Gawad Buhay

Philstage
Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group
Location	Philippines;
Award(s)	Gawad Buhay

Gawad Buhay
Gawad Buhay
Awarded for	Best in Philippine theater
Country	Philippines
Presented by	Philstage
First awarded	2009; 15 years ago

The Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts, more commonly known as the Gawad Buhay, are awards presented annually by Philstage, an organization of performing arts companies in the Philippines, at the National Theater in the Cultural Center of the Philippines to recognize outstanding performance in Philippine theater.^[1] First awarded in 2009, they are considered as the highest award in performing arts in the Philippines.^[2]

History

The Philstage, officially known as the Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group, was established in 1997 by eight theater companies: Ballet Manila, Gantimpala Theater, Musical Theatre Philippines, Organisasyong Pilipinong Mang-aawit, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), Repertory Philippines, Tanghalang Pilipino and Trumpets. It is the only nationally recognized organization for performing arts in the Philippines. Its primary mission was to promote the performing arts industry in the country, lobbying laws and policies that protects professionals.^[3]^[4]

One of the requirement for a company to join Philstage is to have staged at least three productions, and be in existence for at least three years. There are nine members currently. These are six of the eight founding companies, 9 Works Theatrical, Ballet Philippines, Full House Theater Company, The Necessary Theatre, Philippine Ballet Theatre, Philippine Opera Company, Stages, and Red Turnip Theater.^[4]

In 2008, Philstage established Gawad Buhay, becoming the country's first and only industry awards in theater. The first edition was held on February 18, 2009, at the Aurelio Tolentino Theater of the Tanghalang Pambansa. The award also publishes citations every quarter, where the jury selects the final nominees for annual Gawad Buhay awards ceremony which is usually held in April.

Award categories

Play

Outstanding Production of a Play
Outstanding Male Lead Performance in a Play
Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Play
Outstanding Male Featured Performance in a Play
Outstanding Female Featured Performance in a Play
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play

Musical

Outstanding Musical Production
Outstanding Male Lead Performance in a Musical
Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Musical
Outstanding Male Featured Performance in a Musical
Outstanding Female Featured Performance in a Musical
Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical
Outstanding Musical Direction
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Outstanding Original Score
Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical

Dance/Opera

Outstanding Dance Production
Outstanding Male Lead Performance in a Dance Production
Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Dance Production
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Dance Production
Outstanding Original Libretto

Production

Outstanding Stage Direction
Outstanding Original Choreography
Outstanding Original Script
Outstanding Set Design
Outstanding Costume Design
Outstanding Lighting Design
Outstanding Sound Design
Outstanding Projection and Video Design

Retired

Outstanding Production of a One-Act Play
Outstanding Translation/ Adaptation

References

^ Ello, Arvin. "1st Gawad Buhay! The PHILSTAGE Awards for the Performing Arts | Feb. 18, 2009". Retrieved 2023-10-31.
^ Dela Cruz, Christa (August 2, 2023). "Walang Aray Gets Most Midyear Citations for Gawad Buhay 2023". Spot.ph. Gawad Buhay is touted to be the Philippine counterpart of Broadway's Tony Awards or the West End's Olivier Awards. Only professional theater companies that are members of the Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group Inc. (a.k.a. Philstage) are eligible for Gawad Buhay citations and nominations. An independent jury of journalists, critics, theater practitioners, and members of the academe vote on citations, nominations, and winners for the annual award, which was established in 2008. Midyear citations are announced in preparation for the final deliberation of nominations and winners at the end of the year.
^ "Celeste Legaspi-Gallardo heads new Philstage Board". Manila Standard. May 26, 2003. p. 22.
^ ^a ^b Gatchalian, Elmer L. (November 18, 2020). "Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group (Philstage)". CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art Digital Edition. Retrieved November 2, 2023.

[1] Ello, Arvin. "1st Gawad Buhay! The PHILSTAGE Awards for the Performing Arts | Feb. 18, 2009". Retrieved 2023-10-31.

[2] Dela Cruz, Christa (August 2, 2023). "Walang Aray Gets Most Midyear Citations for Gawad Buhay 2023". Spot.ph. Gawad Buhay is touted to be the Philippine counterpart of Broadway's Tony Awards or the West End's Olivier Awards. Only professional theater companies that are members of the Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group Inc. (a.k.a. Philstage) are eligible for Gawad Buhay citations and nominations. An independent jury of journalists, critics, theater practitioners, and members of the academe vote on citations, nominations, and winners for the annual award, which was established in 2008. Midyear citations are announced in preparation for the final deliberation of nominations and winners at the end of the year.

[3] "Celeste Legaspi-Gallardo heads new Philstage Board". Manila Standard. May 26, 2003. p. 22.

[:0-4] Gatchalian, Elmer L. (November 18, 2020). "Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group (Philstage)". CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art Digital Edition. Retrieved November 2, 2023.

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