James A. Pierce III
- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania James A. Pierce, III is an AUDELCO Award Winning Actor, Singer, Dancer. He's a classically trained singer and dancer and has maintained a diverse and successful career.
Pierce began performing at the age of six training at La Cher Tari Dance Studio. He began playing trumpet/cornet at the age of 9 and joined the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Men's Chorale at the age of 11. While in the Boys Choir, he toured the Philadelphia tri-state area as well as internationally to Switzerland and France. He also sang in his first opera "La Boheme" with Opera North.
He attended the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts(CAPA) as a Vocal Music Major for his Freshman/Sophomore years, then became a double major his Junior year adding Dance to his curriculum. He performed in the Spring musicals (Once Upon a Mattress, The Wiz, Guys and Dolls) and began his classical dance training at the age of 15, studying Ballet at Wissahickon Dance Academy. During his senior year in high school he performed with Philadelphia Dance Company's (Philadanco) junior company Danco 2.
After graduating high school, he moved to New York City to attend Fordham University as a Dance Performance Major in the 4th Graduating class of the newly formed Ailey/Fordham BFA Program. While studying/training there, Pierce performed the works of Alvin Ailey, Jose Limon, Joyce Trisler, Merce Cunningham and worked with choreographers Dwight Rhoden, Ronald K. Brown, William Forsythe, and Robert Battle, to name a few.
During the summer hiatus in 2003, Pierce performed as a Principal Dancer with the Santa Fe Opera before returning to NYC to apprentice, perform and tour with Complexions Contemporary Ballet while continuing his studies at Fordham University. During his senior year he joined the second company (Ailey 2)of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Upon completing his two years with Ailey 2, Pierce went on to perform with Ballet Hispanico, BalletMet Columbus, and Martha Graham Dance Company. He also performed as a guest artist with Pilobolus, Buglisi Dance Theatre, Von Ussar Danceworks, Dance Theatre of Lynchburg, New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble, and Adams Company Dance.
Pierce's musical theatre career began after he left the Graham company. He was in Papermill Playhouse's "On The Town", then joined the Broadway company of "The Lion King" shortly afterwards. During his tenure at The Lion King, he began to venture into the tv/film world doing bit parts in shows like "Smash" and MTV's "Decoded" with Franchesca Ramsey. He also took time off to perform in the World Premiere musical "Little Dancer" at the Kennedy Center in 2014. A few years later he left The Lion King to open and close the Broadway premiere of Anastasia.
Prior to Anastasia closing he performed in his first straight play "Miranda from Stormville" with Random Access Theater, then he made his dramatic debut with National Queer Theater in "Waafrika 123". Later that year he was featured in La Mama's production of "The Dark Star from Harlem: the Spectacular Rise of Josephine Baker" for which he won the 2020 Audelco "The VIV" Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
Pierce began performing at the age of six training at La Cher Tari Dance Studio. He began playing trumpet/cornet at the age of 9 and joined the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Men's Chorale at the age of 11. While in the Boys Choir, he toured the Philadelphia tri-state area as well as internationally to Switzerland and France. He also sang in his first opera "La Boheme" with Opera North.
He attended the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts(CAPA) as a Vocal Music Major for his Freshman/Sophomore years, then became a double major his Junior year adding Dance to his curriculum. He performed in the Spring musicals (Once Upon a Mattress, The Wiz, Guys and Dolls) and began his classical dance training at the age of 15, studying Ballet at Wissahickon Dance Academy. During his senior year in high school he performed with Philadelphia Dance Company's (Philadanco) junior company Danco 2.
After graduating high school, he moved to New York City to attend Fordham University as a Dance Performance Major in the 4th Graduating class of the newly formed Ailey/Fordham BFA Program. While studying/training there, Pierce performed the works of Alvin Ailey, Jose Limon, Joyce Trisler, Merce Cunningham and worked with choreographers Dwight Rhoden, Ronald K. Brown, William Forsythe, and Robert Battle, to name a few.
During the summer hiatus in 2003, Pierce performed as a Principal Dancer with the Santa Fe Opera before returning to NYC to apprentice, perform and tour with Complexions Contemporary Ballet while continuing his studies at Fordham University. During his senior year he joined the second company (Ailey 2)of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Upon completing his two years with Ailey 2, Pierce went on to perform with Ballet Hispanico, BalletMet Columbus, and Martha Graham Dance Company. He also performed as a guest artist with Pilobolus, Buglisi Dance Theatre, Von Ussar Danceworks, Dance Theatre of Lynchburg, New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble, and Adams Company Dance.
Pierce's musical theatre career began after he left the Graham company. He was in Papermill Playhouse's "On The Town", then joined the Broadway company of "The Lion King" shortly afterwards. During his tenure at The Lion King, he began to venture into the tv/film world doing bit parts in shows like "Smash" and MTV's "Decoded" with Franchesca Ramsey. He also took time off to perform in the World Premiere musical "Little Dancer" at the Kennedy Center in 2014. A few years later he left The Lion King to open and close the Broadway premiere of Anastasia.
Prior to Anastasia closing he performed in his first straight play "Miranda from Stormville" with Random Access Theater, then he made his dramatic debut with National Queer Theater in "Waafrika 123". Later that year he was featured in La Mama's production of "The Dark Star from Harlem: the Spectacular Rise of Josephine Baker" for which he won the 2020 Audelco "The VIV" Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
