Tony Nominee McKayle Directs and Choreographs 'Return'

RETURN, a new musical about the secret rescue of 8,000 Ethiopian Jews will premiere at Edgemar Center for the Arts in Santa Monica on June 5th and run through July 20th. The book and lyrics are by Sonia Levitin, with music by William Kevin Anderson and direction and choreography by Donald McKayle.

RETURN is based on Sonia Levitin's award-winning book The Return, which was inspired by the true story of "Operation Moses," the secret airlift of 1984-85 that rescued 8,000 Ethiopian Jews from dire poverty, persecution and possible extinction.  Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winning choreographer, Donald McKayle with music by William Kevin Anderson, RETURN is the story of one girl's journey to freedom. RETURN is a feature event in the FESTIVAL OF NEW AMERICAN MUSICALS and will premier at Edgemar Center for the Arts, June 5 through June 29 and July 10 through July 20, 2008. There will be no performances July 3 through 6. Please visit http://www.returnthemusical.com

RETURN:  Teen-aged Desta, her older brother, Joas, and little sister, Almaz, set out on foot for Sudan, despite the risks of bandits, soldiers, sickness and hunger.  Once in Sudan, they expect to be rescued and brought to the "promised land" of their ancestors.

Sonia Levitin's theatrical script is based on her Young Adult novel THE RETURN, chosen as "one of the best books of the year" by School Library Journal and the Association of American Libraries, and winner of the PEN award, German Catholic Bishop's Award, Austrian Book Prize, Jewish National Book Award, Sydney Taylor Award, and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. Levitin is the author of over 40 books for children and adults and has taught in the Writer's Department at UCLA Extension for 30 years.

William Kevin Anderson has written music for a multitude of films, television series, and commercials including You Kill Me, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, The Moment Of Truth, AnAmerican Tail III, Astroboy, Beethoven, Biker Mice From Mars (2006 & 1992-94), Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Krypto The Superdog, Spider-Man, The Save-Ums, X-Men Evolution, The Teen Choice Awards, The Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards, The American Cinematheque Tributes to Nicole Kidman, Nic Cage and Al Pacino, and The George and Alana Show. Anderson is a Telly Award winner and an Emmy nominee,

Donald McKayle was named "one of America's irreplaceable Dance Treasures" by the Dance Heritage Coalition. Mr. McKayle is a five-time Tony nominee for the Broadway musicals Sophisticated Ladies, Doctor Jazz, A Time For Singing, and Raisin. His most recent choreography for Broadway was showcased in It Ain't Nothing But The Blues, a production which earned him yet another Tony nomination for Best Musical. Most recently he was given the Dance Masters of America 2006 annual award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Boston Youth Moves, as well as the 2007 Black College Dance Exchange Honors. Previously, McKayle was honored at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. with a medal as "Master of African American Choreography." He has also received the Capezio Award, the American Dance Guild Award and two Choreographer's Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, and numerous other awards and distinctions. Mr. McKayle will be celebrating his 20th years as the Claire Trevor professor of dance and choreography at UC Irvine.

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