‘It’s very intimidating being labelled as ‘The Next Big Thing”

Move aside, Dim Sum Dollies, it's time to make way for the next big things in the Singapore theatre scene — Seong Hui Xuan, Mina Ellen Kaye and Glory Ngim.

These aspiring women grew up with a fiery passion for musical theatre and the dream of being able to perform on stage for a roaring audience someday. They will be starring in the upcoming musical comedy "Company" by the legendary Stephen Sondheim. Opening next month, the play explores the pros and cons and the ups and downs of being single.

Still a little unfamiliar to most people in Singapore, these three young women are out to make musical theatre headlines and they tell us more about themselves in an interview with Yahoo! Singapore.

Their 'growing up' years

Mina, who's in her 20s, was a preschool teacher. "I didn't think I was good enough to be in the industry that's why I became a preschool teacher, but that was more of a part time stint because I taught while I was still in college," she confided.

The Wheelock College graduate who was born in Singapore, grew up in Dubai and attended university in the States, did not give musical theatre a shot because of the competitive pressure in America.

"Most people in the performing arts industry in the States are so good and I felt like I could never fit in or be as good as them so I never took it seriously. Auditioning for a theatre production didn't sound feasible," said the energetic brunette, who came back to Singapore after completing university and wanted to recover from "a horrible breakup".

Mina's performing exposure during her younger days went as far as attending drama classes. Singing, on the other hand, came naturally to her. She was also invited to perform for Teacher's Day or National Day events in Singapore, whether it was singing or dancing.

Seong, who's also in her 20s, recalled that dance class when she was much younger sparked off her interest in the arts.

"It was one of those things your parents sent you for and they never expected you to actually make a living out of it but for the longest time I wanted to be a dancer," the petite actress asserted.

At 14, Seong remembered printing any information from various performing arts high schools in America she could find on the Internet. She had been dreaming of going to those schools at that time, but her parents told her to finish her 'O' Levels first.

"After I finished my 'O' levels I asked them if I could go to a performing arts school then and they said no, I had to finish my A levels. It was many years of doing things I didn't want to do," she recalled.

The then aspiring teenager applied to the prestigious Tisch School of The Arts at New York University and managed to secure a place but had to decline due to the very expensive school fees.

"I worked out the costs of how much it'll be to go there and it would've set my parents back $600,000 and they would've had to sell their flat so I decided I did not want my parents to pay for Tisch," Seong said.

She went on to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in the National University of Singapore (NUS) but studied there for only one semester because she knew she did not belong there, even with a theatre studies module that she did and the only one she really enjoyed.

23-year-old Glory Ngim, on the other hand, went through "a very typical slice of the Singapore education system".

"Unlike Hui Xuan and Mina, I did not go to LASALLE and I did not do a Bachelor in performance or musical theatre. I went to Methodist Girls School (MGS) during my primary and secondary school years and attended Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) after. I also went to a traditional university like NUS but all those while, I knew I wanted to perform and do theatre," she said.

The tanned and articulate actress does not regret taking the conventional education route.

"MGS and ACJC gave me ample exposure and experience when it came to performing arts. At that time when I was in MGS, I would take part in the original musical they held every two years and then Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) would organise one on the alternate two years because the two schools have an affiliation. So in that way I was able to perform for the school every year!"

She continued to pursue her passion for acting in junior college and joined the drama programme there as well as take up drama as part of her 'A' levels subject.

The next big thing?

The three ladies count themselves lucky and are glad that they were at the right place at the right time. But for us, we'd say they owe it to their talent that they are where they are today — on the big stage, performing in front of a huge audience.

They are seen as the up and coming "triple threats — sing, dance and act" of Singapore's theatre scene and they are looking at pushing limits through any production.

When asked how they feel about being the next darlings of the theatre scene, all of them gave rather conflicting reactions.

"I don't want to be famous but I do know I want to perform. Fame is the least important of things as long as I can keep working but hey! Next big thing, sure! Why not?" said the ever-so energetic Mina.

Ngim gave a somewhat similar answer.

"I am open to the idea but that's the least of my concerns because performing is what I've always wanted and it's terrifying of course, when people label you 'The Next Big Thing' but that shows I have to keep being better than I already am."

"It's very scary! It's very intimidating! When I heard about that I just want to back up against the wall," exclaimed Seong.

"I guess I just hope people know me as someone who's talented and can do a good job, whatever role I'm given. I know I definitely work hard and can put myself into any role and make it my own," she added.

Keeping you 'Company'

The public will be able to judge for themselves if the girls are successful. In "Company", they play the three girlfriends of Bobby, a single man.

Seong plays "April", a Singaporean flight attendant who doesn't come off as too bright but has an open and warm heart, which is part of what makes her so gullible.

Mina plays "Marta", a Filipino who's very eccentric and almost crazy. She is street-smart, sassy and studies Art in Singapore. Apart from that, she also pole-dances at a club after school to make some extra money.

Ngim plays "Kathy", a girl from Ipoh, Malaysia. The girlfriend who "got away", she goes back to Ipoh to get married.

'Company' opens on 1 November at the Drama Centre Theatre, National Library Building Level 3 from Tuesdays to Fridays at 8pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm and 8pm.

TICKET PRICES (Excluding $3 SISTIC booking fee):
Preview (1 November 2012): $77, $57, $37
Standard: $97, $77, $57
Tickets can be purchased through SISTIC's website: www.sistic.com.sg.