, ▁platforms , ▁and ▁whatever ▁else ▁we ▁have ▁that ▁they ▁can ▁use ▁to ▁create ▁their ▁work . ▁We ▁want ▁them ▁to ▁feel ▁free ▁to ▁explore ▁their ▁ideas , ▁and ▁translate ▁them ▁into ▁a ▁the atr ical ▁language ▁that ▁can ▁communicate ▁to ▁any ▁person ▁in ▁any ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁world ." ▁ ▁Begin nings : ▁Ellen ▁Stewart ▁and ▁the ▁push cart ▁ ▁Ellen ▁Stewart ▁is ▁the ▁spirit ▁of ▁La ▁Ma Ma ; ▁she ▁is ▁its ▁guard ian , ▁jan itor , ▁fund ra iser , ▁press ▁agent , ▁tour ▁manager , ▁concept ual ▁leader — she ▁is ▁the ▁g uts ▁of ▁the ▁place . ▁To ▁understand ▁this ▁theatre ▁one ▁must ▁first ▁know ▁Ellen ▁Stewart . ▁ ▁Stewart ▁worked ▁as ▁a ▁fashion ▁designer ▁at ▁S aks ▁Fif th ▁Avenue ▁before ▁starting ▁the ▁theatre . ▁Stewart ▁was ▁inspired ▁by ▁her ▁ment or , ▁" P apa ▁Abraham ▁Diam onds ," ▁who ▁owned ▁a ▁fabric ▁shop ▁on ▁the ▁Lower ▁East ▁Side . ▁Diam onds ▁told ▁Stewart ▁that ▁everyone ▁needs ▁both ▁a ▁" push cart ▁to ▁serve ▁others " ▁and ▁their ▁own ▁personal ▁push cart . ▁Stewart ▁had ▁a ▁revel ation ▁about ▁this ▁advice ▁during ▁a ▁trip ▁she ▁took ▁to ▁Mor oc co ▁and ▁decided ▁to ▁open ▁a ▁bout ique ▁for ▁her ▁fashion ▁designs ▁that ▁would ▁also ▁serve ▁as ▁a ▁theatre ▁for ▁her ▁fost er ▁brother , ▁play w right ▁Fred ▁L ights , ▁and ▁his ▁fellow ▁play w right ▁Paul ▁F oster . ▁On ▁October ▁ 1 8 , ▁ 1 9 6 1 , ▁Stewart ▁paid