The Philippine Educational Theater Association’s “3 Stars and a Sun,” a musical with a dystopian Philippine setting that employed the groundbreaking rap music of the late Francis Magalona, earned 13 nods to lead the 2016 midyear citations of Gawad Buhay, the Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts.
The citations for “3 Stars” include Original Libretto (Mixkaela Villalon and Rody Vera), Outstanding Musical Direction (Myke Salomon), Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical (Nor Domingo) and Outstanding Musical—Original or Translation/Adaptation.
Close behind “3 Stars” are two productions with 10 citations each—9 Works Theatrical’s open-air staging of the Green Day punk-rock musical “American Idiot”, directed by Robbie Guevara; and Repertory Philippines’ “Almost, Maine,” John Cariani’s nine-vignette play directed by Bart Guingona, with all four of its actors earning citations.
Red Turnip Theater’s “Constellations,” Nick Payne’s romantic two-hander directed by Rem Zamora, received 7 citations.
(See complete list of citations below.)
Now on its ninth 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 2016 MIDYEAR CITATIONS IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES:
Outstanding Original Script
No citation
Outstanding Original Libretto
Mixkaela Villalon and Rody Vera, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)
Outstanding Translation or Adaptation
No citation
Outstanding Musical Direction
Myke Salomon, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)
Daniel Bartolome and Onyl Torres, “American Idiot” (9 Works Theatrical)
Gerard Salonga, “Rebel” (Ballet Manila)
Outstanding Original Musical Composition
Malek Lopez, “Opera” (Ballet Philippines)
Outstanding Choreography for a Dance Production
Redha, “Opera” (Ballet Philippines)
Outstanding Choreography for a Play or Musical
PJ Rebullida, “American Idiot” (9 Works Theatrical)
Rose Borromeo, “Stepping Out” (Repertory Philippines)
Outstanding Costume Design
Bonsai Cielo, “The Game’s Afoot” (Repertory Philippines)
Gino Gonzales, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)
Mickey Hirai, “American Idiot” (9 Works Theatrical)
Outstanding Lighting Design
John Batalla, “Constellations” (Red Turnip Theater)
John Batalla, “Almost, Maine” (Repertory Philippines)
Ian Torqueza, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)
John Batalla, “Opera” (Ballet Philippines)
Jay Aranda, “Rebel” (Ballet Manila)
Outstanding Sound Design
Teresa Barrozo, “Constellations” (Red Turnip Theater)
Jethro Joaquin, “Almost, Maine” (Repertory Philippines)
Teresa Barrozo, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)
Outstanding Set Design
Miguel Faustmann, “The Game’s Afoot” (Repertory Philippines)
Ed Lacson Jr., “Constellations” (Red Turnip Theater)
Coco Anne and Baby Imperial, “Almost, Maine” (Repertory Philippines)
Gino Gonzales, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)
Mio Infante, “American Idiot” (9 Works Theatrical)
Mio Infante, “Rebel” (Ballet Manila)
Gabriel Barredo, “Opera” (Ballet Philippines)
Female Lead Performance in a Play
Cris Villonco, “Constellations” (Red Turnip Theater)
Natalie Everett, “Almost, Maine” (Repertory Philippines)
Caisa Borromeo, “Almost, Maine” (Repertory Philippines)
Male Lead Performance in a Play
JC Santos, “Constellations” (Red Turnip Theater)
Reb Atadero, “Almost, Maine” (Repertory Philippines)
Jamie Wilson, “Almost, Maine” (Repertory Philippines)
Female Featured Performance in a Play
Pinky Amador, “The Game’s Afoot” (Repertory Philippines)
Male Featured Performance in a Play
No citation
Female Lead Performance in a Musical
Angela Padilla, “Stepping Out” (Repertory Philippines)
Male Lead Performance in a Musical
Nicco Manalo, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)
Nel Gomez, “American Idiot” (9 Works Theatrical)
Female Featured Performance in a Musical
Carla Guevara-Laforteza, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)
Bituin Escalante, “Stepping Out” (Repertory Philippines)
Joy Virata, “Stepping Out” (Repertory Philippines)
Yanah Laurel, “American Idiot” (9 Works Theatrical)
Ela Lisondra, “American Idiot” (9 Works Theatrical)
Male Featured Performance in a Musical
Nar Cabico, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)
Bodjie Pascua, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)
Female Lead Performance in Modern Dance
No citation
Male Lead Performance in Modern Dance
No citation
Female Featured Performance in Modern Dance
Denise Parungao, “Opera” (Ballet Philippines)
Male Featured Performance in Modern Dance
No citation
Female Lead Performance in Classical Dance
No citation
Male Lead Performance in Classical Dance
No citation
Female Featured Performance in Classical Dance
No citation
Male Featured Performance in Classical Dance
No citation
Outstanding Modern Dance Production
No citation
Outstanding Classical Dance Production
No citation
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play
Rem Zamora, “Constellations” (Red Turnip Theater)
Bart Guingona, “Almost, Maine” (Repertory Philippines)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical
Nor Domingo, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)
Robbie Guevara, “American Idiot” (9 Works Theatrical)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play
“Almost, Maine” (Repertory Philippines)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical
“3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)
“American Idiot” (9 Works Theatrical)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Modern Dance
No citation
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Classical Dance
No citation
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play
“Constellations” (Red Turnip Theater)
“Almost, Maine” (Repertory Philippines)
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical
“American Idiot” (9 Works Theatrical)
Outstanding Play-Original or Translation/Adaptation
No citation
Outstanding Musical-Original or Translation/Adaptation
“3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)
