Only six productions from four member companies were up for consideration for the 2018 Philstage Gawad Buhay midyear citations.

Three of those were nonmusical plays by Repertory Philippines: “A Comedy of Tenors,” directed by Miguel Faustmann; “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Jamie Wilson’s directorial debut; and “Silent Sky,” directed by Joy Virata.

The Philippine Educational Theater Association (Peta) presented a Filipino-language adaptation of Marsha Norman’s “‘night, Mother,” while Tanghalang Pilipino had “Nang Dalawin ng Pag-ibig si Juan Tamad,” a play-with-music adaptation of Nick Joaquin’s children’s story.

The only musical was 9 Works Theatrical and The Sandbox Collective’s (9WT/SC) “Himala, Isang Musikal,” which racked up the most citations with 12. “Silent Sky” followed with 10 citations; “‘night, Mother” grabbed seven.

Note: Beginning this year, the Gawad Buhay will focus exclusively on theater productions; categories for dance and ballet productions will no longer be included in the roster of awards.

(See complete list of citations below.)

Now on its 11th 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 and musical 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 quarterly citations (the first and second quarters are here 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./The Necessary Theatre, Ballet Manila, Ballet Philippines, Culturtain Musicat Productions Inc., 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, Trumpets and Twin Bill Theater.

COMPLETE LIST OF 2018 MIDYEAR CITATIONS IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES:

Outstanding Translation or Adaptation
Ian Lomongo, “‘night, Mother” (Peta)

Outstanding Musical Direction
Vincent de Jesus, “Himala, Isang Musikal” (9WT/SC)

Outstanding Costume Design
Joey Mendoza, “Silent Sky” (Rep)
Carlo Pagunaling, “Himala, Isang Musikal” (9WT/SC)

Outstanding Lighting Design
John Batalla, “Silent Sky” (Rep)
Barbie Tan-Tiongco, “Himala, Isang Musikal” (9WT/SC)
Jonjon Villareal, “‘night, Mother” (Peta)

Outstanding Sound Design
Jethro Joaquin, “Silent Sky” (Rep)
TJ Ramos, “‘night, Mother” (Peta)

Outstanding Set Design
Ed Lacson Jr., “Himala, Isang Musikal” (9WT/SC)
Joey Mendoza, “Silent Sky” (Rep)
Ben Padero, “‘night, Mother” (Peta)
Marco Viaña, “Nang Dalawin ng Pag-ibig si Juan Tamad” (TP)

Female Lead Performance in a Play
Cathy Azanza-Dy, “Silent Sky” (Rep)
Sherry Lara, “‘night, Mother” (Peta)
Joy Virata, “Arsenic and Old Lace” (Rep)

Male Lead Performance in a Play
Lorenz Martinez, “A Comedy of Tenors” (Rep)

Female Featured Performance in a Play
Caisa Borromeo, “Silent Sky” (Rep)
Sheila Francisco, “Silent Sky” (Rep)
Issa Litton, “A Comedy of Tenors” (Rep)

Female Lead Performance in a Musical
Aicelle Santos, “Himala, Isang Musikal” (9WT/SC)

Female Featured Performance in a Musical
Bituin Escalante, “Himala, Isang Musikal” (9WT/SC)
Neomi Gonzales, “Himala, Isang Musikal” (9WT/SC)
Kakki Teodoro, “Himala, Isang Musikal” (9WT/SC)

Male Featured Performance in a Musical
Sandino Martin, “Himala, Isang Musikal” (9WT/SC)

Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play
Melvin Lee, “‘night, Mother” (Peta)
Joy Virata, “Silent Sky” (Rep)

Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical
Ed Lacson Jr., “Himala, Isang Musikal” (9WT/SC)

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play
“Silent Sky” (Rep)

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical
“Himala, Isang Musikal” (9WT/SC)

Outstanding Play—Original or Translation/Adaptation
“‘night, Mother” (Peta)

Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play
“Silent Sky” (Rep)

Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical
“Himala, Isang Musikal” (9WT/SC)