Paul Roose-Evans Foster (October 15, 1931 – March 5, 2021)[1] was an American playwright, theater director, and producer born in Penns Grove, New Jersey.

While living in New York, he met Ellen Stewart, a fashion designer planning to open her own boutique.

In 1962, Foster agreed to help Stewart with her boutique in exchange for using the basement space as a theater in the evenings.

"...Stewart's enthusiasm for the theater project quickly eclipsed her own initial idea for the boutique", and La MaMa was born.

Foster has written eighteen plays, including Elizabeth I and Satyricon (1972), as well as the libretto and lyrics for the musical Silver Queen Saloon (1978).