Caesars Palace Times Square and Tony-nominated actor Wendell Pierce have announced a $10 million investment to launch the New York Coalition of Legacy Theatres of Color Fund. The new nonprofit initiative aims to support historic theaters and ensembles that spotlight the stories of New York’s communities of color while addressing the chronic underfunding these institutions face.
The fund will operate as a 501(c)(3) and provide direct investments to help bolster production, marketing, and visibility for longstanding theaters such as the Billie Holiday Theatre, New Heritage Theatre Group, Black Spectrum Theatre, and The Negro Ensemble Company.
Beyond financial support, partner Caesars Palace Times Square will offer additional benefits to participating theaters and their workers. These include access to childcare services for performers and crews, rental assistance, student and medical debt relief, and priority job access through a monthly theater labor job fair.
Pierce, who recently made history as the first Black actor to portray Willy Loman in a major Broadway production of Death of a Salesman, brings a lifelong commitment to arts equity. He previously won a Tony Award as a producer of Clybourne Park, a play examining race and gentrification. Pierce will also serve on the fund’s governing board alongside other respected arts leaders and advocates.
The fund is part of a broader community commitment from Caesars Palace Times Square, which is actively pursuing one of New York State’s new gaming licenses. If approved, the project will convert the current 1515 Broadway office building into a world-class gaming and entertainment venue.
“As an artist and advocate, I believe that 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,” said award-winning Actor Wendell Pierce. “Caesars Palace Times Square is a formidable investment, creating access and opportunity, with a profound creation of jobs in the greatest cultural economy of the world. This project will not only be transformative for our creative Broadway community but for the broader labor force as well. I fully endorse this project and recognize this is a powerful step toward ensuring that cultural groups of color are not just included but are leaders in shaping the future of Times Square — with a commitment to workforce inclusion, community partnership, and artistic vibrancy for all.”
As part of its support, Caesars will also promote participating legacy theaters through its 65-million-member Caesars Rewards platform, app, and in-person marketing channels.
Pierce, best known for his role as Detective Bunk Moreland on The Wire, remains active across film, TV, and stage. He recently won the African American Film Critics Association award for Best Male TV Actor in Elsbeth and appeared as Perry White in Superman. He will soon star in Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest.
“Representation doesn’t just matter on the stage, but also behind the scenes and in the systems that support artists,” said Desiree Perez, CEO of Roc Nation. “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.”
This initiative reaffirms Caesars Palace Times Square’s investment in New York’s cultural core and its creative workers, offering real-time solutions rooted in equity and community partnership.