AMATEUR NIGHT AT THE APOLLO: Brooklyn Night

Wednesday, February 9, 7:30pm 
The Apollo Theater 
253 West 125th Street (Harlem) 

Special performance by Brooklyn's own Talib Kweli! The competition among the five boroughs is never hotter than when Brooklyn is in the house! For this special edition of Amateur Night at the Apollo, the Theater, in conjunction with the Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC) will host the first-ever Brooklyn Amateur Night, featuring Brooklyn-based singers, dancers, rappers, comedians, spoken word artists and performance groups. The collaboration between the Apollo and BAC is in celebration of BAC's year-long initiative Black Brooklyn Renaissance, Black Arts + Culture, 1960 -2010, sponsored by MetLife Foundation. Aspiring musicians, singers, dancers, comedians, rappers and spoken word artists try their best to please the audiences that can make them an Apollo legend. Then get ready to cheer or jeer as you decide who stays and who gets booted off stage. At Amateur Night, you tell the performers to be good or be gone! Performing all over the world with unique style and an unequaled dedication to his music, Kweli has worked with artists as diverse as Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, MF Doom, Mary J. Blige, Fabolous, Common, Nelly, The Roots, Gucci Mane, Norah Jones, KRS-One and many more. With a career filled with success and innovation, it comes as no surprise that both Jay-Z and 50 Cent, at the height of their stardom, both counted Kweli among their favorite rappers.

Contestant Information

Child Star of Tomorrow Contestants
Ezell Frazier, Vocalist (Age 11) - Ezell, from Bedford Stuyvesant, has been singing since he was two years old and has performed in several musicals over the years. Chantel Welch, Vocalist (Age 11) -Chantel began singing at a very young age and enjoys performing for family and friends at gatherings. She also has eleven videos on YouTube that display her vocal ability and love for performing. Brooklyn Virtuoso, Violin Group (Ages 8 & 9) -Brooklyn Virtuoso is a group of young violinists that have been playing together since kindergarten under the direction of instructor Lucy Joy.

Adult Contestants
Final Outlaw (James Johnson), Rapper - James Johnson is a talented hip hop artist with a significant local following. He has also toured the west coast twice since 2008 and had a music video on rotation on MTV Europe and NYCTV last year. Andres Quintero, Vocalist - Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Andres Quintero began singing and performing as a teenager. He studied Musical Theater at American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. He has also toured the country working professionally in theater. Calvin Booker, Tap Dancer - Calvin Booker has been tap dancing since he was a small child. He was a member of The Young Hoofers and Creative Outlet with the Dance Theater of Brooklyn. Calvin appeared on Showtime at the Apollo with The Young Hoofers and is excited to return to the Apollo stage. Donel Davis, Vocalist - Donel Davis is a singer, songwriter, actress and pianist hailing from Jamaica. She has performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln University Concert Choir, and the University Gospel Choir. She has also played Dorothy Dandridge in the play, 'Sonny's Place.' Curwen Mitchell, Vocalist - Curwen Mitchell is a professional vocalist who has collaborated with well-known underground hip-hop artist Afu Ra as well as Broadway legend Desiree Coleman. Curwen is also an advocate for adoption and children's rights and has adopted two boys and fosters two others. His goal is to open his own adoption agency. Rosa Hill, Vocalist - Rosa Hill is a Business Management major with a minor in Vocal Music at Long Island University, Brooklyn. She began singing at just 5 years old and participated in choir groups throughout her middle and high school years.

 View the event flyer BBR_W_fliers_color_AN_011411.pdf