La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club began in a basement on East Ninth Street where founder Ellen Stewart sold her fashion designs by day and turned the space into an impromptu stage at night. Stewart, a designer at high-end stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, had no prior experience in theater when she opened the venue in 1961. She often lacked the funds for professional equipment, so she relied on her ingenuity and the help of local artists. In the early days, they famously used empty tomato cans as housings for ordinary lightbulbs to create makeshift stage lighting. Stewart’s commitment was simple: she dedicated the space to the playwright and provided a home for those who had nowhere else to perform.