peter pan--ballet phils — Ballet Philippines’ “Peter Pan”, choreographed by Edna Vida-Froilan, with lighting design by John Batalla and set design by the late National Artist for Theater Salvador Bernal. PHOTO BY JUDE BAUTISTA

Ballet Philippines’ Christmas production of “Peter Pan” last year leads the fourth-quarter citations of the 2015 Gawad Buhay!, the Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts, with 12 nods, including Outstanding Choreography (by Edna Vida-Froilan) and Outstanding Classical Dance Production.

“Mga Buhay na Apoy,” Kanakan Balintagos’ play about a modern Filipino family rediscovering its indigenous roots, follows with 11 citations, including Outstanding Play (Original or Translation/Adaptation). Balintagos (aka Auraeus Solito) also directed the Tanghalang Pilipino production.

Ballet Manila’s “Romeo and Juliet”, meanwhile, bagged 10 citations, followed by Trumpets’ “The Horse and His Boy”—Luna Griño-Inocian’s stage adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ children’s novel—and the Philippine Ballet Theater’s “The Nutcracker”, which each got 9 nods.

(See complete list of citations below.)

Now on its eighth year, Gawad Buhay! is the first-ever industry awards exclusively for the performing arts juried by an independent panel of critics, scholars, artists and theater enthusiasts. Outstanding individual and group achievements in various artistic and technical aspects of play, musical and dance productions and performances are honored based on quarterly citations deliberated by members of the jury who are required to watch all productions of Philstage member-companies for the entire year.

From the four quarterly citations, the jury will select the final nominees qualified to win the awards by the end of the performance season.

Philstage is the only alliance of professional performing arts organizations in the Philippines. Its members include Ballet Manila, Ballet Philippines, Gantimpala Theater Foundation, Peta, Repertory Philippines, Tanghalang Pilipino, Trumpets, Actor’s Actors Inc., 9 Works Theatrical, Philippine Opera Company, Resorts World Manila’s Full House Theater Company, Red Turnip Theater, and Philippine Ballet Theater.

Tanghalang Pilipino’s “Mga Buhay na Apoy,” written and directed by Kanakan Balintagos (aka Auraeus Solito). with set design by Paulo Alcazaren and lighting design by Dennis Marasigan. PHOTO BY VLADIMEIR GONZALES

COMPLETE LIST OF 2015 FOURTH-QUARTER CITATIONS IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES

Outstanding Original Script
Kanakan Balintagos, “Mga Buhay na Apoy” (TP)

Outstanding Original Libretto
No citation

Outstanding Translation or Adaptation
Luna Griño-Inocian, “The Horse and His Boy” (Trumpets)

Outstanding Musical Direction
No citation

Outstanding Original Musical Composition
No citation

Outstanding Choreography for a Dance Production
Edna Vida-Froilan, “Peter Pan” (BP)
Carlo Pacis, “Saranggola ni Pepe”/from “Sarong Banggi” (BP)
Carlo Pacis, “Pepe en Pilar”/from “Sarong Banggi” (BP)

Outstanding Choreography for a Play or Musical
Dexter Santos, “The Horse and His Boy” (Trumpets)

Outstanding Costume Design
Mio Infante, “The Horse and His Boy” (Trumpets)

Outstanding Lighting Design
Dennis Marasigan, “Mga Buhay na Apoy” (TP)
John Batalla, “The Horse and His Boy” (Trumpets)
John Batalla, “Peter Pan” (BP)

Outstanding Sound Design
Diwa de Leon, “Mga Buhay na Apoy” (TP)
Jenny Jamora, “This Is Our Youth” (RTT)

Outstanding Set Design
Salvador Bernal, “Peter Pan” (BP)
Paulo Alcazaren, “Mga Buhay na Apoy” (TP)
Ohm David, “Sarong Banggi” (BP)
Kayla Teodoro, “This Is Our Youth” (RTT)

Female Lead Performance in a Play
Irma Adlawan, “Mga Buhay na Apoy” (TP)

Male Lead Performance in a Play
Jef Flores, “This Is Our Youth” (RTT)
Nicco Manalo, “This Is Our Youth” (RTT)
Reb Atadero, “The Horse and His Boy” (Trumpets)

Female Featured Performance in a Play
Malou Crisologo, “Mga Buhay na Apoy” (TP)
Karen Gaerlan, “Mga Buhay na Apoy” (TP)

Male Featured Performance in a Play
Russell Legaspi, “Mga Buhay na Apoy” (TP)
Joel Trinidad, “The Horse and His Boy” (Trumpets)

Female Lead Performance in a Musical
No citation

Male Lead Performance in a Musical
Noel Comia Jr., “Prinsipe Munti” (TP)

Female Featured Performance in a Musical
Antoinette Taus, “Bituing Walang Ningning” (Full House/Resorts World Manila)

Male Featured Performance in a Musical
Noel Comia Jr., “The Secret Garden” (Rep)

Female Lead Performance in Modern Dance
Rita Winder, “Sarong Banggi” (BP)

Male Lead Performance in Modern Dance
No citation

Female Featured Performance in Modern Dance
Monica Gana, “Sarong Banggi” (BP)

Male Featured Performance in Modern Dance
Jean Marc Cordero, “Sarong Banggi” (BP)
Earl John Arisola, “Sarong Banggi” (BP)

Female Lead Performance in Classical Dance
Katherine Barkman, “Romeo and Juliet” (BM)
Lobreza Pimentel, “The Nutcracker” (PBT)
Regina Magbitang, “The Nutcracker” (PBT)

Male Lead Performance in Classical Dance
Victor Maguad, “Peter Pan” (BP)
Cyril Fallar, “Peter Pan” (BP)
Peter San Juan, “The Nutcracker” (PBT)
Alvin Santos, “Pinocchio” (BM)
Rudy De Dios, “Romeo and Juliet” (BM)
Brian Williamson, “Romeo and Juliet” (BM)

Female Featured Performance in Classical Dance
Pia Dames, “Romeo and Juliet” (BM)
Dawna Mangahas, “Romeo and Juliet” (BM)
Joni Galeste, “The Nutcracker” (PBT)
Irene Abrogena, “The Nutcracker” (PBT)
Pia Dames, “Pinocchio” (BM)
Janine Myrtle Arisola, “Peter Pan” (BP)

Male Featured Performance in Classical Dance
Victor Maguad, “Peter Pan” (BP)
Earl Sorilla, “Peter Pan” (BP)
Gary Corpuz, “Peter Pan” (BP)
Crimson Guirjem, “The Nutcracker” (PBT)
Kazier Policarpio, “The Nutcracker” (PBT)
Michael Divinagracia, “Pinocchio” (BM)
Gerardo Francisco, “Romeo and Juliet” (BM)
Rudolph Capongcol, “Romeo and Juliet” (BM)
Mark Sumaylo, “Romeo and Juliet” (BM)

Outstanding Modern Dance Production
No citation

Outstanding Classical Dance Production
“The Nutcracker” (PBT)
“Peter Pan” (BP)
“Romeo and Juliet” (BM)

Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play
Kanakan Balintagos, “Mga Buhay na Apoy” (TP)
Jaime Del Mundo, “The Horse and His Boy” (Trumpets)
Topper Fabregas, “This Is Our Youth” (RTT)

Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical
No citation

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play
“Mga Buhay na Apoy” (TP)
“This Is Our Youth” (RTT)

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical
No citation

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Modern Dance
“Saranggola ni Pepe”/from “Sarong Banggi” (BP)

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Classical Dance
“Peter Pan” (BP)
“Romeo and Juliet” (BM)

Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play
“This Is Our Youth” (RTT)

Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical
No citation

Outstanding Play—Original or Translation/Adaptation
“Mga Buhay na Apoy” (TP)
“The Horse and His Boy” (Trumpets)

Outstanding Musical—Original or Translation/Adaptation
No citation

Outstanding Production for Children
“The Horse and His Boy” (Trumpets)
“Snow White” (Rep)
“Peter Pan” (BP)
“Pinocchio” (BM)
“Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang” (BM)
“The Nutcracker” (PBT)