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

The Versatile Marco Manalac

The ACTOR

The HOST

The MODEL

The SINGER

From day one, I never doubted the multiple talents of Marco Manalac. And I know that he will go that very, very far. So let’s support him in his endeavors. For queries and more info about Marco, you may visit his web profile.

Cinco

When I was in the Philippines for a 3-week vacation last month,  I got stuck watching Pinoy movies in DVD aside from the primetime TV soaps. I guess that’s just me trying to catch up what I miss while I spend most of my life in another country. I would even ask my nieces & nephews for the names of the MANY new faces on TV (and even on movies). Sometimes, my eyes would pop big seeing those “veterans” given roles once again, which is really good so that the new generation would be able to recognize them.

Out now in DVDs and VCDs is Star Cinema’s horror flick, “CINCO”. It has an ensemble cast and divided into five episodes: “BRASO”, “PAA”, “MATA”, “MUKHA” and “PUSO” which are grippingly connected together by a single element and will be revealed in the end.

“Braso” which starred teen heartthrobs Sam Concepcion, Robi Domingo and AJ Perez (I always mistaken Sam and AJ for their significant identical resemblance) was the first of the five episodes and probably the shortest. And if you notice why I only have the screencaps of this episode is because it’s very rare you see these young lads in their boxer briefs topped with panties and brassieres from the beginning until the end of their episode. Why? In the movie, all three of them are being hazed as part of their fraternity rituals. Then they were locked inside a morgue where they discovered this “chopped” arm. Saga begins when the arm starts moving and terrorizing them. The arm was even NAUGHTY enough to grab AJ’s “li’l bro”!!!

“Paa” topbills Jodi Sta. Maria, with one of the most searched celebs here in my blog—Marco Manalac, in a special role, is definitely the movie’s most paradigmatic episode. It shows us the power of instant karma, reminding everyone not to own whatever doesn’t belong to you.

“Mata” features Maja Salvador and Rayver Cruz in the third episode and showcases truth about traffic / driving scenarios, balancing the element of repeated scenes as Maja keeps on dreaming via omen or stigmata.

“Mukha” stars Mariel Rodriguez in her most shrewish role ever reminding me of Dina Bonnevie. The episode is catchy that office people could relate to.

Lastly, “Puso” is the real heart of the movie starring Pokwang and Zanjo Marudo in this comedy-drama-horror episode. Though it has this “be careful what you wish for” slash “Wishmaster” element, the episode is entertaining enough due mainly to Pokwang’s effective comedic skills.

Overall, I did not yawn while watching “Cinco”. It’s worth buying it.