25044 is a one-man musical story, written and performed by Russell Kaback, based on the life of his grandfather Szyjek Magier, a Polish Jewish teenager who spent four years in the Nazi labor and concentration camps. Presented in Russell's theatrical st

25044 is a one-man musical story, written and performed by Russell Kaback, based on the life of his grandfather Szyjek Magier, a Polish Jewish teenager who spent four years in the Nazi labor and concentration camps. Presented in Russell's theatrical storytelling style that weaves together original songs on guitar, characters, sound effects and gestures, the piece incorporates personal interviews, testimonies, in-depth research and imagination, reminding us that life and hope can endure. Russell lives in South Portland and has performed in South Portland and at Scarborough Public Library, where his performance was hailed as moving, powerful and "a must-see." He was "picked up" by Portland Ovations to perform his show at schools throughout southern Maine in spring 2025.