On Saturday, October 9 and Sunday, October 10 the Apollo will hold in-person auditions at its legendary theater for the 2022-23 season of its signature program, Amateur Night at the Apollo, the original talent show and one of the longest-running events in New York City. Auditions will be held at the Apollo on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 9 a.m. ET through 6 p.m. ET. Each day, Amateur Night producers will audition the first 200vocalists, rappers, dancers, instrumentalists, comedians, spoken-word artists, and other performers vying for a coveted spot on the Apollo’s stage, where they will compete for a chance to win the $20,000 Grand Prize. Performers between the ages of 12 and 17 will compete for a spot in the “Child Star of Tomorrow” category and a $5,000 prize. Amateur Night at the Apollo returns live and in-person for its 32-night competition on Wednesday, February 22, 2022.
In order to ensure the health and well-being of Apollo staff, performers, and the community, all audition participants and chaperones must show a completed vaccination record (digital or physical copy accepted), along with a government-issued photo ID. Masks will be required for entry into the Apollo. In addition to in-person auditions, the Apollo will continue to accept online audition submissions.
Since its inception in 1934, the Apollo’s signature Amateur Night continues to gain global recognition for launching the careers of thousands of performers and attracting audiences from all over the world. Amateur Night has long been revered by artists as a transformative experience where up-and-coming talent feel the power of the legendary performers who have come before them, and where audience responses can help make or break a career. Legendary performers who launched their careers on the Apollo Amateur Night stage have included Ella Fitzgerald, Luther Vandross, Lauryn Hill, and H.E.R. Beginning in 2017, the Apollo incorporated online submissions into its audition process to extend access to artists around the globe and diversify the talent featured in the show. In 2019, the Apollo launched Amateur Night Japan, the first-ever licensing partnership that brought the famed contest to Japan, presented by Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Auditions will take place on Saturday, October 9th and Sunday, October 10th from 9am to 6pm at The Apollo Theater, 253 West 125th Street in Harlem. For a complete list of audition guidelines, please visit http://www.apollotheater.org/
For online submissions please visit https://www.apollotheater.org/
SAFETY PROTOCOLS: All contestants, including parents and chaperones, must be fully vaccinated and be able to show proof of vaccination and photo ID in order to participate in Amateur Night auditions. Face masks are mandatory for entry to the Apollo.
Amateur Night at the Apollo is made possible by leadership support from Coca-Cola.
Public support for the Apollo Theater is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
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