Wendell Pierce is putting his star power and advocacy to work for New York’s cultural heartbeat. The Tony-nominated actor and producer has partnered with Roc Nation and Caesars Palace Times Square to launch the New York Coalition of Legacy Theatres of Color Fund, a $10 million initiative dedicated to supporting historic Black and Brown theatre institutions across the city.
The fund, a registered 501(c)3, will provide direct investments to some of NYC’s most iconic and impactful theatre groups, including The Billie Holiday Theatre, New Heritage Theatre Group, Black Spectrum Theatre, and The Negro Ensemble Company. These resources will help bolster production, marketing, and overall visibility, while also addressing decades-long funding inequities in the arts.
Pierce, known for roles in The Wire, Death of a Salesman, and most recently Superman, emphasized the dual mission behind the project: empowering communities through economic development while elevating their artistic voices.
“The social justice movement of the 21st Century is economic development and creating opportunities that sustain and uplift our communities—both on stage and beyond,” Pierce said in a press release. “This project will not only be transformative for our creative Broadway community but for the broader labor force as well.”
Beyond funding, the initiative offers tangible benefits like childcare for performers and crews, student and medical debt relief, rental assistance, and exclusive job opportunities through monthly theatre labor job fairs. Caesars Palace Times Square will also help promote these legacy theatres through its Caesars Rewards app and on-site marketing.
Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez echoed the importance of the work ahead:
“Representation doesn’t just matter on the stage, but also behind the scenes and in the systems that support artists. Creating this fund is a step toward equity in the entertainment industry, and we’re proud to be part of a project that centers the people and places that built New York’s creative legacy.”
The move aligns with Caesars Palace Times Square’s broader commitment to New York’s creative economy, though the initiative is contingent on the group’s bid for a state gaming license being approved later this year.
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