Jingle Cortes - Director

This is one lady you wouldn't want to mess with. She peers up at me over the top of her red spectacles as I interrupt her in her quest to memorise Handel's Messiah for a performance with the Singapore Symphony Chorus. My hands shake as I prepare my notepad and pen, but Auntie Jingle kindly offers a cup of hot chrysanthemum tea to calm my nerves.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I love classical music, singing, playing the piano, acting - anything that has to do with the Arts. I really believe that dogs can be your best friend. The sight of dogs just melts me.

We hear that you've had quite a lot of involvements in plays and productions. Share with us some of your experiences.

Before my Law degree and my Masters in Divinity, I was a Theatre student where I was involved with all aspects of drama and theatre production - sound, light, acting, set design, stage management, directing, props. My professor used to tell me, " You have to be married to theatre". I did Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof, Dial M for Murder, Cavorting with Angels, The Three Penny Opera, You Can't Take it With You, Waiting for Godot and a lot more when I was in the Philippines. In Singapore, I did my bit with Singapore Repertory - Lady Thiang for King and I in 1991 where I worked with Bernardo Bernardo and Tony Petito, Godspell - then Serena Tan was still an aspiring actress, one of the wicked sisters in Into the Woods, directed by Glenn Goei and where Leah Salonga and Adrian Pang acted (that's name-dropping!). I also got myself involved in three Lyric Theatre Opera productions. I directed Amahl and the Night Visitors--a Christmas opera. In church and the evangelical circle, it's either a Christmas cantata or Easter musicale or just plain singing during normal service in BPMC or in events for churches and para-church organizations. Danced a few times as well and was a presenter a few times over in beauty pageants in my "younger days."

How did the idea of staging this musical in BPMC come about?

When I heard Bridget Goh and her team rehearsing their twenty minute original musicale for their Thailand mission trip over two years ago, I felt that we needed to explore the possibility of doing this in our church. I prayed about it and began the process of discussing and including this in the WAMM Plan for the Church. I think Bridget, Gayle Goh and myself must have met a few times to brainstorm on how we could expand the plot to make it more ‘Singaporean’ so the script had to be revised a few times.

What does your role require of you?

I direct lah! The director is like the conductor who strings the orchestra together. The project must be overwhelming to some because no one has come forward as a costumer. So, I dabble as a costumer. I'm so glad that Sulyn lent a huge help. I’m also very much involved in teaching the choir. Actually it's a community production - we have to learn to play team and spread our tentacles where help is need. That is most glorifying to HIM!

What is the most difficult moment you've encountered since the start of production?

Nothing so difficult. One frustrating thing is when people promise and they don't deliver.

What is the most memorable moment for you since the start of production?

Everything. This is a first for our church and many of us are giving our all for one single purpose - His Name and His glory. The team spirit is fantastic. Because this is an evolving musicale, ideas are welcome. The dance choreography is good. The Church is blessed with so many talented people who are willing to give of their best. The stage crew, the production crew, the AV, the Choir, the children, the back-up singers, the dancers …rehearsing with them is no chore because there is just so much joy! WHAT A BLESSING!

One quirky habit of yours:

I collect ducks, crystals, and coins.

One word to describe yourself:

Driven