JC Santos, Resorts World Manila’s ‘Annie,’ Red Turnip’s ‘Tribes’ Triumph in 9th Gawad Buhay

Wazzup Pilipinas!

JC Santos, the young Dulaang UP-trained theater actor who became a TV sensation last year when he was cast as the third wheel to the James Reid-Nadine Lustre tandem in the ABS-CBN teleserye “Till I Met You,” won the Outstanding Male Lead Performance in a Play for Red Turnip’s “Constellations” at the 9th Gawad Buhay, held at the CCP Little Theater this evening.

His co-star in “Constellations,” Cris Villonco, won the Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Play honors, while the play itself, directed by Rem Zamora, was adjudged Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play.

The Gawad Buhay, the Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts, on its ninth year celebrated not only the best performance and technical achievements of its member-companies’ productions in 2016; it also conferred the Natatanging Gawad Buhay for Lifetime Achievement to stalwart actor-directors Soxie Topacio and Joy Virata.

Topacio and Virata are pioneering members and pillars of their respective theater companies, the Philippine Educational Theater Association and Repertory Philippines, both of which are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. The twin milestone achievement for Philippine theater was a focal point of celebration at the evening’s ceremonies, which also featured a segment jointly honoring Peta founder Cecile Guidote-Alvarez and Rep co-founder Baby Barredo.

The ceremonies were hosted by Jon Santos.

Krystal Brimner, the child actress who appeared as John Lloyd Cruz’ daughter in the Erik Matti thriller “Honor Thy Father,” was adjudged Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Musical for her turn in “Annie.” The classic Broadway musical, mounted by the Full House Theater Company of Resorts World Manila, won four other awards: Outstanding Female Featured Performance for Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical for director Michael Williams, and Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical and Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical.

Jef Flores scored an unprecedented back-to-back Gawad Buhay win by copping the Outstanding Male Lead Performance in a Musical for his turn as the young pre-“Rent” Jonathan Larson in 9 Works Theatrical’s “Tick, Tick... Boom!” Only last year, he was the Outstanding Male Lead recipient in the play counterpart for Red Turnip’s “This Is Our Youth.”

In dance, Rita Winder of Ballet Philippines also notched a rare double nomination—Outstanding Female Lead Performance in Modern Dance for “Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko,” a dance-musical that featured the music of the 70’s band VST & Co; and Female Lead Performance in Classical Dance, for “Firebird and Other Ballets.”

The trophy for Outstanding Female Featured Performance for Modern Dance went to dance legend Edna Vida, for “Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko,” eliciting some of the evening’s loudest cheers.

The most honored production of the night was also in dance—Ballet Philippines’ “Firebird and Other Ballets,” which went home with seven trophies.

Tying with “Annie’s” five wins was Red Turnip’s “Tribes,” which garnered nods for, among others, Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play for Topper Fabregas, and for the featured performances of Angela Padilla and Teroy Guzman. Peta’s “3 Stars and a Sun,” meanwhile, a musical that employed the music of the late rap artist Francis Magalona, earned four wins, including Outstanding Original Musical and for its libretto by Mixkaela Villalon and Rody Vera.

COMPLETE LIST OF 2016 PHILSTAGE GAWAD BUHAY! WINNERS IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES:

Outstanding Original Libretto

Mixkaela Villalon and Rody Vera, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)

Outstanding Translation or Adaptation

Rolando Tinio, “Pangarap sa Isang Gabi ng Gitnang Tag-araw” (Tanghalang Pilipino)

Outstanding Musical Direction

Myke Salomon, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)

Outstanding Original Musical Composition

Malek Lopez, “Opera” (Ballet Philippines)

Outstanding Choreography for a Dance Production

Carlo Pacis, “Weighted Whispers”/from “Firebird and Other Ballets” (Ballet Philippines)

Outstanding Choreography for a Play or Musical

PJ Rebullida, “American Idiot” (9 Works Theatrical)

Outstanding Costume Design

Gino Gonzales, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)

Outstanding Lighting Design

John Batalla, “Almost, Maine” (Repertory Philippines)

Outstanding Sound Design

Teresa Barrozo, “Tribes” (Red Turnip Theater)

Outstanding Set Design

Mio Infante, “American Idiot” (9 Works Theatrical)

Female Lead Performance in a Play

Cris Villonco, “Constellations” (Red Turnip Theater)

Male Lead Performance in a Play

JC Santos, “Constellations” (Red Turnip Theater)

Female Featured Performance in a Play

Angela Padilla, “Tribes” (Red Turnip Theater)

Male Featured Performance in a Play

Teroy Guzman, “Tribes” (Red Turnip Theater)

Female Lead Performance in a Musical

Krystal Brimner, “Annie” (Full House Theater Company)

Male Lead Performance in a Musical

Jef Flores, “Tick, Tick… Boom” (9 Works Theatrical)

Female Featured Performance in a Musical

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, “Annie” (Full House Theater Company)

Male Featured Performance in a Musical

Ariel Reonal, “Tick, Tick…Boom” (9 Works Theatrical)

Female Lead Performance in Modern Dance

Rita Winder, “Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko” (Ballet Philippines)

Male Lead Performance in Modern Dance

JM Cordero, “Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko” (Ballet Philippines)

Female Featured Performance in Modern Dance

Edna Vida, “Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko” (Ballet Philippines)

Male Featured Performance in Modern Dance

Erl Sorilla, “Simoun” (Ballet Philippines)

Female Lead Performance in Classical Dance

Rita Winder, “Firebird”/from “Firebird and Other Ballets” (Ballet Philippines)

Male Lead Performance in Classical Dance

Rudy de Dios, “Cinderella” (Ballet Manila)

Female Featured Performance in Classical Dance

Denise Parungao, “Firebird”/from “Firebird and Other Ballets” (Ballet Philippines)

Male Featured Performance in Classical Dance

Cyril Fallar, “Firebird”/from “Firebird and Other Ballets” (Ballet Philippines)

Outstanding Modern Dance Production

“Weighted Whispers”/from “Firebird and Other Ballets” (Ballet Philippines)

Outstanding Classical Dance Production

“Firebird”/from “Firebird and Other Ballets” (Ballet Philippines)

Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play

Topper Fabregas, “Tribes” (Red Turnip Theater)

Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical

Michael Williams, “Annie” (Full House Theater Company)

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play

“Tribes” (Red Turnip Theater)

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical

“Annie” (Full House Theater Company)

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Modern Dance

“Weighted Whispers”/from “Firebird and Other Ballets” (Ballet Philippines)

Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play

“Constellations” (Red Turnip Theater)

Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical

“Annie” (Full House Theater Company)

Outstanding Musical—Original or Translation/Adaptation

“3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)

Natatanging Gawad Buhay

Joy Virata (Repertory Philippines)

Soxie Topacio (Peta)

Photo by Jaypee Maristaza

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