La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club

theater.

History

Founded by Ellen Stewart in 1961, its purpose is to support and present multi-cultural and multi-national original performance work by emerging artists.

The company website lists its first production as One Arm by Tennessee Williams and directed by Andy Milligan on July 27, 1962. [ [http://www.lamama.org/archives/year_lists/1962page.htm La MaMa ETC ] ]

The first space was at 321 East 9th Street. It 20' x 30' deep and 10' high and could seat 30. No admission was charged (although a basket was passed around). Coffee and cake were sold.

The theatre now consists of three main stages and an art gallery at 74A East 4th Street and a six-story rehearsal and workshop space on Great Jones Street. [ [http://www.lamama.org/contact/directions.html Directions - La MaMa E.T.C.] ]

One of the most successful plays to originate at the theatre was Torch Song Trilogy where one segment ("International Stud") played there for two weeks in 1978 before drawing mainstream critical attention to Harvey Fierstein resulting in moves to bigger venues before eventually playing on Broadway and becoming a movie.

Over the years La MaMa has hosted full-time resident companies headed by Tom O'Horgan, Wilford Leach, Joel Zwick, Elizabeth Swados, and Tom Eyen, among others. It is the present home of the Great Jones Repertory Company.

In 2005, the theatre was among 406 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/06/nyregion/06donate.html?ex=1278302400&en=93a1beabd4ede5b8&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss City Groups Get Bloomberg Gift of $20 Million - New York Times] ] [ [http://carnegie.org/sub/news/anon2005.html Carnegie Corporation of New York Announces Twenty Million Dollars in New York City Grants] ]

Recent Production, September 2008

Calling, an Opera of Forgiveness, recounts the up-close experience of one downtown family on 9/11, and the month immediately following it. Blending drama, music, and choreography, it captured the reactions and reflections of one family witnessing the attack on the World Trade Center at close range, and the path they take to move from chaos to recovery and hope. La MaMa's production marked the first full showing of the work.

[http://www.callingtheopera.com/about.html]

Notable Members

Many famous actors, directors and playwrights started their careers in La MaMa, like:

*Robert De Niro
*Al Pacino
*Harvey Keitel
*Danny DeVito
*Diane Lane
*Billy Crystal
*Patti Smith
*Nick Nolte
*Sam Shepard
*Andrei Şerban
*Lanford Wilson. [ [http://www.nyc-plus.com/nyc20/ellenstewardthemama.html Ellen Stewart The Mama of Them All] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.lamama.org/ Official website]