The 14th Gawad Buhay winners: ‘Walang Aray’ and more

Rody Vera’s ‘Walang Aray’, the modern retelling of the beloved zarzuela of Severino Reyes, wins Outstanding Musical at the 14th Gawad Buhay, among many other accolades. See the full list below:

The Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group (Philstage), an alliance of professional companies in the theatrical arts, culminated its 14th Gawad Buhay at the PETA Theater Center last July 9, recognising 13 shows produced by its member-companies in 2023.

PETA’s Walang Aray, written by Rody Vera, earned the most awards, including Outstanding Musical - Original or Translation/Adaptation. The captivating and entertaining production gave life anew to the zarzuela of Severino Reyes titled Walang Sugat, top-billed by seasoned theatre artists like Gio Gahol, Marynor Madamesila, Shaira Opsimar and Jon Abella. In its initial run, it also served as the theatre debut of television stars Alexa Ilacad and KD Estrada as Julia and Tenyong.

Above PETA’s ‘Walang Aray’ earns most awards at the recent Gawad Buhay (Photo: Adi Bontuyan)

PETA’s ‘Walang Aray’ earns most awards at the recent Gawad Buhay (Photo: Adi Bontuyan)

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Other big winners of Gawad Buhay are Barefoot Theatre Collaborative’s The Last Five Years, Tanghalang Pilipino’s Nekropolis, The Necessary Theatre’s Red, Barefoot Theatre Collaborative’s Laro, Tanghalang Pilipino’s Sandosenang Sapatos, 9Works Theatrical’s Tick, Tick... Boom!, and The Sandbox Collective’s Lungs.

Above A promotional photo of Tanghalang Pilipino’s ‘Nekropolis’ (Photo: Cultural Center of the Philippines)

A promotional photo of Tanghalang Pilipino’s ‘Nekropolis’ (Photo: Cultural Center of the Philippines)

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See the full list of winners here:

Outstanding Original Script - Guelan Luarca for Nekropolis (Tanghalang Pilipino)
Outstanding Book of a Musical - Rody Vera for Walang Aray (PETA)
Outstanding Original Score - Vince Lim and Rody Vera for Walang Aray (PETA)
Outstanding Musical Direction - Rony Fortich for The Last Five Years (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative)
Outstanding Choreography - Gio Gahol for Walang Aray (PETA)
Outstanding Costume Design - Marco Viaña and Paw Castillo for Sandosenang Sapatos (Tanghalang Pilipino)
Outstanding Lighting Design - Gabo Tolentino for Red (The Necessary Theatre)
Outstanding Sound Design - Arvy Dimaculangan for Nekropolis (Tanghalang Pilipino)
Outstanding Set Design - Joey Mendoza for The Last Five Years (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative)

Above Bart Guingona and JC Santos in the promotional poster for The Necessary Theatre’s ‘Red’

Bart Guingona and JC Santos in the promotional poster for The Necessary Theatre’s ‘Red’

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Female Lead Performance in a Play - Justine Peña for Lungs (The Sandbox Collective)
Male Lead Performance in a Play - JC Santos for Red (The Necessary Theatre)
Female Lead Performance in a Musical - Shaira Opsimar for Walang Aray (PETA)
Male Lead Performance in a Musical - Myke Salomon for The Last Five Years (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative)
Female Featured Performance in a Musical - Noemi Gonzales for Walang Aray (PETA)
Male Featured Performance in a Musical - Reb Atadero for Tick, Tick... Boom! (9Works Theatrical)

Above The final scene in Floy Quintos’s ‘Laro’ (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative). Cast members Phi Palmos, Gio Gahol, Jojo Cayabyab, Al Gatmaitan, Mike Liwag, Ross Pesigan, Noel Escondo, Andre Miguel, Shaun Ocrisma, Jeremy Mayores, Lawrence Miranda, Nathan Molina, DM Lee, and Andre Cruz comprise the ensemble, which earned the Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play in this year’s Gawad Buhay (Photo: Erickson Dela Cruz)

The final scene in Floy Quintos’s ‘Laro’ (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative). Cast members Phi Palmos, Gio Gahol, Jojo Cayabyab, Al Gatmaitan, Mike Liwag, Ross Pesigan, Noel Escondo, Andre Miguel, Shaun Ocrisma, Jeremy Mayores, Lawrence Miranda, Nathan Molina, DM Lee, and Andre Cruz comprise the ensemble, which earned the Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play in this year’s Gawad Buhay (Photo: Erickson Dela Cruz)

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Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play - Laro (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical - Walang Aray (PETA)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play - John Mark Yap for Laro (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative)
Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical - Ian Segarra for Walang Aray (PETA)
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play - Red (The Necessary Theatre)
Outstanding Play - Original or Translation/Adaptation - Nekropolis (Tanghalang Pilipino)
Outstanding Production for Existing Material for a Musical - The Last Five Years (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative)
Outstanding Musical - Original or Translation/Adaptation - Walang Aray (PETA)
Outstanding Production for Children - Sandosenang Sapatos (Tanghalang Pilipino)

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Franz Sorilla IV

Art and Culture Editor, Tatler Philippines

About

Before assuming the Art and Culture Editor position, Franz has always had a penchant for visual and performing arts. He is passionate about exploring and writing about the local cultural scene and rediscovering the country’s storied past and rich heritage. Besides working on this luxury lifestyle magazine, Franz is an avid book reader, local traveller, museum-goer, chorister, and community theatre playwright.

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Franz earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas. He writes about local visual and performing artists and their craft; drinks wines, liquors, and spirits and talks about the creativity of their respective winemakers and master blenders; tries to learn more about business and investments; respects the tradition and artistry that go behind the making of watches and jewellery; and appreciates the genius of architecture and creative design.

As head of Tatler Philippines’ pool of writers, he helps them bring impactful and socially relevant stories to light.

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PETA’s ‘Walang Aray’ bags 8 awards at the 14th Gawad Buhay