Mr. Apollo

My first time visiting the Apollo Theater, I knew the stage would be beautiful. I also knew that hundreds of amazing performers have stood on that stage to begin their success. What I didn’t know, was that I would be meeting Mr. Apollo and getting the story behind the success of the theater itself.

I recently made a visit to the Apollo with the Elgin High School Theatre Group. As we approached the double doors to the building, Billy Mitchell quickly greeted us and made us feel most welcome. He walked us down to the front row, directly in front of the stage and got to know us a little. He continued on to tell us his story of being a child and the start of his career as an errand boy for the Theater. His story was incredible, and changed the way we all saw the Apollo Theater.

He let a few volunteers perform on the very same stage that Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy Holly, Mariah Carey, and Jimi Hendrix among other talented artists have started their careers on. Two of the girls in our group chose monologues, and a few of the chaperones even got up and performed “Single Ladies” by Beyoncé. I sure had a fun group!

After giving us a tour around the theater and showing us all the really cool things that makes this place so magnificent…We said our goodbyes and snapped a few photos with Billy Mitchell, the man who’s been around since the beginning, and is now known as Mr. Apollo.