There were only seven productions that were up for consideration for the 2017 Philstage Gawad Buhay midyear citations: five plays and two dance productions.
Three of the five plays were from Repertory Philippines—“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” directed by Bart Guingona; “Agnes of God,” again directed by Guingona; and “In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play,” directed by Chris Millado. The two others were Red Turnip Theater’s “The Nether,” directed by Ana Abad Santos; and Tanghalang Pilipino’s “Eurydice,” directed by Loy Arcenas.
Of the five, “In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play” grabbed 10 citations, followed by “Agnes of God” with eight. “Eurydice” and “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” got five nods each.
In dance, Ballet Philippines’ “Swan Lake” received five citations, while Ballet Manila’s “Don Quixote” got four.
(See complete list of citations below.)
Now on its 10th year, Gawad Buhay is the first-ever industry awards exclusively for the performing arts.
It is 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 the 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 first and second quarters are merged into the midyear citations), the jury selects 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 9 Works Theatrical, Actor’s Actors Inc., Ballet Manila, Ballet Philippines, Full House Theater Company (Resorts World Manila), Gantimpala Theater Foundation, Peta, Philippine Ballet Theatre, Philippine Opera Company, Repertory Philippines, Red Turnip Theater, Stages, Tanghalang Pilipino and Trumpets.
COMPLETE LIST OF 2017 MIDYEAR CITATIONS IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES:
[Note: Blank categories have no citations]
Outstanding Original Script
Outstanding Original Libretto
Outstanding Translation or Adaptation
Guelan Luarca, “Eurydice” (TP)
Outstanding Musical Direction
Outstanding Original Musical Composition
Outstanding Choreography for a Dance Production
Outstanding Choreography for a Play or Musical
Outstanding Costume Design
Bonsai Cielo, “In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play” (Rep)
Outstanding Lighting Design
John Batalla, “Agnes of God” (Rep)
Barbie Tan Tiongco, “Eurydice” (TP)
Katsch Katoy, “In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play” (Rep)
Outstanding Sound Design
Jethro Joaquin, “Agnes of God” (Rep)
Outstanding Set Design
Joey Mendoza, “Agnes of God” (Rep)
Loy Arcenas, “Eurydice” (TP)
Mio Infante, “In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play” (Rep)
Female Lead Performance in a Play
Roselyn Perez, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” (Rep)
Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, “Agnes of God” (Rep)
Giannina Ocampo, “In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play” (Rep)
Male Lead Performance in a Play
Michael Williams, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” (Rep)
Bernardo Bernardo, “The Nether” (Red Turnip)
Joshua Spafford, “In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play” (Rep)
Female Featured Performance in a Play
Rebecca Coates, “Agnes of God” (Rep)
Caisa Borromeo, “In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play” (Rep)
Tami Monsod, “In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play” (Rep)
Male Featured Performance in a Play
Audie Gemora, “Eurydice” (TP)
Juliene Mendoza, “Eurydice” (TP)
Female Lead Performance in a Musical
Male Lead Performance in a Musical
Female Featured Performance in a Musical
Male Featured Performance in a Musical
Female Lead Performance in Modern Dance
Male Lead Performance in Modern Dance
Female Featured Performance in Modern Dance
Male Featured Performance in Modern Dance
Female Lead Performance in Classical Dance
Denise Parungao, “Swan Lake” (BP)
Candice Adea, “Swan Lake” (BP)
Katherine Barkman, “Don Quixote” (BM)
Male Lead Performance in Classical Dance
Victor Maguad, “Swan Lake” (BP)
Female Featured Performance in Classical Dance
Abigail Oliveiro, “Don Quixote” (BM)
Male Featured Performance in Classical Dance
Outstanding Modern Dance Production
Outstanding Classical Dance Production
“Don Quixote” (BM)
“Swan Lake” (BP)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play
Bart Guingona, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” (Rep)
Bart Guingona, “Agnes of God” (Rep)
Chris Millado, “In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play” (Rep)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play
“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” (Rep)
“Agnes of God” (Rep)
“In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play” (Rep)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Modern Dance
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Classical Dance
“Don Quixote” (BM)
“Swan Lake” (BP)
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play
“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” (Rep)
“Agnes of God” (Rep)
“In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play” (Rep)
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical
Outstanding Play—Original or Translation/Adaptation
Outstanding Musical—Original or Translation/Adaptation