Tuesday, 9 December
A group of kind and talented theatre folk convened this evening at LASALLE College of the Arts to read my new play, "JENNIFERS." The reading went very well and I'd like to publicly acknowledge all who attended for their contribution: Bill Kovacsik (NYU-Tisch Asia), Loretta Chen (Zebra Crossing), Richard Chua (Little Red Shop), Ng Yi-Sheng (playwirght), Itay Avtalyon (actor), Zac Tyler, Tim Garner, Kluane Saunders, Karina Sindicich, Carla Dunareanu and Erwin Shah (Lasalle College of the Arts, Musical Theatre and Acting programmes). You all were wonderful! I owe you all a debt of gratitude. Much love to you all.
Monday, 8 December
It certainly looks like Christmas is coming a bit early for me this year!This last week was quite eventful! I found out that three of my plays (I Can Tell Your Handbag is Fake, Native Speaker, and Good Morning Teacher) all were shortlisted for the 2009 Short+Sweet Sydney Festival.
Also, I received news from The Actors Workout Theatre in North Hollywood that they have included "I Can Tell Your Handbag is Fake" in their "Let it HO HO HO!" an evening of short plays to benefit Toys for Tots. The play will perform on December 14th and 21st at 7pm.
In other great news, JENNIFERS, which finished first in the November 2008 National Playwriting Month Competition has been selected for development by ACTION! Theatre in Singapore. It, along with 3 other plays will compete in 2009 as part of the Theatre Idols Competition. If it wins, it will then go on to receive a full production.
I am hosting an open reading of JENNIFERS on Tuesday, 9 December at 7pm at the Lasalle College of the Arts.
Saturday 1 Nov 
One of my fellow playwright's Binge group members referred me to the National Playwriting Month competition. I registered and entered into it. The competition is a friendly one where participants are challenged to write a full-length play in the month of November. I thought this was the perfect time and impetus for me to write one. It's been nearly 10 years or so since I wrote (or attempted to write) a full-length play. It's entitled "Jennifers" and revovles around a man who has three successive relationships with women who all happened to be named Jennifer. The participants are a friendly group. I've blogged a fair bit on their site as well. The playwrights have been sharing tips and giving out free advice. If you'd like to read my contributions to the site, please click on the Rhino above.
Thursday 9 Oct
Just returned from a week in Sydney, Australia. Took part in the Short+Sweet Playwriting weekend with my good friends, Alex Broun & Mark Cleary. I thoroughly enjoyed the week and meeting all the talented writers and actors. A couple of plays came out of the week for me: SIDESHOW (part I) and WHOLE IN ONE. Will post them soon.
Friday 19 Sep
Posted a couple of plays today: Not So Happy Birthday and GIFTED. Not So Happy Birthday was inspired by events surrounding the production of Esla and Frinz Go Partying by Bruce Shearer, directed by Samantha Scott-Blackhall in the 2008 Short+Sweet Festival. The play revolves around a pair of balloons at a children's birthday party. The script calls for "Happy Birthday To You" but as we discovered, it is a copyrighted song, and our budget only allowed us to use royalty free music. The script was what ensued.
Tuesday 16 Sep
SPEAKEASY (inspired by the works of Bob Fosse and Kander & Ebb) premiered at LASALLE College of the Arts tonight. Judging by audience response and nearly full houses, it's a hit! An incredibly fun-filled and dream-like project for me (and hopefully everyone else involved). Lots of love in this one. For those who know me and my directing 'style' know that I am an huge Bob Fosse fan. It was an absolute pleasure to work with the Musical Theatre students at LASALLE. Collaborating with both Bronwyn Gibson (Musical Director) and Fiona Baird (Choreographer) was nothing short of 'perfectly marvelous'. Production photos posted.
Sunday 31 Aug
Received notification that I Can Tell Your Handbag Is Fake was selected for production in the Furture Ten 10-minute play festiva in Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
http://www.futuretenant.org/programs_FutureTen.html
Monday 25 Aug
SHORT+SWEET Singapore Playwright's Lab. Three plays were presented at the lab including 1 of my own Finger Food . The other two being Really Bread? by new playwright Wu Yanping and Prisoners by Richard Lord. Thanks to all those who attended, especially the actors: Vanessa Wong, Richard Chua, Chris Jensen and Lez Ann Chong and to our host, The Arts House. Additionally, Finger Food was shortlisted for the Pint-Sized Play Festival in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK.
Sunday 17 Aug
SHORT+SWEET MALAYSIA GALA FINAL - I was proudly involved in two plays that made it to Malaysia's Gala Final. The evening was uber competitive which made it an honor to be one of the award recipients. "I Can Tell Your Handbag is Fake" won 3 awards: The People's Choice Award for most audience votes, Best Director - Melissa Teoh, Best Playwright - Dean Lundquist. The icing on the cake for me was when Alex Broun's "Somewhere Between the Sky and the Sea", starring Paul Williams, Joana Prata and Daphne Quah, directed by Dean Lundquist, won the Short+Sweet Award for overall best production. It's my intention to take "I Can Tell Your Handbag is Fake" to Sydney for Short+Sweet in 2009! If you know anyone who might like to be a sponsor, please let me know!!! Much love to all those involved. It was a beautiful evening and one that I will never forget. Thanks to all involved for making it happen!
Wednesday 13 Aug
Short+Sweet Malaysia week 2 opening night. World premiere of my play "I Can Tell Your Handbag is Fake" and also opening night for my production of Alex Broun's play, "Somewhere Between the Sky and the Sea" starring Paul Williams, Joana Prata and Daphne Quah at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre.
Sunday 10 Aug
Performed Ken Kwek's "I'll Have the Special" with Paul Williams at Short+Sweet Malaysia. Lots of fun. Nice to see that my acting muscles haven't atrophied completely. Photo on Production Photos page.
Saturday-Sunday 2-3 Aug
Participated in TheatreWorks 24-Hour Playwriting Competition. I will wait for the judges to deliberate before posting my play.
Saturday 2 Aug
Added new plays: Kintaro (The Golden Boy) and Three Japanese Boys, a compilation of the three children's plays.
Thursday 31 July
Finished draft of Kintaro - The Golden Boy the third in the Japanese Boys trilogy of children's plays.
Tuesday 29 July
Finished another draft of The Prince of Athens West--the American adaptation of Alex Broun's The Prince of Brunswick East.
Monday 28 July
Uploaded more plays. Check out the new additions.
Sunday 27 July
Wrote first draft of FINGER FOOD.
Wednesday 23 July
SHORT+SWEET Singapore Playwright's Lab. Four plays were presented at the lab including 2 of my own Not So Happy Birthday and As A Gentlemen Would Say. The other two being Bus Stop and Routine Passage by Richard Lord. Thanks to all those who attended, especially the actors: Chris Benjamin, Sonny Lim, Liz Leong and Wiggie and to our host, The Arts House.
Monday 21 July
Read The Prince of Athens West my American adaptation of Alex Broun's The Prince of Brunswick East at The Arts House in The Screening Room with Tim Garner and Richard Lord. Thanks to both of you.
