Lisa Mayo (1924-2013) was a major figure in the Native American theatre community. Lisa Mayo was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and trained professionally as a mezzo soprano at the New York School of Music. She studied with such prominent teachers as Uta Hagen and Charles Nelson Riley. Lisa Mayo, along with sisters Muriel Miguel and Gloria Miguel, were the founding members of the Spiderwoman Theatre in 1976. The company is known for being the oldest and longest continuous feminist theatre in the United States. With the founding of Spiderwoman Theater, Mayo moved away from the commercial scene and focused more on original works with her sisters and other Native women. They created a technique called storyweaving in which they create, design and weave stories with words and movement. With the group, Maya created and performed in at least 20 original works. Mayo also created one-woman shows, The Pause That Refreshes and My Sister Ate Dirt and Among the Living. In addition to touring internationally with the group, she taught theatre and acting to young people and directed showcases at the American Indian Community House in New York City.