This has the only mention of her death, but I can't link to it directly.
https://www.theatrewomen.org
https://m.facebook.com/elsa.rael
She lived in NYC and was a playwright and lyricist. Oddly, while she has an entry in the vol. 84 of the "Children's Literature Review" encyclopedias (quite prestigious), she does NOT have an entry in the "Something About the Author" encyclopedias! Very
unusual.
From 1985:
https://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/18/theater/theater-festival-for-older-women-at-the-public.html
By Nan Robertson.
First paragraphs:
At a party (in 1975), Elsa Rael, a playwright, saw a woman sing, dance and act her way through Stephen Sondheim's ''Company.'' Mrs. Rael called her ''mesmerizing, unbelievably talented.'' And when she asked the performer afterward why she wasn't working,
the woman replied, ''I hit 40.''
''It broke my heart, and that was the seed of this project,'' Mrs. Rael said. The project is the Professional Older Women's Theater Festival, now taking place at the Public Theater. On the legitimate stage - where, Actors Equity points out, 85 percent of
the performers are unemployed at any given time - middle-aged actresses are commonly believed to be the most underemployed of all.
https://lptw30blog.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/elsa-rael/
(includes photo)
https://www.google.com/search?biw=1266&bih=779&q=elsa+okon+rael+kirkus&oq=elsa+okon+rael+kirkus&gs_l=psy-ab.3..33i160k1l2.6596.7721.0.7936.7.7.0.0.0.0.189.602.0j4.4.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..3.4.600...0i22i30k1.0.KIaSwzteyPY
(three Kirkus reviews)
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/366083.Elsa_Okon_Rael
(reader reviews)
https://www.sandrabornstein.com/two-jewish-childrens-books-for-thanksgiving/ (review of "Rivka's First Thanksgiving")
http://articles.latimes.com/1985-03-28/entertainment/ca-29358_1_older-actresses
(from 1985: "Lack Of Roles For Older Actresses : Festival Inspired By An Age-old Issue")
WRITINGS:
Marushka's Egg
by Elsa Okon Rael, Joanna Wezyk (Illustrator)
1993
What Zeesie Saw on Delancey Street
by Elsa Okon Rael, Marjorie Priceman (Illustrator)
1996 —
When Zaydeh Danced on Eldridge Street
by Elsa Okon Rael, Marjorie Priceman (Illustrator)
1997
Rivka's First Thanksgiving
by Elsa Okon Rael, Maryann Kavalski (Illustrator)
2001
PLAYS:
Beauty and the Beast (1965)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Beauty and the Beast (1974, as lyricist)
Lovesong (1976 as lyricist)
Lenona.
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