The Philippine Educational Theater Association’s (Peta) “Rak of Aegis,” a musical-comedy production about a fictional urban-poor community coping with floods that features the songs of the iconic pop-rock band Aegis, grabbed the lead in the 2014 nominations for the Gawad Buhay!, the Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts, with 17 nods in the performance and technical categories.
Following “Rak of Aegis” is Repertory Philippines’ production of Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer- and Tony-winning play “August: Osage County,” directed by Chris Millado, with 12 nominations.
Tanghalang Pilipino’s production of “Pahimakas sa Isang Ahente,” the late Rolando Tinio’s Filipino translation of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman,” again directed by Millado, got nine nominations, tying with Ballet Philippines’ restaging of Agnes Locsin’s “La Revolucion Filipina.”
(See complete list of nominations 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 selects the final nominees qualified to win the awards by the end of the performance season.
Awarding ceremonies will be on June 11.
Philstage is the only alliance of professional performing arts organizations in the Philippines. Its members include Ballet Manila (BM), Ballet Philippines (BP), Gantimpala Theater Foundation, Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit, Peta, Repertory Philippines (Rep), Tanghalang Pilipino (TP), Trumpets, Actor’s Actors Inc. (AAI), 9 Works Theatrical (9WT), Philippine Opera Company, Resorts World Manila’s Full House Theater Company, and the newest company to join, Red Turnip Theater.
COMPLETE LIST OF NOMINATIONS IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES
[Note: Lone nominees are automatic winners.]
Outstanding Original Script
No nomination
Outstanding Original Libretto
Liza Magtoto, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Outstanding Translation or Adaptation
Virgilio Almario and José Lacaba, “Mga Ama, Mga Anak” (TP)
Rolando Tinio, “Pahimakas sa Isang Ahente” (TP)
Outstanding Musical Direction
Myke Salomon, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Inday Echevarria, “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (Full House)
Joseph Tolentino, “The Last Five Years” (9WT)
Outstanding Original Musical Composition
No nomination
Outstanding Choreography for a Dance Production
Bam Damian, “Aramica” [from “Heart2Heart: Ballet & Ballads”] (BM)
Denisa Reyes, “Muybridge Frames” [from “Art of Dance”] (BP)
Bam Damian, “After Whom” [from “The Blue Moon Series”] (BP)
Alice Reyes, “Bungkos Suite” [from “The Blue Moon Series”] (BP)
Agnes Locsin, “La Revolucion Filipina” (BP)
Outstanding Choreography for a Play or Musical
Nancy Crowe, “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (Full House)
Gio Gahol, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Nestee Mamaril Gamilla, “Kleptomaniacs” (TP)
Outstanding Costume Design
Carlo Pagunaling, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Edgar San Diego, “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (Peta)
Rajo Laurel, “Full Gallop” (My Own Mann Productions/AAI and The Necessary Theatre)
Victor Ursabia, “La Revolucion Filipina” (BP)
Valeen Vicente, “Scrooge” (Rep)
Outstanding Lighting Design
John Batalla, “Wait Until Dark” (Rep)
Katsch Catoy, “August: Osage County” (Rep)
Martin Esteva, “The Last 5 Years” (9WT)
Bart Guingona, “Venus in Fur” (AAI/The Necessary Theatre)
Katsch Catoy, “La Revolucion Filipina” (BP)
Outstanding Sound Design
Jethro Joaquin, “Noises Off” (Rep)
Jethro Joaquin, “Wait Until Dark” (Rep)
Myke Salomon and Happy Constantino, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Bart Guingona, “Venus in Fur” (AAI/The Necessary Theatre)
Ryan Cayabyab (remastered by David Theo), “La Revolucion Filipina” (BP)
Outstanding Set Design
Mio Infante, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Miguel Faustmann, “August: Osage County” (Rep)
Miguel Faustmann, “Noises Off” (Rep)
Mio Infante, “The Last 5 Years” (9WT)
Mio Infante, “La Revolucion Filipina” (BP)
Female Lead Performance in a Play
Baby Barredo, “August: Osage County” (Rep)
Cherie Gil, “Full Gallop” (My Own Mann/AAI)
Liesl Batucan, “Wait Until Dark” (Rep)
Jennifer Blair-Bianco, “Venus in Fur” (AAI/The Necessary Theatre)
Gina Pareño, “Pahimakas sa Isang Ahente” (TP)
Male Lead Performance in a Play
Spanky Manikan, “Mga Ama, Mga Anak” (TP)
Robert Arevalo, “Mga Ama, Mga Anak” (TP)
Jonathan Tadioan, “Pahimakas sa Isang Ahente” (TP)
David Bianco, “Venus in Fur” (AAI/The Necessary Theatre)
Female Featured Performance in a Play
Pinky Amador, “August: Osage County” (Rep)
Liesl Batucan, “August: Osage County” (Rep)
Sheila Francisco, “August: Osage County” (Rep)
Tami Monsod, “August: Osage County” (Rep)
Madeleine Nicolas, “Mga Ama, Mga Anak” (TP)
Male Featured Performance in a Play
Richard Cunanan, “August: Osage County” (Rep)
Hans Eckstein, “August: Osage County” (Rep)
Yul Servo, “Pahimakas sa Isang Ahente” (TP)
Dido dela Paz, “Pahimakas sa Isang Ahente” (TP)
Marco Viaña, “Pahimakas sa Isang Ahente” (TP)
Female Lead Performance in a Musical
Aicelle Santos, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Joan Bugcat, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Kim Molina, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Nikki Gil, “The Last 5 Years” (9WT)
Tippy Dos Santos, “Grease” (9WT)
Male Lead Performance in a Musical
Red Concepcion, “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (Full House)
Joaquin Valdes, “The Last 5 Years” (9WT)
Nicco Manalo, “Kleptomaniacs” (TP)
Michael Williams, “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (Full House)
Female Featured Performance in a Musical
Bituin Escalante, “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (Full House)
Kalila Aguilos, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Antoinette Taus, “Grease” (9WT)
Male Featured Performance in a Musical
Pepe Herrera, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Jerald Napoles, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Myke Salomon, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Juliene Mendoza, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Micko Laurente, “Kleptomaniacs” (TP)
Female Lead Performance in Modern Dance
Dawna Mangahas, “Shutter” [from “Heart2Heart: Ballet & Ballads”] (BM)
Monica Gana, “Duet” [from “Art of Dance”] (BP)
Kris-Belle Paclibar-Mamangun, “Salome” [from “The Blue Moon Series”] (BP)
Carissa Adea, “Songs of the Wayfarer” [from “The Blue Moon Series”] (BP)
Jessa Balote, “Sari’t Bahag” [from “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika: An OPM Festival”] (BM)
Male Lead Performance in Modern Dance
Elpidio Magat, “Shutter” [from “Heart2Heart: Ballet & Ballads”] (BM)
Earl John Arisola, “Duet” [from “Art of Dance”] (BP)
Rudy de Dios, “Aramica” [from “Heart2Heart: Ballet & Ballads”] (BM)
Jean Marc Cordero, “La Revolucion Filipina” (BP)
Richardson Yadao, “La Revolucion Filipina” (BP)
Female Featured Performance in Modern Dance
No nomination
Male Featured Performance in Modern Dance
No nomination
Female Lead Performance in Classical Dance
Denise Parungao, “Cinderella” (BP)
Monica Gana, “Cinderella” (BP)
Dawna Mangahas, “Nutkraker” (BM)
Male Lead Performance in Classical Dance
Richardson Yadao, “Cinderella” (BP)
Earl John Arisola, “Cinderella” (BP)
Female Featured Performance in Classical Dance
Celina Dofitas, “Cinderella” (BP)
Edana Mae Labitoria, “Cinderella” (BP)
Katherine Trofeo, “Cinderella” (BP)
Rita Winder, “Cinderella” (BP)
Male Featured Performance in Classical Dance
No nomination
Outstanding Modern Dance Production
“Aramica” [from “Heart2Heart: Ballet & Ballads”] (BM)
“Muybridge Frames” [from “Art of Dance”] (BP)
“La Revolucion Filipina” (BP)
Outstanding Classical Dance Production
No nomination
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play
Chris Millado, “August: Osage County” (Rep)
Miguel Faustmann, “Wait Until Dark” (Rep)
Bart Guingona, “Full Gallop” (My Own Mann/AAI)
Chris Millado, “Pahimakas sa Isang Ahente” (TP)
Bart Guingona, “Venus in Fur” (AAI/The Necessary Theatre)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical
Maribel Legarda, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Jaime del Mundo, “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (Full House)
Robbie Guevara, “The Last 5 Years” (9WT)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play
“August: Osage County” (Rep)
“Venus in Fur” (AAI/The Necessary Theatre)
“Pahimakas sa Isang Ahente” (TP)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical
“Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
“The Last 5 Years” (9WT)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Modern Dance
“Aramica” [from “Heart2Heart: Ballet & Ballads”] (BM)
“Muybridge Frames” [from “Art of Dance”] (BP)
“After Whom” [from “The Blue Moon Series”] (BP)
“Bungkos Suite” [from “The Blue Moon Series”] (BP)
“La Revolucion Filipina” (BP)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Classical Dance
No nomination
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play
“August: Osage County” (Rep)
“Full Gallop” (My Own Mann/AAI)
“Pahimakas sa Isang Ahente” (TP)
“Venus in Fur” (AAI/The Necessary Theatre)
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical
“Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (Full House)
“The Last 5 Years” (9WT)
Outstanding Original Play
No nomination
Outstanding Original Musical
“Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Outstanding Production for Children
No nomination