Journalist, Author, Playwright, Drama Company Founder Rachael Bail

Rachael Elizabeth Bail, daughter of the Reverend Samuel W. Bail and the Reverend Mrs. Gurney Simpson Bail was born in Washington, Pennsylvania and raised with her sister Mari Jayne in Arcadia, Florida. The daughter of two preachers, her passion for writing would lead her to produce her first self published newspaper, "The Children's Star," at the age of eight. Always a high achiever academically, she was valedictorian of her high school class, studied at Bridgewater College, and graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Journalism. She began her journalism career at the Tampa Daily Times, then moved to New York City to cover the cosmetics industry for Women's Wear Daily, where she honed her sophisticated sense of fashion.

In New York, she met and later married concert violinist Herbert Baumel and the couple moved to Caracas, Venezuela and then Rome, Italy where her society column in the Rome Daily American "Lend Me Your Ears," covered the golden age of Cinecitta in the Eternal City. Following the birth of the couple's first daughter, Susan Benay Baumel, the couple returned to New York City where two more children, Samuel Baumel and Mary Elizabeth Baumel were born.

Rachael authored the book "Alec Templeton's Music Boxes," and continued to pursue her passion for journalism as a member of the National Press Club and Overseas Press Club. She and Herbert were also active in the theater scene; Herbert worked as Harold Prince's concertmaster on Broadway, and the couple counted Leonard Bernstein, Hal Hastings, Sheldon Harnick and Judge Benjamin Altman amongst their friends.

Following divorce she worked as a staff reporter and editor for Gannett (White Plains, NY), the Florida Times Union (Jacksonville, FL), and the St. Petersburg Times (St. Petersburg, FL) before moving to Washington, D.C. in 1975 where she had a long career as writer, Supreme Court correspondent and editor at Voice of America. She interviewed such luminaries as Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Sir Laurence Olivier, Fidel Castro, Estee Lauder, Robert Redford and Peter Ustinov amongst others.

As a champion of women's rights, Rachael promoted the work of women in the arts. She was a playwright herself, a member of the Dramatists Guild and professed the belief that "the theatre must be a vital conversation with society," which lead to her role in founding the McLean Drama Company. She authored over twenty original plays including, "Emily and I", "Immoral Combat", "Return to Vietnam" and "Florida Days" amongst others.

As Founder and President of the McLean Drama Company she pursued her vision, with the mission of showcasing new work and emerging playwrights. For almost fifteen years the Company has produced original plays from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, as well as staging works from a nationwide 10 Minute Play Competition in runs at the National Press Club, Alden Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, the Capital Fringe Festival, FLASHPOINT- - the Mead Theatre Lab and the 2015 Women's Voices Theater Festival. In recent years, the Company has moved into media and documentary productions.

Rachael passed away peacefully the evening of Sunday, August 27th with her family. She was a unique and brilliant intellect, with elegance and beauty whose passion for travel, the arts and news led her around the world.

She is survived by Susan Baumel and Samuel Baumel and will always be loved and remembered by her grandchildren Ely Baumel- - Lamonica, Elizabeth Baumel and Jessica Baumel.

Rachael's funeral service will be at her parents' church, the Church of the Brethren, 25 N. Mills Ave.,Arcadia, Florida on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 1:00pm with Rev. Terry Grove officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Arcadia.

Friends and family request that any donations, in lieu of flowers, are contributed to the McLean Drama Company, a 501(c)3, to continue her vision of presenting original works (Bail/MDC: 520 12th Street South, #303, Arlington, VA, 22202) or to the Arcadia Church of the Brethren (25 Mills Avenue, Arcadia, FL, 34266- - 4616)

Online condolences can be made at pongerkaysgrady.com

Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Homes have been entrusted with the arrangements