Making New York City Center Shine

“The best days on the job are when we all come together and do what we have to do here,” said Theater Worker of the Year, Cathy Rivera who has spent the past two decades helping keep New York City Center the showplace it is.

New York City Center, located on 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, was founded by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia in 1943.

After being recommended by a friend who worked at the venue, Rivera started going in part-time and did so for eight years, working her way up to full-time, which she’s been for the last 12 years..

“I can’t really say we ever have a dull day here.”

Besides the main performance space, there are offices and rental studios. Rivera is responsible for maintaining all of it.

But the job is not without a touch of glamour. “I get to see a lot of great shows and get to meet a lot of different people.” Those people include celebrities such as Diana Ross and Jake Gyllenhaal. “I also socialize with the people who come in here” regularly like actors, dancers, and opera singers who use the rehearsal halls to prepare for upcoming performances.

Whether it’s moving ballet barres, setting up the lounge to entertain partygoers, or doing hourly checks of public areas, Rivera says the process followed by herself and her colleagues is: “We come, we socialize, we get to work as a team, and we all get through it.”

“Our job is to keep it clean and keep it up. My coworkers and I work hard to make things better for New York City Center.”

When Rivera is home, she likes to relax and spend time with friends and family, particularly her 21-year-old son Nathaniel, who is a student and an athlete with aspirations to play pro basketball. She cites him as her main motivation for working weekday evenings and weekend mornings. “I get up at 4 a.m. to arrive here at 6.”

Her best piece of advice came from a now deceased coworker who told her to not overthink opportunities and “Just go for it because tomorrow’s never promised.”

With that in mind, Rivera says she’s, “thankful for life, for having this job, the person who gave me the opportunity, and the people I work with. I’m grateful for everything that comes in front of me on a daily basis.”