Since 1934, aspiring performers have come to The Apollo to “Be Good or Be Gone!” On Saturday, March 25 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., The Apollo (253 W. 125th Street) will hold live auditions for its signature program, Amateur Night at The Apollo, the quintessential talent competition and one of the longest-running events in the world.
Taking place at The Apollo’s Historic Theater on a first-come, first-served basis. Amateur Night producers will audition the first 250 vocalists, 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. Contestants between the ages of 5 and 17 will audition for a spot in the “Child Star of Tomorrow” category and a $5,000 prize. The chosen artists will compete in front of the famous live–and very vocal–audience at The Apollo. Additional in-person auditions to take place later this year, and online auditions are open on an ongoing basis.
The Apollo’s signature Amateur Night continues to have a global impact on entertainment, 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, H.E.R, and Machine Gun Kelly, among many others.
The current Amateur Night season opened on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 and continues each Wednesday night through November 22, 2023.
Audition Info ~ Saturday, March 25th from 9am to 6pm at The Apollo Theater, 253 West 125th Street, NYC.
Here is a complete list of audition guidelines ~ For online submissions visit Here. Sign yup for audition updates and tips Here.
Support ~ The Apollo’s season is made possible by leadership support from Coca-Cola, Citi, Sherman Fairchild Foundation, Ford Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, the Jerome L. Greene Foundation, The New York Community Trust, and The Mellon Foundation. Amateur Night at The Apollo is sponsored by Coca Cola.
Apollo Education Programs are made possible by generous support from BNY Mellon, Apollo EmpowHer, Steve and Connie Ballmer, ConEdison, The Walt Disney Company, William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust, The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, The Moore Charitable Foundation, The Neuberger Berman Foundation, The Pinkerton Foundation, Sony Global Justice Fund, and the Verizon Foundation.
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 the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, with special support from New York City Council Members Julie Menin, Kristin Richardson Johnson, and Shaun Abreu.
Take a walk down the block and check on the progress at the historic Victoria Theatre located at 233 West 125th Street.