Only three productions in the play/musical category—Tanghalang Pilipino’s (TP) “The Wong Kids in the Secret of the Space Chupacabra Go!” and “Pangarap sa Isang Gabi ng Gitnang Tag-araw” and Red Turnip Theater’s (RTT) “Tribes”—and another three in the dance category—Philippine Ballet Theater’s (PBT) “The Great Classics” and “Filipino Masterpieces,” and Ballet Philippines’ (BP) “Firebird and Other Ballets”—were up for citation in the 2016 third-quarter coverage of Gawad Buhay, the Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts.
In just three years, Red Turnip Theater has changed the landscape of the commercial theatre scene, proving that the straight play has always been suited to Filipino audiences’ tastes, provided that the content and form are of top-notch quality.