The Apollo Breaks Ground on Largest Restoration, Renovation, and Modernization of its Historic Theater in 90+ Years

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Historic theater goes on hiatus until summer 2026.
At a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, June 30th, the Apollo
and a host of partners, elected officials and invited guests
officially kicked off the largest full scale restoration,
renovation and modernization of its iconic historic theater,

(00:21):
temporarily dropping the curtainon a stage that has been the
epicenter of Black culture and entertainment for more than
three generations. The renovation project is
planned to last until summer 2026 and will honor the legacy
of the Apollo while enhancing the audience experience with the
renovated and expanded lobby with the Cafe and Bar for

(00:42):
community gatherings and performances, new and restored
seating, significant upgrades tobackstage areas for artists, a
revitalized globally recognized historic Apollo marquee and
more. At the groundbreaking, Michelle
Ebanks, president and CEO of theApollo, was joined by Charles

(01:04):
Phillips, Chairman of the ApolloBoard of Directors, Patricia
Emzaler, Vice Chairman of the Apollo Board of Directors,
Dawana Williams, Chair of the Apollo Real Estate Committee,
Senator Cordell Clear, New York State Assemblyman Jordan Wright,
Deputy Borough President Keisha Sutton James, Deputy

(01:25):
Commissioner Alton Murray, SiriusXM President and Chief
Content Officer Scott Greenstein, and Billy Mr. Apollo
Mitchell. With over 200 invited guests in
attendance. The groundbreaking ceremony also
featured performances from Apollo S amateur night artists
Mariah Ray and Great Ginal Spencer.

(01:47):
Additional speakers and performances included Vince Toy,
head of community development Banking at JP Morgan, David
Clauer, president of National Trust Community Investment
Corporation, Brenda Ganguly, executive vice president at New
York City Economic Development Corporation, and artist Diet
Rice Bolden. Following the ceremonial curtain

(02:11):
drop and remarks, guests recessed to the Apollo S stages
at the Victoria Theatre, the newly opened theatres, gallery
space and offices a few doors down the block on Harlem S 125th
St. for additional remarks and areception at the groundbreaking
ceremony. Michelle Ebanks said today S

(02:33):
groundbreaking marks the beginning of a new chapter in
the Apollo S journey, a curtain drop in every sense of the word,
taking us from a place of reverence to a place of
relevance. As we prepare to renovate and
reimagine this legacy space, we do so not to erase its history,
but to elevate it to honor the shoulders we stand on while

(02:56):
building a more modernized foundation for those who will
come after us. Construction on the theater,
which first opened in 1914 and was renamed the Apollo in 1934,
is taking place in phases until completion in summer 2026.
The Apollo will continue performances throughout the
process, alternating the use of its new stages at the Victoria

(03:20):
Theatre, it's sound stage, and in partnership with other New
York City cultural organizations.
With the Fall 2025 season to be announced in the coming weeks,
the Historic Theater is expectedto be dark for approximately 13
months for work on its lobby, doubling its size and opening it
up onto 125th St. A new entryway with a new

(03:43):
interactive digital wall of fame, a bar and cafe, new seats,
a new marquee and blade, restored plaster work, and much
more. Following the 2024 opening of
the Apollo Stages at the Victoria Theatre, the first
expansion in the nonprofit S 90 year history, the Historic

(04:04):
Theatre renovation and expansionfurther enhances the Apollo S
mission to champion artists, shepherd the Black cultural
narrative, and provide vibrant artistic and community programs
that build on the cultural heritage of Harlem.
The Historic Theatre renovation project is led by Bayer Blinder,
Belle Architects Plus Planners in collaboration with

(04:27):
consultants Charcoal Blue Theatre Design and Acoustic
Flyleaf Creative Signage Design,Consigli Construction
Contractors, and Envoyee Projects LLC Project management.
Funding for the historic theaterrenovation and restoration
project is made possible by Empire State Development
Corporation, Harlem Community Development Corporation, JP

(04:51):
Morgan National Trust, CommunityInvestment Corporation, New York
City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York City Economic
Development Corporation, New York City Neighborhood Capital
Corporation, Octagon Finance LLC, SiriusXM Holdings
Incorporated, United Fund Advisors LLC, and Upper

(05:13):
Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corp, among other
generous donors to the Apollo. About the Apollo The Apollo is
an American cultural treasure. It is a vibrant nonprofit
organization rooted in the Harlem community that engages
people from around New York, thenation, and the world.

(05:34):
Since 1934, the Apollo has celebrated, created and
presented work that centers Black artists and voices from
across the African diaspora. It has also been a catalyst for
social and civic advocacy. Today, the Apollo is the largest
performing arts institution committed to Black culture and

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creativity.