Ballet Manila’s “Nutkraker: Pasko Na Naman Muli”. PHOTO FROM BALLET MANILA

There were only four productions—all musicals—from member-companies of Philstage in the last quarter of 2014. These were “Scrooge” by Repertory Philippines, “Prinsipe Munti” by Tanghalang Pilipino, and the reruns of “Grease” (9 Works Theatrical) and “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (Full House Theater Productions of Resorts World Manila).

In dance, Ballet Philippines presented Alice Reyes’ “Cinderella,” while Ballet Manila had a Filipinized version of “The Nutcracker” (now “Nutkraker: Pasko Na Naman Muli”). The 4th-quarter citations of the 2014 Gawad Buhay!, the Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts, are dominated by citations in the dance categories.

(See list of citations below.)

Now on its seventh 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. Awarding ceremonies will be in June 2015.

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, Philippine Opera Company, Resorts World Manila’s Full House Theater Productions, and the newest company to join, Red Turnip Theater.

The official nominations for the 2014 Gawad Buhay!, culled from the citations from the first to fourth quarters of last year, will be out next week.

Ballet Philippines’ “Cinderella”. PHOTO FROM BALLET PHILIPPINES

2014 4TH-QUARTER CITATIONS:

Outstanding Translation or Adaptation
Layeta Bucoy, “Prinsipe Munti” (TP)

Outstanding Choreography for a Dance Production
Alice Reyes, “Cinderella” (BP)

Outstanding Costume Design
Valeen Vicente, “Scrooge” (Rep)

Outstanding Lighting Design
John Batalla, “Scrooge” (Rep)
Monino Duque, “Cinderella” (BP)

Outstanding Set Design
Miguel Faustmann, “Scrooge” (Rep)

Female Lead Performance in a Musical
Tippy Dos Santos, “Grease” (9WT)

Male Lead Performance in a Musical
Michael Williams, “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (Full House)

Female Featured Performance in a Musical
Antoinette Taus, “Grease” (9WT)

Female Lead Performance in Classical Dance
Denise Parungao, “Cinderella” (BP)
Monica Gana, “Cinderella” (BP)
Dawna Mangahas, “Nutkraker” (BM)

Male Lead Performance in Classical Dance
Richardon Yadao, “Cinderella” (BP)
Earl John Arisola, “Cinderella” (BP)

Female Featured Performance in Classical Dance
Celina Dofitas, “Cinderella” (BP)
Edna Mae Labitoria, “Cinderella” (BP)
Katherine Trofeo, “Cinderella” (BP)
Rita Winder, “Cinderella” (BP)

Outstanding Production for Children
“Prinsipe Munti” (TP)