Industry NewsJonelle Procope, Longtime President of the Apollo Theater, to Step Down in 2023
Procope will have led the legendary venue for two decades at the time of her departure.
By
Margaret Hall
October 19, 2022
Jonelle Procope
Lev Radin / Shutterstock
Jonelle Procope, who has led the legendary Apollo Theater for 20 years, will step down from the position in June 2023. Procope became President and Chief Executive of the Harlem venue in 2003 after joining as a board member in 1999. Under Procope's guiding hand, the organization has transformed from a struggling non-profit to an internationally recognized and lauded cultural center. The news was reported by The New York Times.
News of Procope's imminent departure comes on the heels of the Apollo announcing that it has raised $63 million to fully renovate the 108 year–old Apollo Theater, in addition to building new performance spaces managed by the Apollo at the Victoria Theater. The renovation is expected to begin in the spring of 2024 and continue through 2025.
In remarks to The New York Times, Apollo Board Chairmain Charles E. Phillips confirmed that a search committee would be formed this fall to begin a national search for Procope’s successor. “It’s hard to find leaders like Jonelle who are so consistently good for so long. She almost single-handedly turned the Apollo around.”
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