Caesars Palace Times Square is sweetening the deal for Broadway actors and musicians, if its proposal to bring a casino to the tourist destination in the heart of the theatre district is approved by the State of New York. The proposed casino has promised to host monthly job fairs exclusively for members of Actors' Equity Association and American Federation of Musicians Local 802—two unions which represent Broadway actors and stage managers, and musicians, respectively.
The jobs in question will be at the casino as table games dealers, bartenders, front-of-house concierges, and more, with promised flexibility to accommodate rehearsals, auditions, and performances.
Actors' Equity and Local 802 have been vocal supporters of the casino. “Too often, actors and stage managers are forced to piece together work just to survive between productions,” said Al Vincent Jr, executive director of the Actors’ Equity Association, in a statement. “This collaboration with Caesars Palace Times Square creates new opportunities for our members to support themselves without leaving their professional community. That’s the kind of responsive, community-oriented solution we need.”
The casino also says their work will serve as a "broader investment [for] the theater district, including direct funding for Broadway workforce needs like childcare, medical and student debt relief, and ticket access for underserved audiences." It characterizes the proposed job fairs as a way to provide "offstage support" for Broadway workers. The project has also previously promised to provide $80 million for a public safety plan for the surrounding neighborhood and $20 million towards Broadway theatre tickets for disadvantaged families.
“Our musicians are the heartbeat of Broadway, but when a show closes or a tour ends, they’re often left in limbo,” said Robert Suttmann, President of AFM Local 802, in a statement. “These recurring job fairs will offer meaningful work that respects their skills, schedules, and dignity. We appreciate the Caesars Palace Times Square team’s willingness to meet with us directly and work on programs that directly benefit our members.”
Caesars Palace Times Square—a joint venture between SL Green Realty, Caesars Entertainment, Roc Nation, and Live Nation—are partnered on a bid to win one of three new gaming licenses. It plans to convert the existing office building at 1515 Broadway, a 54-story office building which houses the Minskoff Theatre (home of The Lion King) on its third floor, into a large-scale casino, a Broadway theatre, and a hotel. Real estate developer S.L. Green has filed the official application for the project with the New York State Gaming Commission, which will make a decision by the end of the year. It is part of the State's plan to have three new casinos built somewhere in the five boroughs of New York City and Yonkers; eight casinos have submitted applications.
Though the Times Square casino has support from Actors' Equity and Local 802, it faces opposition from other parts of Broadway, including the Broadway League, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, stage workers union IATSE, and The Shubert Organization. Those opposing the development have expressed concern that, in an already overwhelmingly crowded 10-block radius, the casino would increase street crowding, traffic, and potentially crime, and also weaken New York City's tax base.
