RACHEL CALOF is a solo theatrical tour de force based on the memoir of a Jewish picture bride, Rachel Calof. We follow Rachel’s touching story, as she emigrates from Russia to North Dakota in 1894, crossing the ocean to marry a man she has never met, determined to make a new life as a homesteader. For four years after her arrival, Rachel and her husband live in a twelve-by-fourteen foot shack with her in-laws, her husband’s brother, wife and children,two dozen chickens – and a cow. She gives birth to her children on the prairie,endures brutally cold winters – and in the end, triumphs over adversity.

Rachel Calof  chronicled the story of those years when she was  55 years old living in St. Paul. Her manuscript, written in Yiddish, was discovered by her children after her death and eventually published as “Rachel Calof’s Story”. Her story is filled with an engaging humor, compassion, and detailed accounting of the unrelenting realities faced by homesteaders on a windswept prairie.

RACHEL CALOF is appropriate for all audiences. The show has been conceived as a solo tour de force  for Kate Fuglei who performs the 80 minute piece without intermission. It can be performed in a simple space, with chair, table, and a lighting plot which outlines a 12 by 14 foot space on the floor.  The true theatrical power of this piece is embodied in Kate Fuglei’s  spectacular “channeling” of Rachel Calof’s spirit and personality as well her transforming portrayals of other characters in Rachel Calof’s life. Given an ample budget, many enhancements such as creative lighting, sound effects , and a small instrumental ensemble would add to the satisfaction of an already powerful experience.. RACHEL CALOF-A memoir with music is a dynamic theatrical event with great drama, heart and melody.