Mabining Mandirigma,” Tanghalang Pilipino’s musical take on the life and heroism of Apolinario Mabini—with libretto by Nicanor Tiongson, music by Joed Balsamo and direction by Chris Millado—leads the third-quarter citations of the 2015 Gawad Buhay!, the Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts, with 13 nods, including Outstanding Musical (Original or Translation/Adaptation).
Following it by a whisker is Bart Guingona’s production of Larry Kramer’s “The Normal Heart” for his Actor’s Actors Inc./The Necessary Theatre, with 12 citations. Also a strong contender in the play category is Red Turnip Theater’s production of Moisés Kaufman’s “33 Variations,” which has nine nods.
In dance, the runaway leader with 11 citations is Ballet Manila’s “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang,” an update to the company’s popular modern-dance series already considered in previous Gawad Buhay! editions but whose performances by new cast members this year merited a good number of citations.
(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 the newest company to join, Philippine Ballet Theater (whose “Don Quixote” has six citations).
PHOTO BY BEVERLY C. ESGUERRA/REVERB MANILA
COMPLETE LIST OF 2015 THIRD-QUARTER CITATIONS IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES
Outstanding Original Script
No citation
Outstanding Original Libretto
Nicanor Tiongson, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Outstanding Translation or Adaptation
No citation
Outstanding Musical Direction
Joed Balsamo, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Outstanding Original Musical Composition
Joed Balsamo, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Joed Balsamo, “Kanser@35” (GTF)
Outstanding Choreography for a Dance Production
Alden Lugnasin, “Cucurucucu Paloma” / from “Body Positive+” (BP)
Erl Emmanuel Sorilla, “Requiem to a Cygnet” / from “Body Positive+” (BP)
Enrico Labayen, “Two Barres, a Man and the Plague (A Sad Truth)” / from “Body Positive+” (BP)
Outstanding Choreography for a Play or Musical
Denisa Reyes, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Outstanding Costume Design
Raven Ong, “33 Variations” (RTT)
James Reyes, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Outstanding Lighting Design
John Batalla, “33 Variations” (RTT)
Meliton Roxas, “The Normal Heart” (AAI/TNT)
Katsch Catoy, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Jonjon Villareal, “Noli Fili Dekada Dos Mil” (Peta)
Outstanding Sound Design
TJ Ramos, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Jethro Joaquin, “The Normal Heart” (AAI/TNT)
Outstanding Set Design
Ed Lacson Jr., “33 Variations” (RTT)
Coco Anne and Baby Imperial, “The Normal Heart” (AAI/TNT)
Gino Gonzales, “Noli Fili Dekada Dos Mil” (Peta)
Toym Imao, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Female Lead Performance in a Play
Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino, “33 Variations” (RTT)
Male Lead Performance in a Play
Bart Guingona, “The Normal Heart” (AAI/TNT)
Lucho Ayala, “Noli Fili Dekada Dos Mil” (Peta)
Female Featured Performance in a Play
Roselyn Perez, “The Normal Heart” (AAI/TNT)
Roselyn Perez, “33 Variations” (RTT)
Male Featured Performance in a Play
Teroy Guzman, “33 Variations” (RTT)
Topper Fabregas, “The Normal Heart” (AAI/TNT)
TJ Trinidad, “The Normal Heart” (AAI/TNT)
Richard Cunanan, “The Normal Heart” (AAI/TNT)
Nor Domingo, “The Normal Heart” (AAI/TNT)
Jack Yabut, “Noli Fili Dekada Dos Mil” (Peta)
Female Lead Performance in a Musical
Delphine Buencamino, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Myramae Meneses, “Kanser@35” (GTF)
Male Lead Performance in a Musical
No citation
Female Featured Performance in a Musical
Sweet Plantado-Tiongson, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Shiela Valderrama-Martinez, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Male Featured Performance in a Musical
Antonio Ferrer, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Renz Verano, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Lorenz Martinez, “Rak of Aegis” (Peta)
Female Lead Performance in Modern Dance
Lobreza Pimentel, “Dancing in One Voice” (PBT)
Regina Magbitang, “Dancing in One Voice” (PBT)
Rita Winder, “Bolero” / from “Body Positive+” (BP)
Katherine Barkman, “Ang Prinsipe ng Mga Ibon” / from “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang” (BM)
Male Lead Performance in Modern Dance
Rudy De Dios, “Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Maria” / from “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang” (BM)
Elpidio Magat, “Ang Prinsiple ng Mga Ibon” / from “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang” (BM)
Alvin Santos, “Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Maria” / from “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang” (BM)
Gerardo Francisco, “Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin” / from “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang” (BM)
Jean Marc Cordero, “Bolero” / from “Body Positive+” (BP)
Victor Maguad, “Cucurucucu Paloma” / from “Body Positive+” (BP)
Erl Emmanuel Sorilla, “Cucurucucu Paloma” / from “Body Positive+” (BP)
PJ Rebullida, “Two Barres, a Man and the Plague (A Sad Truth)” / from “Body Positive+” (BP)
Female Featured Performance in Modern Dance
Abigail Oliveiro, “Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Maria” / from “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang” (BM)
Joan Emery Sia, “Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Maria” / from “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang” (BM)
Male Featured Performance in Modern Dance
Michael Divinagracia, “Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin” / from “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang” (BM)
Female Lead Performance in Classical Dance
Lobreza Pimentel, “Don Quixote” (PBT)
Male Lead Performance in Classical Dance
Joseph Phillips, “Don Quixote” (PBT)
Female Featured Performance in Classical Dance
Regina Magbitang, “Don Quixote” (PBT)
Male Featured Performance in Classical Dance
Ian Ocampo, “Don Quixote” (PBT)
Outstanding Modern Dance Production
No citation
Outstanding Classical Dance Production
“Don Quixote” (PBT)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play
Jenny Jamora, “33 Variations” (RTT)
Bart Guingona, “The Normal Heart” (AAI/TNT)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical
Chris Millado, “Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play
“33 Variations” (RTT)
“The Normal Heart” (AAI/TNT)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical
“Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Modern Dance
“Ang Prinsiple ng Mga Ibon” / from “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang” (BM)
“Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Maria” / from “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang” (BM)
“Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin” / from “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang” (BM)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Classical Dance
“Don Quixote” (PBT)
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play
“33 Variations” (RTT)
“The Normal Heart” (AAI/TNT)
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical
No citation
Outstanding Play—Original or Translation/Adaptation
No citation
Outstanding Musical—Original or Translation/Adaptation
“Mabining Mandirigma” (TP)