9 Works Theatrical’s production of the evergreen Broadway musical “Grease” in November last year grabbed 13 nods to lead the fourth-quarter citations of the 2013 Gawad Buhay!, the Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts.

 

“Grease’s” citations include outstanding production of existing material for a play or musical, outstanding ensemble, direction (Robbie Guevara), musical direction (Sweet Plantado-Tiongson and Joseph Tolentino), choreography (Arnold Trinidad and Francis Matheu), lighting design (John Batalla), sound design (Chuck Ledesma) and set design (Mio Infante), as well as the lead performance of Gian Magdangal and the featured performances of Reb Atadero, Iya Villania, Carla Dunareanu and Peachy Atilano.

 

In second place is Ballet Philippines’ “A Christmas Carol,” which garnered 12 citations, including outstanding modern dance production, outstanding ensemble, choreography (Edna Vida-Froilan), lighting design (Dennis Marasigan), sound design (Jethro Joaquin), set design (Ricardo Cruz), and nods for Nonoy Froilan’s lead performance and the featured performances of Carissa Adea, Denise Parungao, Jean Marc Cordero, Richardson Yadao. The ballet is also cited in the category of outstanding production for children (play, musical or dance).

 

Repertory Philippines’ “The Producers,” meanwhile, received 11 citations, among them outstanding musical production and direction (Jaime del Mundo) and nods for the lead performances of Robbie Zialcita and Topper Fabregas, and the featured turns of Audie Gemora, Noel Rayos and Joel Trinidad.

 

Tanghalang Pilipino’s modern Filipino opera “San Andres B.”, which for purposes of consideration in the Gawad Buhay! awards was classified under the musical category, received 9 citations, while Ballet Manila’s production of “The Nutcracker” had 8.

 

The Gawad Buhay! jury, an independent panel of critics, scholars, artists and theater enthusiasts, has also decided to open a new category for Outstanding Production for Children (Play, Dance or Musical), to acknowledge the growing number of productions from Philstage companies specifically mounted and designed for such audiences.

 

All Philstage children’s shows are eligible for outstanding production consideration only in the fourth quarter of the year, since many of them have longer runs that may span two or more quarters, compared to other shows.

 

(See complete list of citations, right.)

 

Now on its fifth year, Gawad Buhay! is the first-ever industry awards exclusively for the performing arts. 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 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. Awarding ceremonies will be in early 2014.

 

Philstage is the only alliance of professional performing arts organizations in the Philippines. Its members include Ballet Manila, Ballet Philippines, Gantimpala Theater Foundation, Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit, Peta, Repertory Philippines, Tanghalang Pilipino, Trumpets, Actor’s Actors Inc., 9 Works Theatrical and Philippine Opera Company.

 

 

COMPLETE LIST OF THE 2013 FOURTH-QUARTER CITATIONS IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES:

 

Outstanding Original Script

No citation

 

Outstanding Original Libretto

No citation

 

Outstanding Original Translation or Adaptation

No citation

 

Outstanding Musical Direction

Sweet Plantado-Tiongson and Joseph Tolentino, “Grease” (9 Works Theatrical)

Onyl Torres, “The Producers” (Repertory Philippines)

 

Outstanding Original Musical Composition

Josefino Toledo, “San Andres B.” (Tanghalang Pilipino)

 

Outstanding Choreography for a Dance Production

Edna Vida-Froilan, “A Christmas Carol” (Ballet Philippines)

 

Outstanding Choreography for a Play or Musical

Arnold Trinidad and Francis Matheu, “Grease” (9WT)

 

Outstanding Costume Design

Raven Ong, “Alice in Wonderland” (Rep)

Raven Ong, “The Producers” (Rep)

 

Outstanding Lighting Design

Dennis Marasigan, “A Christmas Carol” (BP)

John Batalla, “Grease” (9WT)

Jay Aranda, “San Andres B.” (TP)

 

Outstanding Sound Design

Jethro Joaquin, “A Christmas Carol” (BP)

Chuck Ledesma, “Grease” (9WT)

Aji Manalo, “San Andres B.” (TP)

 

Outstanding Set Design

Ricardo Cruz, “A Christmas Carol” (BP)

Mio Infante, “Grease” (9WT)

Gino Gonzales, “Alice in Wonderland” (Rep)

Ricardo Cruz, “San Andres B.” (TP)

 

Female Lead Performance in a Play

No citation

 

Male Lead Performance in a Play

No citation

 

Female Featured Performance in a Play

No citation

 

Male Featured Performance in a Play

No citation

 

Female Lead Performance in a Musical

Margarita Roco, “San Andres B.” (TP)

 

Male Lead Performance in a Musical

Gian Magdangal, “Grease” (9WT)

Topper Fabregas, “The Producers” (Rep)

Robbie Zialcita, “The Producers” (Rep)

Dondi Ong, “San Andres B.” (TP)

 

Female Featured Performance in a Musical

Iya Villania, “Grease” (9WT)

Carla Dunareanu, “Grease” (9WT)

Peachy Atilano, “Grease” (9WT)

Bituin Escalante, “Alice in Wonderland” (Rep)

G. Tongi-Walters, “The Producers” (Rep)

 

Male Featured Performance in a Musical

Reb Atadero, “Grease” (9WT)

Audie Gemora, “The Producers” (Rep)

Noel Rayos, “The Producers” (Rep)

Joel Trinidad, “The Producers” (Rep)

Antonio Rey Ferrer, “San Andres B.” (TP)

 

Female Lead Performance in Modern Dance

No citation

 

Male Lead Performance in Modern Dance

Nonoy Froilan, “A Christmas Carol” (BP)

 

Female Featured Performance in Modern Dance

Carissa Adea, “A Christmas Carol” (BP)

Denise Parungao, “A Christmas Carol” (BP)

 

Male Featured Performance in Modern Dance

Jean Marc Cordero, “A Christmas Carol” (BP)

Richardson Yadao, “A Christmas Carol” (BP)

 

Female Lead Performance in Classical Dance

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, “Le Corsaire” (Ballet Manila)

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, “The Nutcracker” (BM)

Dawna Mangahas, “The Nutcracker” (BM)

 

Male Lead Performance in Classical Dance

Mikhail Martinyuk, “La Bayadere” (BM)

Arnulfo Andrade, “The Nutcracker” (BM)

Rudy de Dios, “The Nutcracker” (BM)

 

Female Featured Performance in Classical Dance

Jan Erika Basilio, “Le Corsaire” (BM)

Dawna Mangahas, “Le Corsaire” (BM)

Jessa Balote, “The Nutcracker” (BM)

Missy Macuja-Elizalde, “The Nutcracker” (BM)

 

Outstanding Modern Dance Production

“A Christmas Carol” (BP)

 

Outstanding Classical Dance Production

“Le Corsaire” (BM)

“The Nutcracker” (BM)

 

Outstanding Stage Direction—Play or Musical

Robbie Guevara, “Grease” (9WT)

Jaime del Mundo, “The Producers” (Rep)

Floy Quintos, “San Andres B.” (TP)

 

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play

No citation

 

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical

“Grease” (9WT)

“The Producers” (Rep)

 

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Modern Dance

“A Christmas Carol” (BP)

 

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Classical Dance

“Le Corsaire” (BM)

“The Nutcracker” (BM)

 

Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play

No citation

 

Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical

“Grease” (9WT)

“The Producers” (Rep)

 

Outstanding Original Play

No citation

 

Outstanding Original Musical

No citation

 

Outstanding Production for Children—Play, Musical or Dance

“Tatlo Pang Kuwento ni Lola Basyang” (BM)

“A Christmas Carol” (BP)

“Alice in Wonderland” (Rep)

“Sandosenang Sapatos” (TP)

“The Bluebird of Happiness” (Trumpets)