PETA’s 3 Stars and a Sun leads Gawad Buhay noms

9 Works Theatrical gets most nominations overall for its 3 productions in 2016

3 STARS AND A SUN, an original Filipino musical by the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), featuring the music of the late rap artist Francis Magalona, leads this year’s nominations for Gawad Buhay, the Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts.

The musical, which follows a story of youthful hope and rebellion in a dystopian Philippine setting, received 13 nods, including Outstanding MusicalOriginal or Translation/Adaptation and Outstanding Ensemble for a Musical, among others.

PETA also got six nominations for its adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest Reimagined.

PETA is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

For what was a busy and creative year for Philippine theater, PETA’s artistic director Maribel Legarda said all theater companies deserve an award for the hard work and commitment they put into the theater season.

“We are very thankful that our two productions, 3 Stars and A Sun and The Tempest Reimagined have been recognized by our peers in the industry,” Ms. Legarda said through a text message sent to BusinessWorld.

She added that PETA is honored that the Natatanging Gawad Buhay! Recipient this year is one of its esteemed members, Soxie Topacio.

“[He] has been instrumental in the 50-year journey of PETA. These individual and group nominations have made our golden year more meaningful,” she said.

Following PETA in the most number of nominations is Ballet Philippines’ productions Firebird and Other Ballets with 12 nominations, and Awitin Mo Isasayaw Ko with 11 nominations.

Red Turnip Theater garnered 10 nominations for Nina Raine’s play Tribes, and five for Constellations.

“Red Turnip Theater is happy and honored, and we would like to extend our gratitude to the jurors of Gawad Buhay for recognizing our efforts,” said Red Turnip Theater co-founder Rem Zamora in an e-mail to BusinessWorld.

He added: “More than the awards, the Gawads are a way of bringing the community together. We are looking forward to celebrating this triumph with all the other Philstage members.”

9 Works Theatrical received the most nominations overall — 18 — for its musical productions American Idiot, Tick, Tick... Boom!, and A Christmas Carol.

“[ We are] thankful for getting nominations in various categories. They’re icing on the cake for all the hard work put in by our cast, artistic and production teams in all of our shows,” said 9 Works in a statement. The nominations, chosen by an independent jury, were announced via a Facebook Live session on April 19, hosted by Philstage President Audie Gemora and Vice- President Maribel Legarda. The awarding ceremonies will be held on May 10, 7 p.m., at Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Now on its ninth year, Gawad Buhay is the first industry awards exclusively for the performing arts. Its jury is composed of critics, scholars, artists and theater enthusiasts. Outstanding individual and group achievements in various artistic and technical aspects of plays, musicals, dance productions, and performances are honored based on quarterly citations deliberated by the members of the jury, who are required to watch all productions of Philstage member-companies for the entire year.