Philstage sets 2009 Gawad Buhay! rites at CCP on March 26

The Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group, Inc. (Philstage), in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, will confer the 2009 “Gawad Buhay!: the PHILSTAGE Awards for the Performing Arts,” on Friday, March 26, 2010, 7:30 p.m., at the Tanghalang Aurelio Toletino (CCP Little Theater).

The awards show is free admission and open to the public.

An independently juried peer award, Gawad Buhay! is the first-ever industry awards exclusively for the performing arts. Ninety-five artists and productions vie for 30 individual and group award categories honoring outstanding achievements in play, musical and dance productions of Philstage member-companies for 2009.

“With the excitement building up after the award’s maiden edition last year, we expect bigger support from the artists, our friends in the media and our audiences for this year’s ceremonies,” said Fernando Josef, Philstage president and artistic director of Tanghalang Pilipino.

The two-hour program will feature excerpts of performances from last year’s nominated productions. Invited to perform are Menchu Lauchengco Yulo and Marvin Ong from Repertory Philippines’ “Sweeney Todd;” Joann Co and Victor Robinson III from PETA’s “Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at ang Limang Milyong Boto;” and Candice Adea and Angel Gabriel from Ballet Philippines’ “Masterworks.”

A distinguished achievement award called “Natatanging Gawad Buhay!” will also be conferred to artists and corporate supporters who have contributed significantly to the professionalization of Philippine Performing Arts.

Philstage is the country’s only organization of professional performing arts companies with regular season programming of repertory development and performance pedagogy training. Its Board of Directors include PETA's Melvin Lee, vice president; Ballet Philippines’ Sandy Hontiveros, secretary; Repertory Philippines' Gidget Tolentino, treasurer; Actors Actors’ Leonardo Lim, Ballet Manila's Susan Macuja, Gantimpala Theater Foundation’s Tony Espejo, Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit’s Mitch Valdes, TRUMPETS' Audie Gemora and PHILSTAGE Executive Director Elmar Beltran Ingles as members.

The Gawad Buhay! 2009 jury is composed of Exie Abola, Walter Ang, Gilbert Cadiz, Ronald Elepaño III, Arvin Ello, Ralph Semino Galan. Rolando Inocencio, Glenn Sevilla Mas, Joy Parohinog, Joey Ting, and Basilio Esteban Villaruz.


PLUS: All about the Gawad Buhay! awards here.



THE COMPLETE LIST OF NOMINEES:

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, Repertory Philippines
Madonna Brava ng Mindanao, Tanghalang Pilipino
Mga Mansanas sa Disyerto/Apples From the Desert, Tanghalang Pilipino
Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?, PETA

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PRODUCTION
Ismail at Isabel, PETA
Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at ang Limang Milyong Boto, PETA
ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal, Tanghalang Pilipino

OUTSTANDING DANCE PRODUCTION
Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw, Ballet Manila
Masterworks, Ballet Philippines
Neo-Filipino, Ballet Philippines

OUTSTANDING STAGE DIRECTION
Jose Mari Avellana, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino
Teresa Jamias, Mga Mansanas sa Disyerto/Apples From the Desert
Maribel Legarda, Ismail at Isabel
Phil Noble, Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at Ang Limang Milyong Boto
Nonon Padilla, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SCRIPT
Vincent De Jesus, Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at ang Limang Milyong Boto
Tony Perez, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?
Rody Vera, Ismail at Isabel

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Madonna Brava ng Mindanao, Tanghalang Pilipino
Mga Mansanas sa Disyerto, Tanghalang Pilipino
Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?, PETA

OUTSTANDING FEMALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Liesl Batucan, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino
Ana Abad Santos, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino
Ana Abad Santos, A Streetcar Named Desire
Shamaine Centenera Buencamino, Madonna Brava ng Mindanao
Sherry Lara, Mga Mansanas sa Disyerto/Apples From the Desert

OUTSTANDING MALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Lex Marcos, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?
Juliene Mendoza, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?
Jack Yabut, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?

OUTSTANDING FEMALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Mailes Kanapi, A Streetcar Named Desire
Peewee O’Hara, Mga Mansanas sa Disyerto/Apples from the Desert

OUTSTANDING MALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Chrome Cosio, Madonna Brava ng Mindanao
Dido Dela Paz, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino
Jonathan Tadioan, Flores Para Los Muertos

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Ismail at Isabel, PETA
Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at Ang Limang Milyong Boto, PETA
ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal, Tanghalang Pilipino

OUTSTANDING FEMALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Caissa Borromeo, I Love You Because
Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Sweeney Todd
Eula Valdes, Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal

OUTSTANDING MALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Nar Cabico, ZsaZsa Zaturnah Ze Muzikal
Joey Paras, ZsaZsa Zaturnah Ze Muzikal
Audie Gemora, Sweeney Todd

OUTSTANDING FEMALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Liesl Batucan, Sweeney Todd
Kyla Rivera, I Love You Because

OUTSTANDING MALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Miguel Faustman, The Fantasticks
Franco Laurel, Sweeney Todd
Marvin Ong, Sweeney Todd

OUTSTANDING LIBRETTO
Vincent De Jesus, Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at ang Limang Milyong Boto

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY FOR PLAY OR MUSICAL
Carlon Matobato, Ismail at Isabel
Dudz Terana, Phil Noble and Carlon Matobato, Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at ang Limang Milyong Boto

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY FOR DANCE PRODUCTION
Augustus Damian III’s Evacuation (in Ballet Philippines' Masterworks)
Alice Reyes’ Amada (in Ballet Philippines' Neo-Filipino)
Edna Vida’s Ensalada (in Ballet Philippines' Masterworks)

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE IN A DANCE PRODUCTION
Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw, Ballet Manila
Masterworks, Ballet Philippines
Neo-Filipino, Ballet Philippines

OUTSTANDING FEMALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN DANCE
Candice Adea, Neo-Filipino
Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Don Quixote
Yanti Marduli, Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw

OUTSTANDING MALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN DANCE
Francis Cascano, Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw
Biag Gaongen, Neo-Filipino
Ronelson Yadao, Neo-Filipino

OUTSTANDING FEMALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN DANCE
Marian Faustino, Neo-Filipino

OUTSTANDING MALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN DANCE
Lucky Vicentino, Neo-Filipino

OUTSTANDING ADAPTATION OR TRANSLATION
Alice Reyes, Amada (in Neo-Filipino)
Daisy Avellana, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino
Liza Magtoto, Mga Mansanas sa Disyerto
Don Pagusara, Madonna Brava ng Mindanao

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTION
Jed Balsamo, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?
Vincent De Jesus, Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at Ang Limang Milyong Boto
Vincent De Jesus, ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal
Gerard Salonga, Sweeney Todd

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL COMPOSITION
Vincent De Jesus, Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at Ang Limang Milyong Boto
Vincent De Jesus, ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal
Kalayo, Neo-Filipino
Mebuyan, Madonna Brava ng Mindanao

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN
Salvador Bernal, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?
Gino Gonzales, Neo-Filipino
Jonathan Janolo, Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw
Boni Juan, Ismail at Isabel
Boni Juan, Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at Ang Limang Milyong Boto
Tuxqs Rutaquio, A Streetcar Named Desire/Flores Para Los Muertos

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
Michael Angelo Albay, Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw
Gino Gonzales, Neo-Filipino
Gino Gonzales, Sweeney Todd
Boni Juan, Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at Ang Limang Milyong Boto

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN
Katsch Catoy, Neo-Filipino
Martin Esteva, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino
Ian Torqueza, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?
Jimmy Villanueva, Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw
Jonjon Villareal, Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at Ang Limang Milyong Boto

OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN
Lamberto Avellana Jr., A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino
Aries Alcayaga, Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?
Gie Bernardo, Ismail at Isabel