THE ROOT BEER LADY tells the story of the indomitable Dorothy Molter, the last legal non-indigenous resident of the Boundary Waters. The story reflects the beauty and hardships of Molter’s solitary yet satisfying life beginning in 1934. The play, funny and passionate, explores her independence, fortitude, and love of nature. Molter pushes back against the premise that her time in the North Woods made her the “Loneliest Woman in America,” as the Saturday Evening Post claimed in 1952. Originally commissioned and performed at The History Theatre in St. Paul, the story is now traveling to audiences across the U.S. For booking inquiries, contact us here.
"…a warm, enjoyable love letter to the Boundary Waters.” - Pioneer Press
“Minnesotan’s love their Root Beer Lady” - Stages of MN
“The Root Beer Lady will leave you impressed by the extraordinary gumption and grit of Dorothy Molter.” - Talkin’ Broadway
“Beautifully captures the inspiring life and personality of Dorothy Molter.” - Cherry and Spoon
“Schultz delivers a bravura performance that makes Molter a fascinating companion.” - History Theatre
Originally from Minneapolis, Kim is a Chicago-based actor, writer, solo show artist and storyteller. She has worked at many national theatres as an actor and writer, including History Theatre long, long ago. In Chicago, Kim has worked at The Goodman Theatre, Lookinglass Theatre and Silk Road Rising. This is Kim’s third solo show. In 2007, after her dad died and a con-man conned her, she wove the stories into a play called “The F Trip”. And in 2009, she was commissioned to travel to the Middle East as an artist/activist to meet with Iraqi refugees and write a play inspired by the trip. Out of that came the solo show "No Place Called Home" which she performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. as part of World Refugee Day and off Broadway in NYC in 2010, as well as a 4-year national tour that followed. Kim also authored the memoir, “Three Days in Damascus” (Palewell Press, 2016) about her experience in the Middle East. In addition, Kim works in television and film, speaks on refugee issues, tours an interreligious storytelling show called “Sisters of Story,” is a corporate improvisation trainer and although she has barely been camping, has found a kinship with this woman who lived her life alone in the North Woods - The Root Beer Lady. To learn more about Kim, click here.
