The Singapore Musical
by Ken Lyen
When playwright Robert Yeo reviewed Beauty World for the Straits Times in 1988, he wrote that Beauty World was Singapore's first musical. He promptly received a phone call from Act 3's Ruby Lim-Yang protesting that this was incorrect. She informed him that Makan Place was Singapore's first musical. It had been earlier reviewed by the Straits Times as a musical with "simple, catchy songs and an interesting group of characters."
Perhaps the most important figure in the history of Singapore musical theater is Dick Lee. He wrote several landmark musicals, including Beauty World, Nagraland, Sing to the Dawn, A Twist of Fate, and Forbidden City. Probably the most commercially successful Singapore musical to date, touring China, Hong Kong and Thailand, is Chang and Eng by Ken Low and Ming Wong. The most prolific composer is arguably yours truly.
Below is a list of musicals staged in Singapore:
Makan Place (1988)
Music by Jasmin Samat Simon, Book and lyrics by R. Chandran
Beauty World (1988)
Music and lyrics by Dick Lee, Book by Michael Chiang
Fried Rice Paradise (1991)
Music and lyrics by Dick Lee
Nagraland (1992)
Music and lyrics by Dick Lee
Bugis Street (1994)
Music by Raymond and Edmund Ooi, Lyrics by Tan Hwee Hua and Mock Pak Lum, Book by Koh Buck Song and Tan Hwee Hua
River in Time (1994)
Music and lyrics by Eric Watson, Book by Wen Watson
Kampong Amber (1994)
Music and lyrics by Dick Lee, Book by Catherine Lim
Big Bang! (1995)
Music by Ken Lyen and Desmond Moey, Lyrics by Desmond Moey, Book by Stephen Yan
Mortal Sins (1995)
Music and lyrics by Dick Lee, Book by Michael Chiang
Corporate Animals (1995)
Music and lyrics by Ken Low, Book by Desmond Sim
Land of a Thousand Dreams (1995)
Music and lyrics by Eric Watson, Book by Ovidia Yu
Orchard Square (1996)
Music by Ken Lyen and Desmond Moey, lyrics by Desmond Moey, Book by Ken Lyen
Sing to the Dawn (1996)
Music by Dick Lee, Lyrics by Stephen Clark, Book by Ho Minfong and Stephen Clark
Snow Wolf Lake (1996)
Music by Dick Lee
Chang and Eng (1997)
Music and lyrics by Ken Low, Book by Ming Wong
Chase the Rainbow (1997)
Music by Ken Lyen and Desmond Moey, Lyrics by Desmond Moey, Book by Jeffrey Tan
Hot Pants (1997)
Music and lyrics by Dick Lee
A Twist of Fate (1997)
Music by Dick Lee, Lyrics by Anthony Drewe, Book by Stephen Dexter and Tony Petito
24 Hours (1999)
Music by Babes Condes, Book by Haresh Sharma
Mr Beng (1999)
Music by Iskandar Ismail, Book by Otto Fong
Haunted (1999)
Music by Mark Chan, Book by Ovidia Yu
Yum Sing! (1999)
Music by Ken Lyen, Desmond Moey and Iskandar Ismail, Lyrics by Desmond Moey, Book by Kenneth Lyen
I Have a Date with Spring (1999)
Temptations (2000)
Music by Ken Lyen, Desmond Moey and Iskandar Ismail, Lyrics by Desmond Moey, Book by Ken Lyen
The Magic Paintbrush (2000)
Music by Ken Lyen, Book and lyrics by Brian Seward
Chameleon (2000)
Music by Bang Wenfu, Book and lyrics by Denise Marsh
Women on Canvas (2000)
Music by Bang Wenfu, Book and lyrics by Jonathan Lim
Phua Chu Kang the TV musical (2000)
Music and lyrics by Dick Lee
We Can't Dance (2000)
Music, lyrics and book by Vocaluptious
Sayang (2001)
Music by Ken Lyen, Lyrics by Ivan Ho, Book by Vincent Wong
I am Roger (2001)
Music by Bang Wenfu, Book and lyrics by Du'c Hoang
Song of the Whale (2001)
Music by Ken Lyen and Chua Yao Zhang, Book and lyrics by Du'c Hoang
Re-Mix (2002)
Music and lyrics by Dick Lee
Rainbow Fish (2002)
Music by Belinda Foo, Book and lyrics by Joni Tham and Brian Seward
Forbidden City (2002)
Music by Dick Lee, Lyrics by Stephen Clark, Book by Stephen Clark and Dick Lee
Exodus (2003)
Music by Ken Lyen and Chua Yao Zhang, Book and lyrics by Stella Kon
The Quest for the Paper Gifts (2003)
Music by Belinda Foo, Book and lyrics by Brian Seward
Making the Grade (2004)
Music by Ken Lyen and Karen Lim, Book and lyrics by Ng Swee San
Opiume (2004)
Music by Mark Chan, conceived by Casey Lim
The Acorn: The True Story of Chicken Licken (2005)
Music by Belinda Foo and Bang Wenfu, Book and lyrics by Joni Tham and Brian Seward
The Nightingale (2005)
Music by Belinda Foo and Bang Wenfu, Book and lyrics by Brian Seward
Lost in Transit (2005)
Music by Desmond Moey, Book and lyrics by Stella Kon
Phua Chu Kang (2005)
Music by Edmund Ooi and Peter Casey, Book uncredited, Lyrics by Edmund Ooi, Catherine Casey, Vivienne Lin, Adeline Tan
Admiral Odyssey (2005)
Music by Ken Low, Book by Jean Tay, Lyrics by Ken Low and Jean Tay
Pagoda Street (2005)
Music, Book and Lyrics by Declan Ee
Lao Jiu (2005)
Music by Jonathan Price, Original Play by Kuo Pao Kun, Lyrics by Xiao Han, Wu Xi, Yang Qian
The Snow Queen (2005)
Music by Darren Ng Tzer-Huei, Book and lyrics by Tracie Pang
Oi! Sleeping Beauty! (2005)
Music by Bang Wenfu, Book and lyrics by Jonathan Lim
A Kung Fu Tale (2006)
Music: Li Yi
The Singapore musical is slowly evolving and finding its own voice. Western influences are still strong, but there is a small but significant Asian tone being heard. The stories are often based on our own experiences and those of other Asian countries. There are increasing numbers of writers and composers of musical theater, and the audience size is expanding. Exciting times lay ahead of us!
