Talk about showtime at the Apollo.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft threw his wife, Dr. Dana Blumberg, a surprise 50th birthday party at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, featuring a performance by Dave Matthews.
We hear Kraft, 82, even managed to keep the surprise party and concert a secret for five months, as he lined up the rocker and over 200 friends and family to attend the event.
Kraft is on the board of the Apollo, which is being renovated and restored to become the The Apollo Performing Arts Center. He started attending the theater’s famed amateur nights all the way back when he was in college at nearby Columbia University.
“He’d been planning this for five months to try and give his sweetie a surprise,” a spy told us. “He got her there by saying the theater was closing for renovations, and they had an event that was important for to attend.”
The ruse was so good that the marquee out front said, “Renovation Party,” until it switched later to “Happy Birthday DMK! Thanks for celebrating with us!”
Blumberg’s favorite entertainer is Matthews – and we’re told the “Crash Into Me” singer was even in on the epic surprise.
According to an insider, Matthews told guests at the party that Kraft and Blumberg had seen him play months ago in Madison Square Garden. When the couple went backstage to see the star back in November, Matthews said, “Hope to see you soon.”
At the time, Matthews and Kraft secretly winked at each other knowing they’d see each other at Blumberg’s birthday bash.
We hear that some of the guests for the birthday bash included Jon Bon Jovi, Shari Redstone, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, Blackstone titan Stephen Schwarzman, Endeavor guru Ari Emmanuel and his designer wife Sarah Staudinger.
Others in attendance included Fanatics mogul Michael Rubin and Camille Fishel, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, sports agent Casey Wasserman, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, Home Depot tycoon Ken Langone, fashion maven Linda Fargo, James and Merryl Tisch, Richard and Karen Lefrak, Jerry Speyer, Jonathan Kraft and further members of the Kraft and Blumberg families.
“I want you all to know that yes, she was really surprised. We walked in and she said, ‘What’s happening?’” Kraft told the crowd in a speech with Blumberg.
“I always loved this theater. When I was an undergrad at Columbia, I used to come here for amateur night, and it was always such a great place with a great heritage. So we were really happy we could pick a venue which would not make [Dana] suspicious… because she is very smart.”
Meanwhile, Matthews apparently joked that if he’d performed at amateur night at the storied theater, he’d “get the hook.”
As for Blumberg, we hear she said of the surprise, “Robert told me that the Apollo Theater had a special event tonight… I am so honored and humbled…. I tell people that I waited for a prince and I got a king.”
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Kraft added, ”I wanted to surprise her and I also wanted it to be special people.”
Later in the night, we’re told Matthews presented Blumberg with a cake and led the crowd in singing happy birthday to her.
According to a source, Kraft ”really wanted to have an evening of love and good cheer to enjoy and to build bridges” as “there are so many problems in the world” right now.
Kraft has also been socially active via his Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, we have reported, and its $25 million anti-hate campaign.
As Page Six previously reported, Kraft and Blumberg married last year. Their wedding party included performances by Elton John and Ed Sheeran.
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