Philstage Announces Official Nominations for the 14th Gawad Buhay Awards for the Year of ‘Revenge Theater’

Gawad Buhay (1)

MANILA, Philippines—With a string of shows and faithfuls and first-time theater-goers characterizing its success, the 2023 Philippine theater season is one that industry call as the year of “revenge theater,” as it broke records in both audience turnout and number of shows produced. Philstage celebrates this triumphant return to form after the pandemic by announcing the nominees for the 14th annual Gawad Buhay Awards.

Gawad Buhay, the nation’s premier recognizing body for the performing arts, is the main program of Philstage, the proud alliance of Manila-based professional companies in the theatrical arts.

Only shows produced by Philstage’s member companies during the 2023 season are eligible for nomination. The nominees are chosen by an independent jury.

This year’s nominees are:

Outstanding Original Script:
Guelan Luarca (‘Nekropolis’)
Mikaela Regis (‘Unica Hijas’)

Outstanding Book of a Musical:
Rody Vera (‘Walang Aray’)

Outstanding Original Score:
Vince Lim & Rody Vera (‘Walang Aray’)

Outstanding Musical Direction:
Rony Fortich (‘The Last Five Years’)
Vince Lim (‘Walang Aray’)

Outstanding Choreography:
Gio Gahol (‘Walang Aray’)
Stephen Viñas (‘Sandosenang Sapatos’)

Outstanding Costume Design:
Jaylo Conanan (‘Walang Aray’)
Marco Viaña & Paw Castillo (‘Sandosenang Sapatos’)

Outstanding Lighting Design:
D Cortezano (‘Nekropolis’)
Gabo Tolentino (‘Red’)
Meliton Roxas Jr. (‘The Last Five Years’)

Outstanding Sound Design:
Jose Buencamino (‘Red’)
Happy Constantino (‘Walang Aray’)
Arvy Dimaculangan (‘Nekropolis’)

Outstanding Set Design:
Mark Daniel Dalacat (‘Red’)
Julio Garcia (‘Walang Aray’)
Joey Mendoza (‘The Last Five Years’)
Tata Tuviera (‘Nekropolis’)
Tata Tuviera (‘Unica Hijas’)

Female Lead Performance in a Play:
Joy delos Santos (‘Unica Hijas’)
Ash Nicanor (‘Unica Hijas’)
Justine Peña (‘Lungs’)

Male Lead Performance in a Play:
Reb Atadero (‘Lungs’)
JC Santos (‘Red’)

Female Featured Performance in a Play:
Mitzi Comia (‘Nekropolis’)

Male Featured Performance in a Play:
Jojo Cayabyab (‘Laro’)
Gio Gahol (‘Laro’)
Phi Palmos (‘Laro’)
Ross Pesigan (‘Laro’)

Female Lead Performance in a Musical:
Alexa Ilacad (‘Walang Aray’)
Marynor Madamesila (‘Walang Aray’)
Felicity Kyle Napuli (‘Sandosenang Sapatos’)
Shaira Opsimar (‘Walang Aray’)
Gab Pangilinan (‘The Last Five Years’)
Wincess Jem Yana (‘Sandosenang Sapatos’)

Male Lead Performance in a Musical:
Jon Abella (‘Walang Aray’)
Gio Gahol (‘Walang Aray’)
Khalil Ramos (‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’)
Myke Salomon (‘The Last Five Years’)

Female Featured Performance in a Musical:
Kiki Baento (‘Walang Aray’)
Neomi Gonzales (‘Walang Aray’)
Kayla Rivera (‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’)

Male Featured Performance in a Musical:
Reb Atadero (‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’)
Bene Manaois (‘Walang Aray’)
Johnnie Moran (‘Walang Aray’)
Floyd Tena (‘Sandosenang Sapatos’)

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play:
‘Laro’ (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative)
‘Nekropolis’ (Tanghalang Pilipino)

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical:
‘Sandosenang Sapatos’ (Tanghalang Pilipino)
‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’ (9 Works Theatrical)
‘Walang Aray’ (PETA)

Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play:
Pat Valera (‘Unica Hijas’)
John Mark Yap (‘Laro’)
Charles Yee (‘Nekropolis’)

Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical:
Topper Fabregas (‘The Last Five Years’)
Ian Segarra (‘Walang Aray’)
Jonathan Tadioan (‘Sandosenang Sapatos’)

Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play:
‘Laro’ (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative)
‘Red’ (The Necessary Theatre)

Outstanding Play – Original or Translation/Adaptation:
‘Nekropolis’ (Tanghalang Pilipino)

Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical:
‘The Last Five Years’ (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative)
‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’ (9 Works Theatrical)

Outstanding Musical – Original or Translation/Adaptation:
‘Walang Aray’ (PETA)

Outstanding Production for Children:
‘Sandosenang Sapatos’ (Tanghalang Pilipino)

No nominations are handed out for outstanding translation or adaptation, and outstanding video and projection design.

The 14th Gawad Buhay awarding ceremony will be held on July 9, 2024 at the PETA Theater Center. Philstage’s 14th Gawad Buhay Awards was made possible in part by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).