Lynn Manuell's STANDING TALL Now Available for Pre-Order

The Emails, Journals and Creative Writings of 9/11, which features writings from many Broadway and arts professionals is set to be released on January 15th by Library Tales Publishing and will be carried at Theatre Circle, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com among others.

STANDING TALL was conceived and edited by Company Manager and Arts Consultant Lynn Manuell only a week after the event occurred. While driving to rehearsal of MY FAIR LADY on 54th Street Ms. Manuell saw the planes impact the Twin Towers.

A week later she drove to Michigan to see family and on the way was asked by so many "Where were you and what do you think will happen?". As a result the author put out an email asking for emails and writings from people regarding the event to raise money for 9/11 charities.

As most of her contacts were in the arts this book is colored by their experiences, but it also contains writings of children, military personnel, religious leaders and volunteers that were at the site.
There are emails from performing artists including Miles Phillips and Anne Hampton Calloway, Katie Adams (Wicked) Patricia Klausner,( producer of Scottsboro Boys and Pippin), artist representatives from London working for Robert Knight and Musical Associates, Creative writings from Jack Murphy, Jeff Olmsted, drummer Kathy Goff, theatre management representatives and entries from theatre teachers and a journal which includes a New York City Opera enthusiast who describes attending the opera immediately after the events.

The resilience of the theatre community and the world is evident in each entry. This book is unique in that the writings that are included occurred exactly as the events were happening not as a reflection on events. It contains the emotion and the gifts that a major world event causes. One of the entries was given by the store manager of the sister store of Theatre Circle that was located at the World Trade Center. While Theatre Circle is carrying the book, the manager explained to the author that the feelings of that day are still fresh with him, and yet people are always asking about what he was doing and the impact of that moment in New York City.
One of the most inspiring theatrical quotes according the editor came from Dan, a theatre teacher at NYU who was trying to justify teaching musical theatre after such a tragedy. He relates how his mentor told him "At the end of W.W.II, one of the first types of buildings to be rebuilt in Europe was the theaters. The morale of the people was held at a high premium. A place to congregate and leave behind the tensions and strife of the day was of utmost importance to the fabric of society.

At a time of strife what WE do becomes VERY IMPORTANT. We are the morale officers in this crisis. We are the "guardians" of light when the darkness is creeping closer. So sing my darlings. Sing your hearts out. Sing on the streets. SING WITH A PURPOSE. Make one person a day smile with your joy and we will win the war. SING, ACT, DANCE, HONE YOUR CRAFT, COMMUNICATE YOUR JOY AND SPREAD THE LIGHT!"
The author is donating proceeds from the book to 9/11 charities. The book is being released the year that the World Trade Center Museum at the site will be completed. According to the author " This book is a creative and touching and reminders of how, as in so many cases, the theatrical community and the world comes together when we need each other."

Pre-release copies can be ordered at http://www.librarytalespublishing.com/standing-tall/. For further information go to http://www.standingtallbook.net/index.html , http://www.standingtallbook.net/index.html,

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