"It's My Life!" a musical about teens, for teens and by teens.

In December 2007, three of the closest people to me - my husband Yu-Beng (who's also on alivenotdead), my brother Ju Meng and my closest pal Val, embarked on producing a musical for teens. Called "It's My Life!", we found Presenting Sponsors and guardian angels in the insurance company Great Eastern Life, and so began our journey.

More than 400 Singaporean teens signed up for auditions, held over three days. Of these, we chose 11 who would work with us to provide stories from their own lives that we could weave into a musical.

Here are three of our kids - two are performers and one is a designer (yes, we've also chosen teens to help us design our set).

this is jingliang. isn't she beautiful. you'd think she was an actress right? WRONG - she's one of our designers and a mighty good one!

this is farid - the rocker, the rebel - but truly, one of our most committed kids. he's there, every time, on time and ready to rock and roll.

and this is our darling isaac - who's always ready to please and make us all happy. trouble is, we may lose him to the Singapore army - some of you may know - it's compulsory for all Singapore boys to go into the army at 18. we're hoping something can be done. fingers crossed.

A scrīpt based on the stories (some pretty heartwrenching) about what it's like growing up as a teen in singapore, is now ready and rehearsals begin 24 may.

Being an Producer on this project has been surprising, heart-breaking, scary, compelling. I feel like a mother to all these kids who share with us their fears and hopes and have put themselves in our care for the year leading up to their performance Premiering 27 Nov 2008 at the University Cultural Centre here in Singapore.

I learn how to be a mother to my own child, now only 10, but soon will be in the teen years when all things change.

Look at this music video we made from a song written by BAng Wenfu, our composer, with lyrics by Chong Tze Chien, a playwright, and directed by Kenny Png, a good friend - all reaching out to help the kids in all ways. WE call it our anthem for "It's My Life!" - the song is called, "A Million Maps".

Enjoy. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzqU4ek13eM