La Mama Experimental Theatre Club Inc

LA MAMA EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE CLUB IS DEDICATED TO THE ARTIST AND ALL ASPECTS OF THE THEATRE. LA MAMA BUILDS AUDIENCES THAT ARE INTEGRAL TO THE CREATIVE PROCESS. OUR LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO GATHER IN OUR PHYSICAL, DIGITAL, AND HYBRID SPACES TO SEE NEW WORK, ARE OFTEN THE FIRST AUDIENCE FOR THAT WORK. THE AUDIENCE RESPONSE HELPS TO SHAPE THE EVOLUTION OF THE PIECE FOR THE ARTIST, AND IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM THAT LA MAMA NURTURES. LA MAMA IS THE ONLY ORIGINAL OFF-OFF-BROADWAY THEATRE STILL IN OPERATION.

ELLEN STEWART (1919-2011), AN ACCOMPLISHED AFRICAN-AMERICAN FASHION DESIGNER, FOUNDED LA MAMA IN 1961. SINCE ITS BEGINNINGS, LA MAMA HAS MAINTAINED AN "OPEN DOOR" POLICY, WELCOMING ARTISTS OF ALL CULTURES, ETHNICITIES AND IDENTITIES. FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS, LA MAMA HAS BEEN A CREATIVE HOME FOR THOUSANDS OF MARGINALIZED ARTISTS WHO HAVE GONE ON TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF AMERICAN THEATRE. WHAT STARTED AS A BASEMENT THEATRE WITH 15 SEATS HAS GROWN TO ENCOMPASS 88,000 SQUARE FEET OF DEDICATED ART SPACE IN THE EAST VILLAGE, CONSISTING OF FOUR PERFORMANCE VENUES, SIX REHEARSAL STUDIOS, A VISITING-ARTIST DORMITORY, AN ART GALLERY, AND AN ARCHIVE THAT DOCUMENTS THE HISTORY OF OFF-OFF-BROADWAY. NOW UNDER THE ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP OF MIA YOO, LA MAMA SUPPORTS APPROXIMATELY 1,500 ARTISTS ANNUALLY AND PRESENTS 50-70 FULL ONSITE PRODUCTIONS IN A TYPICAL SEASON, MORE THAN HALF OF WHICH ARE EITHER WORLD OR U.S. PREMIERES. OVER 60 YEARS, LA MAMA HAS INTRODUCED ARTISTS FROM 70+ DIFFERENT COUNTRIES TO AMERICAN AUDIENCES. ARTISTS IN OUR SEASON RECEIVE UP TO THREE WEEKS OF FREE REHEARSAL SPACE, A THEATRE WITH A LIGHT/SOUND PACKAGE, MARKETING SUPPORT, A PRODUCTION MANAGER, FRONT-OF-HOUSE STAFF, TICKETING SERVICES, AND 50-60 PERCENT OF BOX OFFICE REVENUE. THE ONLY ORIGINAL OFF-OFF-BROADWAY THEATRE STILL IN OPERATION, LA MAMA HAS RECEIVED 30+ OBIE AWARDS, DOZENS OF DRAMA DESK, BESSIE, AND VILLAGER AWARDS, AND THE 2018 REGIONAL THEATER TONY AWARD.