( ENSPIRE Entertainment ) Caesars Palace Times Square and Wendell Pierce Join Forces to Preserve and Empower Historic Cultural Stages
ENSPIRE Contributor: Sydney N. Culpepper
Photo Credit: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/ Francis Dzikowski/ Adam Gray/ Shareif Ziyadat/ Getty Images
New York City’s historic theatres of color are receiving a major boost thanks to a $10 million initiative from Caesars Palace Times Square and award-winning actor and producer Wendell Pierce.
The newly formed New York Coalition of Legacy Theatres of Color Fund will direct resources to some of the city’s most respected institutions, including The Billie Holiday Theatre, New Heritage Theatre Group, Black Spectrum Theatre, and The Negro Ensemble Company. These theatres have been at the heart of their communities for decades, using art to tell stories that reflect Black and Brown experiences—often with limited financial support. The Legacy Theatres of Color Fund aims to preserve the history, culture, and voices of these communities.
Photo by Francis Dzikowski
Beyond keeping productions running, the fund will address behind-the-scenes needs that keep these spaces alive—covering costs for childcare, offering rental assistance, providing relief from student and medical debt, and hosting monthly job fairs to connect theatre professionals with stable employment opportunities.
For Pierce, whose career spans diverse screen roles and a Tony Award as a producer, the mission is about more than entertainment. “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.
Photo by Shareif Ziyadat
Caesars Palace Times Square, developed in partnership with SL Green Realty, Caesars Entertainment, Roc Nation, and Live Nation, will also utilize its Caesars Rewards network—boasting over 65 million members—to promote the participating theatres and help them reach wider audiences.
The effort is part of Caesars’ larger vision for 1515 Broadway, which includes a proposed hotel, live entertainment venue, and casino. While the casino is still awaiting approval, the theatre fund will move forward regardless. Additionally, by partnering with neighboring theatres, hotels, and restaurants, Pierce aims to leverage existing business sales to create positive exposure for these historic stages.
Photo by Adam Gray (Getty Images)
In a city where rising costs often force cultural institutions to close their doors, the fund offers meaningful relief for theatres that have played a vital role in telling diverse stories throughout their communities. By combining financial stability with resources for day-to-day operations, Caesars Palace Times Square and Wendell Pierce are working to ensure these cultural landmarks remain accessible and thriving for generations to come.
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