Wendell Pierce, perhaps best known for his roles in The Wire and Jack Ryan, is teaming up with the Roc Nation-led Gaming Project to support theaters of color across New York.
Caesars Palace Times Square announced the partnership with Pierce to invest $10 million to launch the New York Coalition of Legacy Theatres of Colorado Fund. The fund will help support actors and theaters of color in New York, building on Pierce's years of experience acting both on stage and in front of the camera. The news comes not long after Pierce received a Tony nomination for his work in the Broadway production of Death of a Salesman.
"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," he said. “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.”
Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez added that representation is just as important behind the scenes, supporting and giving a platform to artists of color, as it is on stage or in front of the camera. "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," she said.
Roc Nation is part of a joint bid alongside SL Green, Live Nation, and Caesars Entertainment to bring a new major entertainment and gaming destination to 1515 Broadway. The State of New York has yet to grant a gaming license, but the decision is expected by the end of the year.
