Equus Nabbed Awards From Gawad Buhay

Marco Manalac (left) delivering his thank you speeach while Gawad Buhay Best Director for Equus, Audie Gemora, watches him

It all started with a simple audition call, then the final casting being announced, then followed afterward by the dress rehearsal, until the actual production…this blog was and is still a big fan of Repertory Philippines’ Equus since day one. The play was a huge success, commercially & critically-wise and it is no wonder why it reaped several major awards in the recently concluded, Gawad Buhay. Below is the press release and list of all the winners. So a big congrats to Marco Manalac, director Audie Gemora and the whole staff of Equus for this accomplishment.

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Director Audie Gemora was surprised when he was announced the Best Director in the Philstage’s 2011 Gawad Buhay for his masterful work in the psychological drama Equus.

“I really didn’t expect to win,” admits Audie. “In fact, I was talking to someone backstage when the announcement was made, so it took me some time to receive the award.”

Audie’s staging of Peter Shaffer’s Equus also bagged the Best Play recognition. The production, which may be the boldest play revival in recent years, also spawned the awards for best costume (Dennis Lagdameo), lighting (John Batalla), and sound (Jethro Joaquin) designs.

Audie has established himself as the King of Philippine Musical Theater, but he took a risk when he agreed to direct the said production, which is a straight play.

Only the best actors from the world of theater were gathered for Equus– actors like Miguel Faustmann (nominee, Best Actor), Pheona Barranda (nominee, Best Featured Actress), Red Concepcion, Roselyn Perez, Tami Monsod, Jaime Del Mundo and Dido dela Paz. Equus also launched the acting career of Marco Manalac who played the disturbed young man Alan Strang.

It was also a big night for Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo’s Little Women (five awards, including Best Musical and Best Actress for Caisa Borromeo) and Loy Arcenas’ Tatlong Maria (including Best Play, tied with Equus). 

Four pillars of the industry were given the Natatanging Gawad Buhay­: Tony Espejo, Lisa Macuja- Elizalde, Tony Mabesa and Ryan Cayabyab.

Audie will soon start directorial work on the revival of Tanghalang Pilipino’s Noli Me Tangere, which he headlined years ago as Crisostomo Ibarra. He also takes on the role of producer, on behalf of STAGES, for Peter Pan, a musical mounted together with Repertory Philippines. Sam Concepcion topbills Peter Pan with Michael Williams as Hook and Tippy Dos Santos as Wendy.

Philstage is the only alliance of professional performing arts organizations in the Philippines, while Gawad Buhay is the first-ever industry awards exclusively for the performing arts juried by an independent panel of critics, scholars, artists and theater enthusiasts.

Below is the complete list of winners for this years Gawad Buhay Philstage awards:

OUTSTANDING PLAY (tie)
Equus, Repertory Philippines

Tatlong Mariya, Tanghalang Pilipino

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PRODUCTION

Little Women, Repertory Philippines

OUTSTANDING DANCE PRODUCTION
Crisostomo Ibarra, Ballet Philippines

OUTSTANDING STAGE DIRECTION
Audie Gemora, Equus

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE (Play)

American Hwangap

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE (Musical)

Little Women

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE (Dance)
Peter Pan

FEMALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Mailes Kanapi, Tatlong Mariya

MALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY

Mario O’Hara, American Hwangap (Filipino version)

FEMALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Che Ramos, Tatlong Mariya

MALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Mario O’ Hara, Tatlong Mariya

FEMALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL

Caissa Borromeo, Little Women

MALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL

Robert Sena, Si Juan Tamad, Ang Dyablo at ang Limag Milyong Boto

FEMALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL

Cara Barredo, Little Women

FEMALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A CLASSICAL DANCE PRODUCTION

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, The Nutcracker

FEMALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A CLASSICAL DANCE PRODUCTION

Mylene Aggabao, The Nutcracker

FEMALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MODERN DANCE PRODUCTION
Candice Adea, September Gala

MALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MODERN DANCE PRODUCTION

JM Cordero, Crisostomo Ibarra

FEMALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MODERN DANCE PRODUCTION

Carissa Adea, Crisostomo Ibarra

FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MODERN DANCE PRODUCTION (Male)

Angel Gabriel, Crisostomo Ibarra

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL LIBRETTO

Bienvenido Lumbera, Banaag at Sikat

OUTSTANDING ADAPTATION OR TRANSLATION
Rody Vera, Tatlong Mariya

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTION
Gerard Salonga, Little Women

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY FOR A PLAY OR MUSICAL

Edna Vida, Banaag at Sikat

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY FOR A DANCE PRODUCTION (tie)
Carlo Pacis, Shifting Wait

Edna Vida, Peter Pan

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
Dennis Lagdameo, Equus

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN

John Neil Batalla, Equus

OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN

Jethro Joaquin, Equus

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN

Loy Arcenas, Tatlong Mariya

Poll Results & Call For Votes

I’ve included tons of Polls in my blog. Some of them were reciprocated in return with enthusiastic response while others were treated with less importance. Nevertheless, it’s my duty to give you the results of those Polls. So I’ve closed the old ones and maintain the remaining eight newer Polls for those of you who hasn’t voice out your votes yet.

I won’t wrap up all those old Polls so I just decided to feature the Top 3 Polls who garnered the most votes slash attention. Let’s begin with . . .

KAKA & CRISTIANO RONALDO

When asked, “Overall, who is your best bet?”, the decision was unanimous: Cristiano Ronaldo defeated Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite a.k.a. Kaka by scoring 61.47% or 71 votes over Kaka who got only 38.36% or 44 votes. To read the full story of this entry, click here.

MARCO MANALAC

He became an instant star after baring to the world his inner talent in Repertory Philippines’ “EQUUS”. In my “Not Most People Series” interview with him, I enclosed a Poll by asking everyone if Marco has that “it” factor to portray the character Alan Strang in Equus in which you guys heavily responded with a total votes of 82 which was divided into: 44 votes who screamed “Absolutely Yes!” and 20 votes for a moderate “Yes!” while only a few kill-joy disagreed. Check out that interview here.

MARCO MANALAC vs. RED CONCEPCION AS ALAN STRANG

Making it to the Top 3 was my poll once again about Marco Manalac and Equus but this time with a twist of Red Concepcion who alternated Marco as Alan Strang. And when asked who they want to peep watch for the said role, Marco got the unanimous and roaring number of votes with 65 total or 83.33% compared to Red who only got 5 votes. Click here for your further reading of the said entry.

For now, I’m giving you 8 recent Polls for your kind consideration. Cast your votes by clicking the links underneath each photo to direct you straight to my blog entries. Waste no time as close date for these Polls will be on November 28. Once again, I will only feature the Top 3 Polls with the most number of votes slash attention (“,) So makibaka! Now na!

Judge Bruno here

 

Salivate here

Reminisce here

Ra-ra-ra-ra-ra! here

Get under her spell here

Text your votes here

Leave “nothing” but votes here

Have fun time after time by voting here

Meet & Greet Photos of Marco Manalac

Marco Manalac surrounded by his fellow "Equus ferus caballus" mates

The BAD NEWS is that the FINAL SCREENING NIGHT of “Equus” held last 25th July has finally come to an end. The last performance date where Marco Manalac appeared became a charity fund raising and after the show, there was a meet & greet with the cast, hence, the photos above. The GOOD NEWS is that it MAY HAVE a RERUN.