Little Village Playhouse Hosts 5th Annual Alumni Benefit

The Little Village Playhouse (LVP) in Pleasantville is a non-profit theatre group offering contemporary theatre programming and arts education to students in grades K through 12.  

In existence since 1997, LVP has had an impressive production schedule, starting with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 1997, to Princess and the School Girls in 2010.

Under the direction of Adam David Cohen and Stephanie Kovacs Cohen, students who study at the LVP learn not only about the arts, but also about collaboration.

"I credit my love for the arts, confidence and desire for success to LVP. I became a better person because of the program," said LVP alumna Lauren Camadeco, who now serves as the organization's director of communication and development.

For the past five years, LVP alumni have come together to donate their talents and bring a wonderful evening of entertainment to area residents and to raise funds for this Pleasantville gem, which draws its students from school districts including Chappaqua, Bedford and Katonah-Lewisboro, in addition to Pleasantville.

Saturday night's performance was nothing short of stellar. From the opening musical number You Won't Succeed on Broadway from Spamalot, to One Day More from Les Miserables as the finale, the performers had the audience in the palms of their hands.   

"The proceeds from this benefit will help to support the collaboration of Little Village Playhouse and the Chappaqua Drama group to create the cultural institution of Arc Stages," Camadeco revealed. "Arc Stages' home will be in Pleasantville. This collaboration has already begun to revolutionize the arts in Pleasantville and Westchester County."