The history of New York City's Apollo Theater in Harlem is given the full treatment.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Pharrell WilliamsSelf | Self |
 Jamie FoxxSelf | Self |
 Patti LaBelleSelf | Self |
 Smokey RobinsonSelf | Self |
 Angela BassettSelf | Self |
 James BrownSelf (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) |
 Duke EllingtonSelf (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) |
 Ella FitzgeraldSelf (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) |
 Redd FoxxSelf (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) |
 Aretha FranklinSelf (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) |
 Lauryn HillSelf (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) |
 Billie HolidaySelf (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) |
 Eartha KittSelf (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) |
 Gladys KnightSelf (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) |
 Malcolm XSelf (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) |
| CCharles B. RangelSelf | Self |
 Leslie UggamsSelf | Self |
 Gregg FieldSelf | Self |