Image Courtesy of Madisyn Phillips ’25
Apollo Night is more than just a production—it celebrates black art, strength, and excellence through dance, poetry, musical performances, and fashion. Apollo Night exhibits the gifts and artistry of black students, leaving a space for artistic expression and cultural appreciation. It is a powerful contribution to Black identities and representation on campus. From the start of the process, I knew this event would be a challenge, but I didn’t fully grasp this until I was deep in the production manager position. Alongside the second production manager, Genab Diallo, we took on the responsibility of bringing Apollo Night to life this year. It was electrifying, demanding, and memorable.
One of the biggest hurdles we faced was securing a venue. Many locations were booked already or didn’t align with our vision for the show. For a moment, it felt like Apollo Night would be unsuccessful this year. But with us, giving up is never an option. We had to carry on the tradition for our current students and alums to see. After long phone calls, countless emails, and a couple of Zoom meetings, we found ourselves a great place, the Green Room Theatre – which eliminated a lot of stress.
Promotion was the key. We flooded social media with teasers, e-board spotlights, TikTok trends, and countdowns, ensuring that the F&M community knew they could not miss this event. We also juggled a lot of constant messages, coordinating performers, and checking in with the lighting crew and videographers. When it came to our show flow, we had to make sure there were seamless transitions between each of the sections in the show by using musical performances to our hosts. There were at least 40 performers so we had to structure the show carefully to ensure each of the performers had enough time to prepare for the next section, considering quick changes and other challenges. We even did a round of Family Feud with our audience to keep the energy flowing. Loved it!
As if managing the production wasn’t enough, we also were a part of the performances and the choreographers of certain dance sections. I was in almost every dance section and the fashion segment, balancing rehearsals and other planned meetings. There were even some nights our minds would run through logistics, stage cues, and choreography. But despite the stressful moments, as we got closer the show was brought to life more and more. Seeing black beauty all across the stage as we continued to practice made every exhaustion worth it. I stood backstage, feeling the adrenaline rush, realizing the show’s power. The show wasn’t just entertainment but it was a testament to how brilliant we are as black people. When you are determined and you put your mind to something, incredible events can be born, just like the Apollo Night legacy that carries on. This year, this legacy was felt in full force – with 268 tickets sold for Friday and Saturday – the Green Room Theatre filled with so much energy.
Senior Madisyn Phillips is a Contributing Writer. Her email is mphilli3@fandm.edu.
Image Courtesy of Madisyn Phillips ’25