Writer, producer, director and studio owner Tyler Perry has received the Apollo Theater’s highest honor and in return he has given the historic institution an enormous gift.

On July 13, the annual spring profit concert and awards gala at the world-famous Apollo Theater made its grand return to lift funds for the Harlem landmark. The theater was completely closed for much of the pandemic and only recently began opening its doors for a couple of select performances and events.

Hosted by Kenan Thompson, the event featured performances by The Roots, Kamasi Washington, Stephanie Mills and Anthony Hamilton, and Perry received the Impact Award in recognition of the impact he has had on the Hollywood industry, particularly for Black creators and performers.

Whoopi Goldberg presented Perry with the honor, calling it “everything I hoped to see when I looked at ‘the best’.”

“I love him because he’s funny and he does things that people sometimes don’t understand,” Goldberg continued. “Because we’re very tough people. Black people… we are going to speak about you.

Goldberg gave examples of certain members of society who consider that Perry’s material will not be good for our people, or that it’s the most accurate and favorable depiction of black life.

“But there are also people who say, ‘I love what he does because I can see.’ This is an extraordinary thing. It’s hard to find something universal.”

“He represents the best of us. We don’t always like everything we all do, each other. But we get the idea. I love this man because he understands what we are about – not just as a race, but as a human race. I’m proud to know him.”

“I’m truly moved and inspired by this,” Perry said as he accepted his honorary trophy. “I hope most of us will understand how necessary it’s to support most of these facilities. There is a lot happening in the world that individuals try to erase our history. They don’t need it taught in schools. That is why it’s so necessary that we ourselves ensure that that our kids and other people remember this history. And there have been some legends circulating on this stage and on this constructing. Never take this place without any consideration.

“With that in mind, I would really like to donate half 1,000,000 dollars to assist keep this place open. I need my son to see this. I need your kids to see this.”

Perry’s gift helped propel the event to record-breaking status. During Apollo’s 2022 spring campaign, the Apollo team raised $3.7 million – greater than the theater raised the yr before. Additionally, roughly 400 commemorative NFTs were created ahead of the event and distributed to donors who helped raise the record amount.

Before thanking Apollo for the honor and the opportunity to seem on stage and rub the famous “tree of hope,” Perry had some inspiration to share with the audience.

“Last year, I wrote checks for $154 million on my payroll – not bills, but my payroll. And 98% of it was about Black people,” Perry continued. “This is our strength. This is the power of understanding our stories, our messages, [regardless of] who gets it and who doesn’t. As long as you follow your path, you understand who you might be talking to, you realize your audience. If you’ve a dream on this room, please hear me after I say: don’t quit in your dreams. If I gave up, I do not know who would get that payroll or in the event that they would work in Hollywood and other people would not allow them to in the door.

Below are more photos from the star-studded honorary night:

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Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson

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Malik Yoba, Sage Nicole and Phylicia Rashad

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Whoopi Goldberg and Tyler Perry

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Anthony Hamilton and Kenan Thompson

WACO (Where Art Can Occur) Theater Center is working with among the biggest names within the entertainment industry to help them support families affected by Covid-19.

The organization is hosting a virtual celebration to have fun and recognize diverse artistic mediums, encourage entrepreneurship and reinvest in local programs. It will likely be broadcast continue to exist WACO’s Facebook AND Youtube pages on Saturday, September 19 at 5:00 p.m. (PDT).

It will feature exclusive footage from the famous Wearable Art Galas, spoken word, stage readings, in addition to a virtual art gallery and a special celebrity edition of Knowles Lawson’s signature “corny joke time.”

Samuel L. Jackson, Octavia Spencer, Tiffany Haddish, Angela Bassett, Lynn Whitfield, Issa Rae, Yara Shahidi, Megan Thee Stallion, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Lena Waithe, Cynthia Erivo and Lil Rel Howery are confirmed to attend the event.

It will even be a real family affair, with Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Jay-Z, Solange Knowles, Bianca Lawson, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams volunteering their time to show their support.

The event is hosted by business leaders and entertainment industry veterans Kawanna Brown, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Cheryl Creuzot, Babe Evans, Melba Farquhar, Lela Rochon Fuqua, Mai Lassiter, Holly Robinson-Peete, Robi Reed, Eula Smith and Jo-An Turman committee.

Works by Kehinde Wiley, Lauren Halsey, Barnette, Bethany Collins, Genevieve Gagnaird, Eduardo Sarbia and Radcliffe Bailey will likely be featured.

The silent auction will allow participants to bid on prices from famous artists and jewelers including Robert Pruitt, “The Pretty Artist” Tiffanie Anderson, Chaz Guest, Ron Bass, Samuel Levi Jones, Harry Adams, Tyler Clark, Quiana Parks, Toni Scott, Gherdai Hassell, Charis Kelley, A. Nichel, Erica Puckett and designer Lorraine Schwartz.

DJ Millie will host the event, providing music between segments.

Founded by Tina Knowles Lawson and Richard Lawson, the Los Angeles-based WACO Theater Center and Performance Complex offers unique cultural programming, mentorship, arts education and performance opportunities to Los Angeles’ diverse communities.

“WACO was created to stand at the intersection of black culture and art. For the past three years, we have worked to create a safe space for students to nourish, grow and learn,” said Tina Knowles Lawson.

Thanks to Sheamoisture’s support, the event will likely be free to the general public.

Since 2016, the private care brand has frequently helped WACO serve the community through community arts and education initiative programs.

“This year our gathering will have a different feel and look, but the mission will unequivocally remain the same,” said co-artistic director Richard Lawson. “We look forward to continuing the tradition of celebrating art and black culture to create meaningful change for our children.”

Get access to preview and register for the auction by texting WACO2020 to 243-725 and visit the virtual art gallery through Sunday, September 27.

Nestled between the boulevards of Adam Clayton Jr. and the boulevards of Frederick Douglass, the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, took its throne as the guardian of Black history for 85 years. Since reopening in 1934 to satisfy the growing talent of African Americans in Harlem, the Apollo Theater has cultivated, protected and elevated the standard of black art. Whether it’s music, writing, dance and even the art of speaking, no place in the world will be called home, sanctuary and origin like the Apollo Theater. Before it was the home of Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday or Bruno Mars, the Apollo was a burlesque theater. Opening in 1914, Benjamin Hurting and Harry Seamon obtained a lease on the newly built theater, which was owned by Sidney Cohen and, like much of America at the time, prohibited African Americans from entering and entertaining themselves. However, in 1933, the mayor began banning Burlesque performances and the theater closed. A 12 months later, Cohen recognized the growing population and evolution of African-American entertainment in Harlem and started to satisfy the growing demand, and from there the rest was history. One can only imagine what it could be like to steer a being like Apollo; the responsibility of not only keeping history alive but in addition fostering growth will be intimidating, but fortunately, under CEO/President Jonelle Procope, Apollo is flourishing and preparing for the next 85 years. A lawyer by education. Procope was initially a company lawyer, then moved into entertainment law, mainly music law. She knew at this point that this was the catalyst for joining Apollo’s board in 1999. She served on the board for about three years, during which she began to grasp Apollo’s vision. “The fact that it was a turning point and we were basically starting from scratch, we needed infrastructure and people, we had to provide the organization with a solid financial foundation; once we take care of that, we can really focus on the more interesting things that are happening within these four walls,” Procope tells ESSENCE. Even though Apollo was a cultural icon, he fell on hard times. When she joined, she knew that participating on this rescue mission was to save lots of her. After three years, she was asked to take over the management of the theater, and in 2003 she began a new profession as president of the Apollo Theater. “At first, the reality of being asked to run was daunting because I had never run for anything! I was just a practicing lawyer. I really had to think about it with the help and advice of my husband and girlfriends because you know women are risk averse, especially my generation. Fortunately, everyone agreed it was the perfect job for me because everything I had done led to this decision.” “I had to learn on the job. It was important for me to be a manager who understood that I couldn’t know all the details of running a theater and I couldn’t do it alone.” During her tenure as president/CEO, Procope was dedicated to making sure that the Apollo was greater than only a theater. “We are celebrating the 85th anniversary of^vol anniversary, and while we have a truly amazing legacy, we are a place of opportunity and one of the first theaters to be desegregated. He launched almost everyone’s career in music, dance and comedy. It was one of the few places where you could hone your skills and perform; Today, all these people are legendary. We celebrate this legacy. Reason 85^vol is so special because our future is truly amazing.” But that is not the only thing extraordinary about the Apollo Theater’s legacy. The theater shall be the operational manager of the new cultural space, which can come online in 2020 and can include two new theaters and office space. But what it really means is that the Apollo will develop into a middle for the performing arts, which is a very vital milestone in the evolution of theater. It allows the theater to expand its programming and proceed to offer opportunities for African Americans and cultural expansion. “We truly want to lead the most inspiring, long-term and exciting effort in America to advance a diverse 21st century^street century American canon of performing arts. The canon will focus on African American stories; stories based on the experiences of African Americans and the African diaspora,” says Procope. Hopefully, the next time you visit the Apollo Theater, you will see greater than only a structure – it’s your own home. The house that has housed our culture for 85 years. The definition and embodiment of Black History.