Since the legendary Apollo Theater opened in 1934, its signature live show, Amateur Night, has been a definitive career-making opportunity for new talent. Apollo Amateur Night has launched the careers of countless legendary artists, including James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Dionne Warwick, Billie Holiday, Luther Vandross, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and Sarah Vaughan, and has occurred virtually every Wednesday night since the Theater opened. A place in the Amateur Night line-up is a highly coveted opportunity for up-and-coming artists hoping to be discovered.
On Saturday, September 29th, the world-famous Apollo Theater will hold auditions for its 2013 Amateur Night season. Contestants chosen from these auditions will secure a spot in the Amateur Night 2013 season line-up. The adult contestants will have a chance to compete for the $10,000 grand prize while child contestants compete for a $2000 grand prize. Singers, dancers, musicians, actors, spoken word poets and comedians are all encouraged to try out for the show “where stars are born and legends are made.”
“The Apollo is truly the world’s stage and, as such, we always want to make sure we are getting the best possible talent to compete by reaching out to talent in different areas. However, there is definitely something special about auditioning at the Apollo. It seems to give people that extra boost of confidence and energy they need to be able to get in front of us and show us what they’re made of – for better or worse. We hope for the better,” said Amateur Night Producer and audition judge, Marion J. Caffey.
Live Auditions Guidelines
- An Amateur is anyone who has not had a recording, Film or TV contract with a major studio.
- NO profanity including any racial epithets or slurs all material must be appropriate for a family show.
- Children under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult.
- Only children ages 5 to 15 will be considered for the “Child Star of Tomorrow” segment.
- No lip synching, singing along with track vocals or post-production engineering of vocals is permitted.
- The audition is open to singers, dancers, comedians, spoken word artists and musicians and other variety performances.
- Each live contestant will have up to 90 seconds to perform.
- Singers can bring a track on cassette or CD or sing a cappella. A band is NOT available.
- Musicians must bring their own instruments.
- Dancers should bring a CD.
- Do NOT bring CD’s in CD-RW format.
Please note: For live auditions judges will only see the first 300 acts, so please arrive early.
Apollo Theater, 253 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027
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