pia Monique Murray
Curatorial Consultant:
Laura Steward
Producers:
Jonathan D. Secor & Pia Monique Murray
Presented in Partnership with Urban Bush Women
ABOUT URBAN BUSH WOMEN:
Urban Bush Women is a groundbreaking Black women-led theatrical dance company and social activism ensemble, founded in 1984 by visionary choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar as an engine and an amplifier for the unheard stories of Black Women+. Today, under the artistic leadership of Chanon Judson and Mame Diarra Speis, UBW combines revolutionary performance, deep-healing community engagement, and ancestral knowledge from the African diaspora into a cultural force that is urgent, forward-looking, and essential.
UBW embraces the power of radical storytelling to activate social change. Whether creating genre-defying work for the stage, guiding the development of Black Women+ choreographers and producers, organizing for justice through art-making, or inspiring leaders across generations, UBW is an innovator, operating at the vanguard.
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1974 classic film Claudine and the life of the late James Earl Jones at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria, in partnership with the Harlem Festival of Culture Foundation.
Experience the powerful performances of Diahann Carroll and James Earl Jones in this timeless story of resilience, love, and community. Claudine tells the tale of a strong-willed single mother raising six children in Harlem, whose budding romance with a charismatic garbage collector is tested by the struggles of life within an oppressive system.
This annual event from WNYC and the Apollo Theater will explore Dr. King’s enduring legacy through the lens of belonging, reflecting on his vision for a just and inclusive society. Through powerful conversations with prominent public intellectuals, community and faith leaders, authors and artists, we will ponder democracy and civil rights under a second Trump administration. Join us for this inspiring tribute as we honor Dr. King’s dream and engage in a timely dialogue on the ongoing project of forging an equitable society.
Apollo Education invites the community to join this year’s MLK Young Changemakers event, honoring Dr. King’s powerful legacy in a modern context. MLK Young Changemakers is a series of conversations in recognition of Dr. King’s impact and the National Youth Day of Service where local and national youth leaders will explore how environmental and food justice impact our lives and communities.
Join Apollo Education for a full-day Professional Learning Workshop to explore the digital learning hub, Apollo Stories. This online resource of educator-created materials sparks critical thinking in students and ignites thought-provoking discussions on justice, culture, and identity.
Led by The Apollo Stories team, educators will receive expert guidance on integrating and adapting the free lessons featured on the platform into their classroom curricula. Gain hands-on facilitation experience, feedback, and dive into engaging, practical, classroom-ready activities.
Presented in partnership with Bob Sumner (producer of Def Comedy Jam, creator of Laff Mobb on Aspire), the Apollo Comedy Club celebrates these rich comedic roots with an evening of comedy on the Apollo’s Stages at the Victoria to serve as a late-night hotspot featuring the best emerging talent in comedy today.
The Apollo has a long history of launching the careers of countless legendary artists and performers in a variety of genres, including comedy. Comedic legends Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, Monique, Jamie Foxx and Jackie Mabley (a.k.a. Moms) have all delighted audiences from the Apollo stage.
Falling on the heels of Valentine’s Day, the singer, songwriter and poet known as sahn has taken pen to paper to create an introspective musical love letter that covers the elements of loss, renewal and everlasting love. sahn delivers a powerful evening of smokey, jazz-infused, songs and stories from her debut album “the mornings”.
Embark on a vibrant journey through the cultural traditions of Africa, the Caribbean, and other areas of the Black Diaspora with School Day Live: Jump Up Jamboree!
Master of Song and Apollo Legend, Luther Vandross is one of the most important voices of all time. On this night, his greatest hits are effortlessly covered with classics such as “Never Too Much”, “A House Is Not a Home”, “So Amazing” and more. It’s a night like no other with no stop to love!
The Apollo’s Dining with the Divas is a powerful, annual fundraiser celebrating bold and extraordinary women from diverse industries who inspire and uplift. This special luncheon gathers over 350 guests for an afternoon of networking, sisterhood and empowerment.
Proceeds will benefit The Apollo’s year-round education, community, and performing arts programs, impacting tens of thousands of students and families in New York City and beyond.
Accessibility
The Apollo is here for everyone. Artists, audiences, and all supporters should be able to experience The Apollo fully and in a way that is comfortable for them.
The Apollo has taken comprehensive steps to ensure that entrances, seating, restrooms, and more are as accessible and compliant as possible. Learn more about accessibility options and support services that might be right for you.
All persons and bags are subject to search. Bags that have passed inspection must fit comfortably under your seat. Oversized bags are prohibited.
No outside food or beverage. Accommodations are made for patrons with medical needs. Please email access@apollotheater.org or call the box office at (212) 531-5305 for assistance.
