Faculty of Performing arts
SCHOOL OF MUSICAL THEATRE
Daniel Jenkins
Daniel is a multi-award winning actor and director. Originally from the UK having trained at Guildford School of Acting, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and Goldsmiths University, Daniel holds an Master of Arts in Arts Pedagogy and Practice, a BA in Theater, and a Licentiate in Teaching Acting. Daniel is well known as an actor, director, and educator having worked for all the leading theater companies in Singapore, appeared in many television shows and feature films, and lectured at Singapore’s top drama schools.
Currently he is Deputy Artistic Director at Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT), one of Singapore’s leading English language producing theater companies. His next directorial production is the Asian premiere of the supernatural thriller 2:22 – A Ghost Story which opens in August 2023 for SRT
Directing credits include: The Almighty Sometimes, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged, Lungs, (SRT Main Stage) A Monster Calls, Girls Like That, Ghost Light, 1984, The Roses of Eyam, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, The Laramie Project, The Trojan Women, Lord of the Flies, Grimm Tales, The Crucible (SRT TYC), Fly High, The Tale of the Frog Prince, The Cat in the Hat, Upstairs in the Sky, The Ugly Duckling, Gretel and Hansel (SRT TLC), Hello Adam, The Magic Jungle, Bunny Finds The Right Stuff, Fatimah and her Magic Socks, Us (Esplanade PlayTime).
Theater Acting credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bottom), Julius Caesar, Hand to God, Disgraced, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, The Merchant of Venice, Othello, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Pillowman, Defending the Caveman, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theseus and Oberon), (SRT); Peter and the Starcatcher, The Pillowman, Chinglish, Circle Mirror Transformation, Swimming With Sharks, Dealers Choice, The Full Monty, (Pangdemonium); Animal Farm, Hotel, (Wild Rice); RED (Blank Space Theatre), Lonely Planet, Popcorn, The Physicists, (luna id); Death and the Maiden, Deep Blue Sea (Escape Theatre Company); Bouncers, Teechers, (Centre Stage)
TV/Film credits include: Crazy Rich Asians, The Last Madam, SR115, Tanglin, Rojak, Love is Love, Heartland, 2025, Avenue 13, Hong Bao
and Kisses, The School Bell Rings, Code of Law, Keong Saik Street, The Kitchen Musical, Dream School, Café 13, The Garden City Butcher, Moon Face, In The Room, The Faith of Anna Waters, Afterimages, The Genius of Beauty, Robotropolis.
Daniel has been nominated 6 times for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor at the Straits Times Life Theatre Awards, as well as Best Director in the 2023 nominations. He has won the Best Supporting Actor Award twice for his roles in Quills, and Cabaret.
Vanessa Kee
Vanessa is a theatre actress of exceptional skill and dynamism, whose work in Singapore and around the region has garnered her a legion of dedicated fans. Her craft is characterized by a dedication to inspiring empathy and connecting with her audience, drawing viewers from all walks of life into the worlds she creates on stage.
A graduate of the renowned LASALLE College of the Arts, Vanessa has honed her craft under the tutelage of some of the most esteemed names in theatre, including Akiko Otao, George Torbay, and Broadway legend Mary Setrakian. Her training has imbued her with a versatile and captivating style, enabling her to undertake a wide range of challenging roles and showcase her depth and range as an actress.
Vanessa’s recent work includes standing in as Kit Chan’s understudy and portraying the role of Choo in LKY the Musical (Singapore Repertory Theatre). She is also rehearsing for the coveted role of Maria in The Sound of Music International Tour (Broadway International). Throughout her career, Vanessa has taken on leading roles in a variety of productions around the world. These include her standout performance as the titular character in AIDA the Musical (Director – Mr. Joe Barros), her embodiment of Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof (Director – Ms. Emily Maltby), and her unique portrayal of Esmeralda in Notre Dame de Paris (Director – Ms. Nathalie Ribette). Vanessa has also demonstrated her versatility and commitment to her craft in the musical Title of Show (Sing’Theatre), Pangdemonium’s Urinetown the Musical (Director – Ms. Tracy Pang), and in her self-portrayal in Singapore’s premiere of West End Show A Spoonful of Sherman (Director – Mr. TJ Taylor).
Vanessa’s dedication to her craft is palpable in every performance she delivers. Her ability to capture the hearts and minds of her audience is a testament to her remarkable talent and the passion she brings to every project. With a career already filled with so many achievements, it is clear that Vanessa is poised to continue inspiring and delighting audiences for many years to come.
TJ Taylor
TJ, a skilled Musical Theatre practitioner, originally hails from the UK where he graduated with First-Class Honours in Musical Theatre. In 2013, TJ relocated to Singapore and has since dedicated himself to the development of Musical Theatre in the country. He is a proud Associate Artistic Director of Sing’theatre and serves as the Artistic Director for the Sing’theatre Musical Theatre Fringe Festival.
TJ has directed several successful productions, including Into The Woods, Working, 25th Putnam County Spelling Bee, and The Theory Of Relativity. In 2019, he directed the Asian premiere of A Spoonful of Sherman with Sing’theatre, which was nominated for Best Ensemble at the LIFE Theatre Awards 2019. TJ is known for his innovative ensemble theatre productions that captivate and entertain audiences, bringing Broadway-style productions of the highest quality to Singapore’s Musical Theatre scene
TJ is also an expert in Musical Theatre singing training and teaches at Sing’theatre and LASALLE College of the Arts. He has worked with Singapore’s top Musical Theatre production houses, including Singapore Repertory Theatre (LKY The Musical), Base Entertainment (The Sound Of Music), Pandemonium (Urinetown, Sparks), and Sing’theatre (Souvenir, A Spoonful Of Sherman).
TJ’s extensive experience in Musical Theatre includes numerous performances, such as Anthony in End Of The Rainbow (Pangdemonium), Frollo in Quasimodo (Sing’theatre), Jeff in [Title Of Show] (Sing’theatre), Show Host (Universal Studios Singapore), Hines in The Pajama Game (Contact Theatre Manchester), and Jack in Into The Woods (B&FC).
Tan Rui Shan
Tan Rui Shan is a dynamic and multi-talented actress, dancer, choreographer, and theater-maker who has been captivating audiences with her immense talent since graduating from LASALLE College of the Arts’ Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Musical Theater, with First Class Honours and the Future Leader Scholarship award in 2017.
Rui Shan’s impressive portfolio includes a range of noteworthy productions, but she is perhaps best known for her outstanding performance as Mrs Lee Kuan Yew in Kwa Geok Choo by Toy Factory Productions, directed by Goh Boon Teck. She has also starred in several other highly acclaimed theater productions, such as The Amazing Celestial Race 2022 by Wild Rice, directed by Glenn Goei, Forbidden City: Portrait of an Empress by Singapore Repertory Theatre, directed by Steven Dexter, 12 Going on 13 by Gateway Arts, directed by Ian Loy, and La Mariposa Borracha by Creative Inspirit, directed by Alvin Chiam.
In addition to her successful acting career, Rui Shan has also made a name for herself as a highly skilled and accomplished choreographer. Her exceptional talent has been featured in numerous productions, including The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by Singapore Repertory Theatre under the direction of Daniel Jenkins, and Behind the Wall by Gateway Arts, helmed by Samantha Scott-Blackhall. Rui Shan’s work has even gained international recognition, having choreographed the Pinkfong and Babyshark Musical in Brunei, produced by MCC International.
In addition to her individual pursuits, Rui Shan is a co-founder of Bitesize Theatre Productions, a young and exciting theater collective. This May 2023, Bitesize Theatre Productions will be staging a new musical titled “The Monster in the Mirror Musical” in collaboration with Gateway Arts.
Rui Shan’s abundant and varied talents have placed her in the ranks of the rising stars of theater and performance. She is known for her tireless drive to push the boundaries of her craft and leave a lasting impact on both the industry and the realm of education.
Sharon Sum
Sharon is a highly skilled, bilingual performer who excels in acting, singing, and dancing. She earned a BA degree in Musical Theatre with First Class Honours from LASALLE College of the Arts, and has since graced various musicals and theatre productions with her talent. Among her notable theatre credits are Momotaro and the Magnificent Peach by W!ld Rice, Crab Flower Club and A Dream Under the Southern Bough: Existence by Toy Factory, The Monster in the Mirror Musical by Bitesize Theatre Production, Fatimah and her Magic Socks by Esplanade’s PLAYtime!, Infinite Island by Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Gretel & Hansel, Fantastic Mr Fox, and Red Riding Hood by Singapore Repertory Theatre, Liao Zhai Rocks! and Four Horse Road by The Theatre Practice, Annie Ting and the Dragon by Tiny Feat, and Detention Katong by Dream Academy.
Sharon’s vocal abilities have also been put to great use, as she has lent her voice to various productions, including Hossan-AH 50! by Double Confirm Production and The Theatre Practice’s Nursery Rhymes Project. For Sharon, theatre is a medium that allows her to broaden her understanding of humanity, and she is passionate about bringing that sense of shared experience to her audiences.
Michelle Ler
Michelle discovered her love for music and dance at a young age while growing up in Singapore. She pursued her interest in Classical Music during her ‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels, achieving an ABRSM Grade 8 in Piano, as well as playing the guitar and Guzheng. Michelle is a skilled dancer, trained in various styles such as Chinese dance, ballet, Broadway jazz, tap, and contemporary.
After completing her studies in LASALLE, Michelle earned a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in Musical Theatre, where she received the McNally Award for Excellence in the Arts and was also honored as the Valedictorian of the 2018 class.
She has performed in several LASALLE productions, including A Chorus Line, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Urinetown. She also performed in other productions such as The Gingerbread Man, Corporal Crumble’s Christmas Crisis, In Pieces, Us 2023, and Pinocchio.
Michelle’s musical abilities have led her to the Mandopop and theatre scene in Singapore. She has played the keyboard in musicals such as The Great Wall: One Woman’s Journey and AIDA, as well as serving as a Music Director’s Assistant for productions including Urinetown, A Spoonful of Sherman, and The Last Five Years. Additionally, Michelle is a composer and has created music for original productions such as The Monster in the Mirror and Behind The Wall. Her original Mandarin song “下场” won the Most Popular Song Award at the SGSW: 我写我的歌 competition in 2019.
With her passion for music and theatre, Michelle strives to promote Musical Theatre in Singapore and inspire others to pursue their dreams in this field.
Mr. Koh Jing Sen
Koh Jing Sen is a multi-faceted and incredibly hardworking performer and educator with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Musical Theater. He draws from his roots in Martial Arts instilling the same level of rigor and discipline to all aspects of his life and art forms.
As a 3 year consecutive all round National champion in Wushu, he holds the same level of expectation from himself in his work. He has a large scope of work that he does including 2017 NDP Parade Segment Choreographer and HomeTeam 50th Anniversary Segment Choreographer both of which got many great reviews under his care. He also choreographs for traditional art forms, Rexarts Festive Drums and Wushu Resident Choreographer/Performer.
After graduating from his University, he then went on to perform in a headliner show in Singapore’s Musical Theatre Fringe Festival, In Pieces. He also co-directed a Musical Revue, The Hidden Singapore Musicals. He then proceeded to make his MBS Sands Theatre Debut in the LKY Musical.
He has been teaching Martial Arts since the tender age of 15, and has developed an intense passion for teaching and helping his students achieve great results. This led him to become the co-founder of Singing Phenomena, a company that focuses on updating singing pedagogy, keeping up with industry demands in real time and works with its original methodology created by Jing Sen himself. His drive and experience allows him, as an educator, to equip the next generation with the necessary skills to thrive in an ever changing industry.
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