June 25 was a blistering 98-degree day in New York but that didn't stop members from The Broadway League, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, stage workers union IATSE, and more from rallying in Times Square. They are part of the , who held a rally to oppose the development of the potential Caesars Palace New York casino, which would be built in the heart of the Broadway theatre district.
Tony-winning actor and producer LaChanze led the crowd in a chant, saying, "Broadway is for Broadway shows! No to casinos!" In her speech, she said that the casino will lead to more congestion in Times Square and negatively affect the neighborhood where Broadway artists live and work. "You feel how congested it can get here? Do we want it anymore congested? Because that鈥檚 will happen, and for so many people that are performers, that live in this area and work in this area, a casino will take away their opportunities to get to work. It will take away the opportunities to continue to thrive in this community.鈥�
Real estate developer S.L. Green is leading the casino project in partnership with Caesars Entertainment. The website for the project, titled "A Better Times Square," suggests that the casino by increasing revenue, establishing New York City as the "entertainment capital of the world," will increase investments in "safety, security, and transportation," and make Times Square "safer, less congested, and more welcoming to all." S.L. Green is filing the official application for the project with the city this week.
If given the green light, the casino would be built into 1515 Broadway, a 54-story office building which hosts the Minskoff Theatre (home of The Lion King) on its third floor, as well as the Palladium Times Square (formerly titled the Playstation Theatre) in the basement, a former movie theatre-turned entertainment venue. The Minskoff would remain in its current state, but the rest of the building would be renovated to accommodate a large-scale casino, hotel, and parking garage. 1515 Broadway is nestled on 44th Street, a notorious theatre-lined street, featuring numerous iconic theatre exteriors and facades like the Shubert Theatre and the Majestic Theatre, as well as Shubert Alley鈥攁 passageway between 44th and 45th Street that frequently hosts Broadway community events and gatherings, like the Broadway Flea Market, Broadway Barks, and many more annual happenings.
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. At the rally, Broadway League President Jason Laks said that the casino would also negatively affect Broadway shows: 鈥淭hese people want to take what we have spent years cultivating and profit off of us, decimating our audiences and the community we hold so dear. This is the one casino proposed location that would devastate a thriving industry that would support 100,000 jobs."
Laks then added, to a cheering crowd: "The developer behind the Times Square casino want people to believe that they are going to be the ones to bring Broadway back. But the people standing behind me鈥攖he dreamers, the actors, the stagehands, the makeup artists, the wardrobe workers, the box office workers, the designers, the creatives, the ushers, the people from the local businesses we work with and support and depend on鈥攖hese are the people who did that.鈥�
The No Times Square Casino Coalition includes 31 New York City-based entertainment organizations and related venues and local businesses: IATSE Local One stagehands, IATSE Local 306 ushers, IATSE Local 751 treasurers and ticket sellers, IATSE Local 764 wardrobe workers, IATSE Local 798 hair/makeup workers, ATPAM theater company managers and press agents, United Scenic Artists 829 scenic artists, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Council of Chelsea Block Associations, Encore Community Services, The Ali Forney Center, The Broadway League, Hell鈥檚 Kitchen Block Alliance, Hell鈥檚 Kitchen Neighborhood Association, Manhattan Plaza Tenants Association, National Organization for Women NYC (NOW NYC), Chekpeds, 54 Below, Audience Rewards, Bar Centrale, American Bus Association, Joe Allen restaurant, Orso, Project FIND, Sardi鈥檚, TDF, Times Square Church, The Shubert Organization, The Voice of Student Youth & Travel, The West 47th/48th Street Block Association, and the Westside Neighborhood Alliance.
Alternatively, a handful of theatre-affiliated venues and organizations for the proposal, like The Town Hall and Sony Hall鈥攂oth of which frequently hosting Broadway-adjacent and theatre-related concerts and events. A separate rally in support of the Times Square casino will be held June 26 on Broadway between 46th and 47th Street.
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