How Did La Mama Influence American Culture

1999 Words8 Pages

Hailey Burger
27 April 2017
La Mama and its Mama As artists, it is our instinct to be drawn towards art and inspirational theatre in hopeless times of need. The 1960’s began with much promise, beginning a golden age of reform. However, the nation was wholly divided on a number of matters pertaining to controversies like the Vietnam war, the Civil Rights Movement and the never ending fight for Women’s rights. The divide of the country created tension and impatience within the United States, dominantly seen in the youth of America. Young activists took action during the rough years of the 60’s with different types of protests and demonstrations, opposing the war and social and racial injustices. Naturally, the art being produced during this time was influenced by the youth in America and Americans in need of liberation and reconstruction. The years of the 60’s were an incredible time for experimental theatre. …show more content…

She even went as far as shoplifting for her props and costumes when she didn’t have a cent left. Stewart states, “I mean, in order to be a good stage manager you had to... well, it's the truth. You got your prop list and off you went. And it was up to you to come back with whatever was on the list, and you didn't have a quarter” (Stewart 13). Stewart was incredibly giving to the people around her and her selflessness is what made the La Mama theatre grow. It’s important to note just how much Ellen Stewart put herself into her theatre; Schechner states, “She lived in an apartment over her theatres, she presided over her theatres, she was her theatres” (Schechner 10). That’s what makes La Mama so special: La Mama is literally the heart and soul of Ellen Stewart as she sacrificed her name, turned over her every cent and gave all her love to a theatre the size of a closet in the East Village- that’s truly something