The 2023 Philippine theater season is one that industry practitioners label as the year of “revenge theater,” as it broke records in both audience turnout and number of shows produced. Philstage celebrates this triumphant return to form after the pandemic by announcing the nominees for the 14th annual Gawad Buhay Awards.
Gawad Buhay, the nation’s premier recognizing body for the performing arts, is the main program of Philstage, the proud alliance of Manila-based professional companies in the theatrical arts. Current Philstage company members include 9 Works Theatrical/The Sandbox Collective, Actors Actors, Inc./The Necessary Theatre, Ballet Manila, Barefoot Theatre Collaborative, Culturtain Musicat Productions, Full House Theater Company, Gantimpala Theater Foundation, PETA, Philippine Opera Company, Repertory Philippines, Stages, Tanghalang Pilipino, Trumpets, Twin Bill Theater, Upstart Productions, and Theatre Titas.
Only shows produced by Philstage’s member companies during the 2023 season are eligible for nomination. The nominees are chosen by an independent jury.
The shows and individuals eligible for this year’s award ceremonies are the ones that garnered citations for both the Mid-Year and 3rd and 4th quarter citations from 2023.
PETA’s Walang Aray garners the most nominations with 19, followed by Tanghalang Pilipino’s Sandosenang Sapatos and Nekropolis with 8 each, and Barefoot Theatre Collaborative’s The Last Five Years and Laro with 7 each.
This year’s nominees are:
Outstanding Original Script
Guelan Luarca (‘Nekropolis’)
Mikaela Regis (‘Unica Hijas’)
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Rody Vera (‘Walang Aray’)
Outstanding Original Score
Vince Lim & Rody Vera (‘Walang Aray’)
Outstanding Musical Direction
Rony Fortich (‘The Last Five Years’)
Vince Lim (‘Walang Aray’)
Outstanding Choreography
Gio Gahol (‘Walang Aray’)
Stephen Viñas (‘Sandosenang Sapatos’)
Outstanding Costume Design
Jaylo Conanan (‘Walang Aray’)
Marco Viaña & Paw Castillo (‘Sandosenang Sapatos’)
Outstanding Lighting Design
D Cortezano (‘Nekropolis’)
Gabo Tolentino (‘Red’)
Meliton Roxas Jr. (‘The Last Five Years’)
Outstanding Sound Design
Jose Buencamino (‘Red’)
Happy Constantino (‘Walang Aray’)
Arvy Dimaculangan (‘Nekropolis’)
Outstanding Set Design
Mark Daniel Dalacat (‘Red’)
Julio Garcia (‘Walang Aray’)
Joey Mendoza (‘The Last Five Years’)
Tata Tuviera (‘Nekropolis’)
Tata Tuviera (‘Unica Hijas’)
Female Lead Performance in a Play
Joy delos Santos (‘Unica Hijas’)
Ash Nicanor (‘Unica Hijas’)
Justine Peña (‘Lungs’)
Male Lead Performance in a Play
Reb Atadero (‘Lungs’)
JC Santos (‘Red’)
Female Featured Performance in a Play
Mitzi Comia (‘Nekropolis’)
Male Featured Performance in a Play
Jojo Cayabyab (‘Laro’)
Gio Gahol (‘Laro’)
Phi Palmos (‘Laro’)
Ross Pesigan (‘Laro’)
Female Lead Performance in a Musical
Alexa Ilacad (‘Walang Aray’)
Marynor Madamesila (‘Walang Aray’)
Felicity Kyle Napuli (‘Sandosenang Sapatos’)
Shaira Opsimar (‘Walang Aray’)
Gab Pangilinan (‘The Last Five Years’)
Wincess Jem Yana (‘Sandosenang Sapatos’)
Male Lead Performance in a Musical
Jon Abella (‘Walang Aray’)
Gio Gahol (‘Walang Aray’)
Khalil Ramos (‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’)
Myke Salomon (‘The Last Five Years’)
Female Featured Performance in a Musical
Kiki Baento (‘Walang Aray’)
Neomi Gonzales (‘Walang Aray’)
Kayla Rivera (‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’)
Male Featured Performance in a Musical
Reb Atadero (‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’)
Bene Manaois (‘Walang Aray’)
Johnnie Moran (‘Walang Aray’)
Floyd Tena (‘Sandosenang Sapatos’)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play
‘Laro’ (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative)
‘Nekropolis’ (Tanghalang Pilipino)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical
‘Sandosenang Sapatos’ (Tanghalang Pilipino)
‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’ (9 Works Theatrical)
‘Walang Aray’ (PETA)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play
Pat Valera (‘Unica Hijas’)
John Mark Yap (‘Laro’)
Charles Yee (‘Nekropolis’)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical
Topper Fabregas (‘The Last Five Years’)
Ian Segarra (‘Walang Aray’)
Jonathan Tadioan (‘Sandosenang Sapatos’)
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play
‘Laro’ (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative)
‘Red’ (The Necessary Theatre)
Outstanding Play – Original or Translation/Adaptation
‘Nekropolis’ (Tanghalang Pilipino)
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical
‘The Last Five Years’ (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative)
‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’ (9 Works Theatrical)
Outstanding Musical – Original or Translation/Adaptation
‘Walang Aray’ (PETA)
Outstanding Production for Children
‘Sandosenang Sapatos’ (Tanghalang Pilipino)
There are no nominations for outstanding translation or adaptation, and outstanding video and projection design.
The 14th Gawad Buhay awarding ceremony will be held on July 9, 2024 at the PETA Theater Center.
For updates on the Gawad Buhay Awards, as well activity of Philstage’s member companies, follow Philstage on Facebook and Instagram @lovephilstage.
Comments