Michael McLean is a songwriter, composer, author, performer, playwright, film producer and director. As a songwriter Michael has written music and lyrics for more than 20 albums and has sold over a million tapes and CDs since his first release in 1983(see the discography). They include You're Not Alone, Stay With Me,Celebrating the Light, A New Kind of Love Song, One Heart in the Right Place, You've Always Been There for Me, and the best- selling Collections Volumes 1 and 2 and The Forgotten Carols. As an author he's written three books, each with accompanying CDs. Distant Serenade, Hold On The Light Will Come: And Other Lessons My Songs Have Taught Me, and The Forgotten Carols Since its release in 1991 Michael has performed a theatrical version of The Forgotten Carols to sold-out audiences throughout the United States. As a filmmaker Michael was the original story writer, producer and director of the film Nora's Christmas Gift starring Academy Award winner Celeste Holm . He was also Producer and original story co-writer of the holiday television classic Mr. Krueger's Christmas starring film legend Jimmy Stewart. Other films Michael's written and directed include Together Forever, What Is Real? and The Prodigal Son. Early in Michael's career he made commercials for radio and television, primarily for Bonneville International where he was active in the creation of the award-winning Home Front radio and television commercial series. During his 17 years with Bonneville, Michael received numerous national and international awards for advertising including the prestigious Clio Awards, National Addy awards,New York ad club's Andy Awards, two National Emmy Finalist awards as well as the Bronze Lion at the Cannes Film Festival. As a playwright, Michael's Celebrating the Light ran for five seasons at The Promised Valley Playhouse before going on a 25 city tour. In addition to making theatrical adaptations of Distant Serenade and The Forgotten Carols in September 2000 his stage musical The Ark, written with Kevin Kelly, was featured in the Festival of New Musicals on Broadway in New York City. Participation in the festival is by invitation only. (You can check out the history of this musical as well as the status of various productions of The Ark, including a production planned for New York City on this web site.) Some of his other best-selling works include The Garden, (an allegorical oratorio in collaboration with Merrill Jenson and Bryce Neubert; which premiered in Jerusalem,has been performed by orchestra and choirs from Los Angeles to New York and has been translated and performed in France, South America and Russia.) As a film composer: Soundtracks: Original Themes from Favorite Films, And most recently the soundtrack to the 2004 independent feature film The Best Two Years Michael and his wife Lynne have three children and an adopted dog named Grace.