Hello! I am the project manager for a book/musical called The Monkey Bible. This is a big project that is backed by many creative people and we are at the pre launch phase of Market Research for some underground marketing. I am sending out Advanced Copies of the book, along with the music to people for their feedback. Here is a brief synapse:

In 'The Monkey Bible Project' a novel and a musical resonate across cultural and biological boundaries in order to help people reflect on—and understand in different ways—the story of their creation, their place in the world, and the future of their species. By changing the way people view themselves, the project hopes to encourage the acceptance of racial-,religious-, and bio-diversity. The novel and musical will be published and distributed together in the Spring of 2010.

The Monkey Bible, a novel by Mark Laxer, is an exploration of the line—both scientific and mythological—which separates humans from non-human animals. It is the story of Emmanuel, a young man, deeply religious, who comes to believe that his genetic make-up and indeed the story of his creation was not what he had thought it had been. Dismayed and seemingly ostracized from his religion, Emmanuel journeys across America, to England, and through Africa and Asia in search of his genetic and spiritual origins, identity, and community. The Monkey Bible is the story of Lucy who, as a gift for her vulnerable friend Emmanuel, rewrites the Genesis myth from a biological point of view. And The Monkey Bible is the story of Evelyn, whose faith in Emmanuel and in her religion remains rock-solid throughout her soul-searching ventures into the realm of the natural world. As the characters weave a path toward understanding themselves and each other, the reader comes to recognize that the language and rituals of science and religion need to join forces in order to insure the survival of countless creatures on the great tree of life, upon which all human life depends.

Using the novel as inspiration, songwriter Eric Maring wrote a musical response to the novel. Entitled 'The Line', the acoustic-rock musical uses the varied notion of lines in our world to echo Laxer’s examination of humans, praising our ability and need to explore our world and ask questions, especially regarding our relationship to our planet, our religions, ourselves. The music, at turns serious, light, joyous, exuberant, and brooding, was conceived of with a staged multi-media musical performance in mind. In the show, the band will perform the songs live in front of a large screen. While actors (as characters from the book and the musical) will accompany the band on some songs, screen sequences will play a significant part as well. The show is currently in early stages of production.

Thanks,
Jaime Williams
802-497-1447