A vibrant tribute to one of America’s most legendary theaters, The Apollo journeys through 85 years of Black artistry and culture. The Harlem landmark is described as a place where “music and art provided an avenue out of the legacy of slavery.” Contemporary reflections blend with electrifying archival footage that showcases legends like Billie Holiday, the Isley Brothers, and Luther Vandross. Beyond performances by established stars, the film features the Apollo’s Amateur Night tradition, with audiences empowered to boo or cheer, which birthed such historic talents as Ella Fitzgerald and Lauryn Hill. Director Roger Ross Williams threads a line from the theater’s storied past to the present by anchoring the film in the first stage production of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me, which was performed in 2018. Despite several closures and management challenges in its past, the Apollo Theater has remained a vibrant site of Black community and expression.  KL