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Ellen Stewart was born November 7, 1919--but details around her childhood (and even her birthplace) are sparse, as she was notoriously private about her early life. She may have been born in Chicago, but it’s also possible that she was born in Alexandria, Louisiana. From Chicago, Stewart moved to New York City in 1950, working at Saks Fifth Avenue. She started as a cutter, and then began working in design. In 1961, she opened La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, primarily so her foster brother would have a place to produce his plays. Even while running the theatre, Stewart--known as “Mama�--still worked as a fashion designer until the 1980s. She toured the world with La MaMa, and received recognition and honors from many countries. After a long illness, Stewart died on January 13, 2011.

Key Dates & Events

• 1961 - La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club opens in a basement, seating only a few dozen people
• 1964 - Jean Genet's The Maids is produced at La MaMa
• 1971 - Stewart produces the first version of Godspell
• 1985 - Stewart and LaMaMa begin to tour internationally
• 1992 - Stewart is inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame
• 2006 - Stewart is awarded a Tony for Excellence in Theatre