Tanghalang Pilipino was the company to beat once again at this year’s Gawad Buhay Awards. “Kisapmata” took the night’s top play honor while “Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical” claimed the top musical prize — marking the second year running that the company has walked away with both.
It’s a feat TP also pulled off at last year’s 15th Gawad Buhay Awards, where “Balete” won Outstanding Play and “Pingkian: Isang Musikal” took Outstanding Musical, part of a haul that saw the company collect 17 of the 26 competitive prizes that night. This year’s sweep was more concentrated, powered almost entirely by a single production — “Kisapmata,” which racked up 11 trophies spanning acting, direction, and design, making it the single most-awarded production of the night at ceremonies held Tuesday at the Aliw Theater, hosted by Reb Atadero.
Its leads, Jonathan Tadioan and Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan, won Male and Female Lead Performance in a Play, respectively, while Toni Go-Yadao and Marco Viaña took the featured-performance prizes in the same category. The production also won Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play, Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play, Outstanding Translation or Adaptation, Sound Design, and Set Design.
“Shrek the Musical” from Full House Theater Company was the runner-up in total wins with six, including Outstanding Production for Children, Outstanding Choreography for Stephen Viñas, Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical for Dexter Santos, and a Special Citation for Achievement in Puppetry. Jamie Wilson and Topper Fabregas won Male Lead and Male Featured Performance in a Musical for the production.
“Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical” followed with four awards, among them Outstanding Book of a Musical and Outstanding Original Score for its creative team, plus a Female Featured Performance in a Musical win for Heart Puyong.
“Come From Away” and The Sandbox Collective’s “Side Show” each took home two awards. “Come From Away” won Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical and Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical, while “Side Show” earned Outstanding Costume Design for Carlos Siongco and a Female Lead Performance in a Musical win for Marynor Madamesila.
Other productions that picked up single wins included PETA and Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater’s “Nobody Is Home” (Outstanding Original Script); Barefoot Theatre Collaborative’s “We Aren’t Kids Anymore” (Outstanding Musical Direction); and The Necessary Theatre’s “Via Dolorosa” (Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play).
The Natatanging Gawad Buhay!, the ceremony’s highest honor, went to Dr. Brenda Fajardo.
Eighteen productions from Philstage member companies were eligible for this year’s awards, evaluated by an independent jury.
Final tally of wins by production:
- Kisapmata — 11
- Shrek the Musical — 6
- Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical — 4
- Come From Away — 2
- Side Show — 2
- We Aren’t Kids Anymore — 1
- Nobody Is Home — 1
- Via Dolorosa — 1