Inside the Making of a New Play at Harlem's Apollo

Actors read Naima Ramos-Chapman's playwriting debut aloud, a one-act the Apollo is still devising through workshops, readings, and story circles. The play centers the friendship of two Black American and Caribbean friends, and state-sanctioned violence presses on their families and their community. The Apollo describes movement and dance as part of the play; on this night the script is read, not staged with choreography. Expect a serious room rather than a comedy, then a talkback with the creatives.

Tickets are listed at 25 dollars on the Apollo page, and sales run through Ticketmaster. Doors open at 6:30 PM for a 7:30 PM start at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria, 233 W 125th Street. The Apollo page posts neither an age range nor a running time, so keep the rest of the night loose instead of counting on a set curtain.

The A, B, C, or D at 125th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue lands four minutes from the door, and the 2 or 3 at Lenox Avenue about six. With no published end time to plan around, treat dinner as the maybe and drinks as the sure thing: Maison Harlem keeps its kitchen open until 10:45 PM on Friday and serves until 1 AM, Red Rooster Harlem seats dinner until 10:30 PM with the bar running to midnight, Angel of Harlem stays open until 2 AM without publishing kitchen hours. All three sit five to six minutes away.