Is the APOLLO finally going to be # 42?

That's an interesting suggestion. I would imagine that it would ultimately be what the Apollo Theatre Foundation thinks is best for the space.

Right now, it's used as a community foundation and education center, and not solely as a space for large scale black artistic works. The financial realities of renting space as a Broadway house and all of the new rules that entails and its sheer distance from the existing theatre district also make it a difficulty.

Regardless, what the community of Harlem thinks about this should be the main and primary driver for that type of change.

Updated On: 6/4/20 at 04:14 PM

As others have said, I can't imagine the Apollo would want this. To become a traditional Broadway house, they would have to completely revamp who they are (there would be no more amateur nights, no more short runs of works, everyone who performs there would have to be union, etc.). Any concerts would be gone--sure, they could in theory still do them, but the only real benefit of becoming a Broadway theatre for them would be to become eligible for the Tonys, which concerts aren't going to be, so what's the point?

Plus, from a Broadway perspective, 125th is just too far. The whole idea of Broadway is that it's one small concentrated area of about 13 blocks (plus the Beaumont, which frankly, pushes the boundaries of what should be considered Broadway due to its location, and that's only at 64th St). It's the same reason the Public isn't a Broadway house or some of the other great theatres in the city.

This is interesting. I was thinking about BLUE. But moreover, I was thinking about this moment and allowing inclusion into the Broadway community.

The Apollo is opening additional theatre complex. Also I have it on good knowledge that BLUE was to use a Production Contract, the same as a Broadway House. Also, the theatre meets every Tony Award requirement.

Feels like there is more to the story. But race seems to be a factor.

troynow said: "The Apollo is opening additional theatre complex. Also I have it on good knowledge that BLUE was to use a Production Contract, the same as a Broadway House. Also, the theatre meets every Tony Award requirement."

They don't meet the geographic requirement of being in the Theatre District, although an exception could be made I suppose like they did for the Beaumont. I doubt they'd want to become one as others have said, but I also doubt the Broadway League would want them. While League membership is made up of more producers than theater owners, the owners have more power and it wouldn't be in their best interest to allow what would essentially be a competitor to join. .

Islander_fan said: "...Conan was filming a few episodes of his TBS show there."

I think it's worth noting that the premise of Conan's stint there was that he was out of place. The humor and the remotes, especially, were centered around "look at this awkward white guy in Harlem."

EXCELLENT POINTS!

The Beaumont Thetare is proof of a lack of "theatre jurisdiction" well said. I too, do not see Apollo as being " gentrified" simply because they have an ability to bring

- economic growth to Harlem

- Increase tourism

- AUTOMATICALLY inject a diverse population of people to the Broadway League

- INCREASE African American presence on the American Theatre Wing Board as the League and board work hand and hand.

The notion that the Broadway League is made up mostly of presenters and not theatre owners is not correct. Who do you think St. Martin answers to? ... the theatre owners. The major 7 folks sit on all three platforms of theatre and are ALL WHITE.

First of all, it’s ridiculous to cherry-pick the names of a handful of shows about POC to try to prove Broadway isn’t racist, when the overwhelming majority of shows are about white people, and the fact that it would even occur to someone to name off specific shows is tokenizing, and willfully ignorant of the larger issues. As Troynow points out, very few Black people have a “seat at the table.”

Troynow, in addition to the above point, I think you’re also right to point out that making the Apollo a Broadway theatre would be a benefit for the Broadway community. And you’re right that the arguments about geography, and competition for the league hold no water at all.

HOWEVER, the bottom line here, as others have said, is that while it might benefit Broadway, it wouldn’t benefit the Apollo itself. Maybe in some ways it would, like more exposure, Tony recognition, giving black theatre operators a seat at the table etc. But as others pointed out, the Apollo’s programming content and structure would not be feasible under Broadway contracts, particularly if they wanted to continue with amateur night. You’re right that productions like Blue operate under a similar limited-run theatrical contract, but when it comes to the Apollo’s programming, productions like that are more the exception than the rule. For the space to become specifically geared toward theatre, especially under Broadway/union limitations, would drastically cut them off from a lot of what they do. It seems to me that they don’t WANT to be a space exclusively for full runs of theatrical productions.

I might be wrong about this, but I don’t believe there are any obstacles preventing the Apollo from becoming a Broadway theatre if they wanted to take the necessary actions to qualify. And the fact that they haven’t chosen to do so tells us what we need to know. The same could be said about City Center, the Beacon, Radio City, the Met, the Koch, the Geffen, the Armory, the Rose, the New Vic, or Stage 42 - all of which are in the exact same boat as the Apollo: they’re in Manhattan, and they are big enough to become Broadway theatres if they wanted to be (the latter 2 would just have to add 1 seat). But they don’t, because their owners have other (I would argue, more noble) intentions for their programming.

Updated On: 6/5/20 at 07:54 AM

JBroadway nails the silliness of this thread. The Apollo wants to be a Broadway house about as much as I want to have my home declared a national historic landmark.

1. YES this conversation is ridiculous as it SEEMS the Apollo has no interest in this.

2. YES, there needs to be more diversity in all the arts (and frankly most fields beyond blue collar fields. You have no idea how often I've harped to my administration about hiring persons of color in my school district.)

3. BUT, what I fear is more division by this type of thought. The 'black' theater does 'black' shows in the 'black' part of town. The rest of broadway is for white people. Bringing diversity means it needs to be intertwined. Yes, we want more artists of color and more audience members of color - but sitting next to me, performing in front of me, discussing with me. Not designated to the "black theater"l, so we can SAY Bway is woke.

Updated On: 6/5/20 at 01:22 PM