Tony Award-winning actor and producer Wendell Pierce has announced his support for the proposed Caesars Palace Times Square casino, partnering with the project on a new initiative to aid New York City’s legacy theaters of color.
As part of the collaboration, Caesars has pledged $10 million to establish the New York Coalition of Legacy Theatres of Color Fund. This fund will provide direct investment to boost production, marketing, and awareness for institutions such as the Billie Holiday Theatre, the New Heritage Theatre Group, the Black Spectrum Theatre, and The Negro Ensemble Company.
“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,” Pierce stated. He described the project as a “formidable investment” that would create jobs and be transformative for both the Broadway community and the city’s broader labor force.
The Caesars Palace Times Square proposal is a joint venture by SL Green Realty, Caesars Entertainment, Roc Nation, and Live Nation. The group is bidding for one of three new downstate gaming licenses to be awarded by the New York State Gaming Commission by the end of the year. Their plan involves converting the 54-story office tower at 1515 Broadway, which houses the Minskoff Theatre and its long-running production of The Lion King, into a casino, hotel, and an additional Broadway theater.
Pierce’s endorsement is the latest in a series of efforts by the casino developers to win support from the city’s arts community. The group has previously announced partnerships with Actors’ Equity Association and American Federation of Musicians Local 802 to host job fairs, and has promised to provide flexible employment for performers, dedicated childcare, student debt relief, rental assistance, and $20 million for subsidized Broadway tickets.
Despite these efforts, the project faces significant opposition from prominent Broadway organizations, including the Broadway League, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the stage workers union IATSE, and The Shubert Organization. Opponents have raised concerns that a casino would worsen traffic congestion and crowding in the area, potentially increase crime, and negatively impact the city’s tax base.
