River View Players Artist Presentation Series Nurtures Performers and Writers

Cafe Largo, an upscale Restaurant/ Lounge, is hosting the events by providing a performance space as well as access to their delicious menu. They are located in the heart of a mostly Dominican neighborhood that is deprived of a cultural hub. River View Players is trying to bridge that gap by providing a multicultural experience through local artist presentations. Located at 3387 Broadway near W 137th street just feet away from the entrance to the #1 train stop. The lively community has its street musicians who regularly during warmer weather play their Congas and Bongos in the meridian that separates the two sides of the street on Broadway. Cafe Largo has become an oasis in the desert of a culturally deprived community and provides an upscale dining experience to the local residents and visitors.

Earlier in 2008 Laurence Holder who is a resident of nearby River View Towers approached the ownership of Cafe Largo about his ideas. They believed in him and his vision enough to approve of allotting him 2 hours on Sundays from 4-6PM for the presentations. They felt that a partnership with the community, businesses and artists was something all could benefit from. Laurence contacted Summerhill 7 about being a part of the vision and working with him. Summerhill agreed and joined him. He then approached Emmitt Thrower a long time friend who had performed in a few of Holder's plays. In "F" he portrayed Jesse Jackson and in Red Channels he portrayed Paul Robeson. Laurence also directed Emmitt in "Stealin Home" a play written by Fred Newman the Artistic Director of Castillo Theater. The play was written specifically for Emmitt by the playwright about Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball.

Emmitt and Laurence had also worked on trying to bring several well known small theater companies together to create a hub for Off Broadway Theater. After several years of trying the Companies involved went their separate ways and Emmitt and Laurence loss contact. Emmitt was busy acting and Laurence was busy trying to push his successful one man show called "Monk". Then as fortune would have it, one day in 2008 Emmitt went to a performance in a senior's co-op in upper Manhattan. The cast was mostly amateurs, but he had met the elderly couple who ran the theater group at a play reading at the Times Square Arts Center. They invited him to their community theater show. It was not a well done play overall but had it's moments of enchantment. It however had a host of interesting participants. One Black woman in her 50's had performed very well as she obviously had acting training and skills. After talking to her she mentioned she knew Laurence Holder and asked if I knew him. I told her I did. She said he had come to one of the performances.

Several weeks later I get an email about a play reading series that Laurence was a part of. I went to check it out and we instantly reconnected. It wasn't long afterwards when Laurence parted ways with that reading group and shortly thereafter contacted Emmitt about starting another group. They joined forces to make the Artist development vision a reality. During Laurence's and Emmitt's 7 year separation, Emmitt had suffered a serious stroke but had recovered and started a production company. His company a 501 (c) 3 Not For Profit was formed in 2005. He had produced over 20 events, plays, performances and was well seasoned in the producing business at this point. They both realized this was a wonderful opportunity to be able to cultivate works with a real possibility to produce some of them off Broadway. The two of them compliment each other perfectly. If the Artists are giving to the community and the community and businesses are supportive of the artists, then all benefit from the relationship.

On September 7th, 2008 River View Players had their Grand Opening at Cafe Largo and the house was packed to capacity. Lots of the attendees were heavyweights in the theater business. They included Woodie King Jr. of New Federal Theater, Grace Jones President of the AUDELCO AWARDS and too many others to mention. There were poets, actors, business people, young and old enjoying this new found gem in the heart of West Harlem. The Host gave out free samples of their delicious cuisine. A tasty reminder to purchase from their delicious menu. We have had a few weeks of "Services" under our belt now and we are getting a mixed group of attendees. That is great. They have assembled a group of young performers or Associate Artist to participate in the readings and help them develop the series. They also mentor the Artist Associates. The community is slowly awakening to the reality that outstanding talent is all around them and they have an opportunity along with businesses to forge a strong community union to change the landscape of the neighborhood already in the midst of change.