Have you ever had to choose between love and money?
Personally, no. I have been extremely fortunate in my life. I have a career that I love and that supports me financially, a boyfriend who is generous and loving, and a family who is supportive of the choices I have made in my life. I could not be more opposite from Manon!

Are you a romantic at heart?
Absolutely. Even as a young girl I always wore my heart on my sleeve. I dreamt of being swept off my feet by a man and falling hopelessly in love. Fortunately, I have met a wonderful man who is just as romantic as I am!

What appeals to you about Puccini’s work?
I find his music to be passionate and his characters to be very human and relatable. He also keeps the story moving forward all the way through the opera. Manon Lescaut is one of his earliest operas. But you can clearly see and hear signs of the composer he is to become.

What has been the most rewarding part of this project?
The experience of travelling to Asia for the first time has been absolutely amazing. Exploring new countries and cities is part of what I love about my job. This is my first time working with Singapore Lyric Opera. Getting to know the people in the company and in the cast has been a really fun experience so far.

What do you hope audiences will take away from this show?
I hope that the audience finds the story to be timeless and relevant. Opera is not a historical art form. The struggles these characters face are struggles we still go through today—virtue versus vice, love versus luxury.

Manon Lescaut is on August 31-September 4 at the Esplanade Theatre.

What first drew you to this show?
Rachel Alejandro: It's so funny yet so real. I think the use of puppets is genius because that way the show is able to tackle serious issues like racism, being gay and even not-so-serious things like internet porn without being sleazy or offensive. The story is told in a light-hearted, funny way and yet the audience is drawn to feel for the puppets.

How did you train to work the puppets and make the required voices?
RA: We had professional puppeteers train us. It took me a while to get used to holding the puppets because my hands and arms are so tiny. I have always been good at doing different voices. I can easily switch musical styles from pop to rock and R&B.

What’s your favorite song in the show?
Bibo Reynes: It has to be “Purpose”. A lot of songs in the show may be catchier but this is an anthem for any young person about to take on the world. Its hopefulness is pure and resonant. I also like “The Internet is for Porn.” Any musical audacious enough to have a song about viewing adult content on the net being the one thread all men have in common definitely gets my attention!

RA: The heartbreak song of Kate Monster, “Fine Fine Line”. My favorite line is “I guess if someone doesn't love you back, it isn't such a crime...” It reminds of the countless times I would meet and start dating someone completely wonderful. They would have been perfect except for the fact that they just didn't feel the same way about me. It doesn't make them bad people.

What do you think accounts for the show’s lasting appeal?
BR: The characters portray many stages of hardship a person goes through in life, so people of every age group will have something to look back on, relate to and dread. I think that’s why it lasts, because something seemingly light-hearted can mean so much to so many.

Bibo Reynes and Rachel Alejandro perform in Avenue Q on September 27-Oct 7 on at the Grand Theater (MBS).
 

I have artistic parents but…my brother teaches math!

Television series soundtracks are…a wonderful way to reach people who might not otherwise have the chance to hear your music.

There’s something really magical…about writing with the person you love the most. I love writing with my husband Greg Laswell. We don’t do it often, but he’s my favorite music writing partner.

I’d like to work with…Paul Epworth. He produced a lot for Florence and the Machine and Adele and knows how to make a woman sound like a woman.

I go to bed…when everyone else is out drinking. I’m not a party girl.

Ingrid Michaelson is on September 10, 9pm at Esplanade Concert Hall.

How did you come up with the idea for the show?
I’ve always been conscious of the stereotypes people have about Indians. I have had non-Indians say that Indians are “dirty tongues twisters” right in front of me on many occasions. And I do have a law degree. I did the University of London's external program at Vanto Academy here in Kuala Lumpur in the late 1990s.

You approach racial relations in quite a direct way in this show. Why is this important?
Being subtle has its place. But sometimes, it is equally important to demand justice. In Malaysia and Singapore, we live in relative peace, which means we avoid friction with other races by swallowing racial slurs. In Indian Lawyers, we bring out racial slurs openly with humor. People realize they are not really antagonistic towards one another but instead laugh at themselves for stereotyping. They find out that much of stereotyping can be attributed to “mental typo errors.”

Share an interesting or funny incident that happened while you were rehearsing.
Well, many funny incidents actually happened in between or after the rehearsals. The actors would put to practice what they learned for the show. While having a break at a Mamak stall, they'd pretend to be lawyers and discuss law (especially when there were pretty girls sitting nearby).

If there’s one thing you’d like audiences to take away from the show, what would it be?
A wow feeling.

Indian Lawyers is on August 23-26 at Blue Room, The Arts House.