Photo Coverage: SWEENEY TODD Manila Sweeps Acting Trophies at 2009 Philstage Awards

Repertory Philippines' acclaimed production of Stephen Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd" earned five PHILSTAGE Awards Friday night (March 26, 2010) in Manila, Philippines taking home acting honors for its lead cast Audie Gemora (Best Male Lead Performance in a Musical), Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (Best Female Lead Performance in a Musical), Liesl Batucan (Best Female Featured Performance in a Musical), and Marvin Ong (Best Male Featured Performance in a Musical).  "Sweeney Todd's" musical director Gerard Salonga also won the Best Musical Direction award. 

Repertory Philippines' founding artistic director, the late Zenaida Amador, was also given special honor by PHILSTAGE for her lifetime achievements and contributions to the professionalization of Philippine Performing Arts.  As founding artistic director of the Philippines' premier professional theatre company, she pioneered the development and promotion of professional English theatre in the country.  An excellent actor, director, and drama teacher, Ms. Amador trained and nurtured the talents of hundreds of theatre practitioners including Lea Salonga, Monique Wilson, Audie Gemora, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Ana Abad Santos, and Liesl Batucan.  At the time of her death in 2004, Ms. Amador was chairman of PHILSTAGE.

Repertory Philippines' current associate artistic director Joy Virata received the special award on behalf of Ms. Amador:  "One of Ms. Amador's dreams was to establish a theatre industry in the Philippines.  I'm sure she'd be really happy to know that many people are still trying to build this theatre industry in this country."

Ms. Amador shared this distinguished achievement award with fellow visionary and multi-awarded singer, actor, theatre and music producer Celeste Legaspi, who also co-founded Musical Theater Philippines (MTP) as its artistic director; and with corporate sponsor AVON Philippines, which has been providing free make-up for numerous Philippine Theatre productions since the 1970s. 

PHILSTAGE is the country's only organization of professional performing arts companies with a regular season programming of repertory development, and performance pedagogy training. Its Board of Directors include Philippine Educational Theater Association's (PETA) Melvin Lee, vice president; Ballet Philippines' (BP) Sandy Hontiveros, secretary; Repertory Philippines' (REP) Gidget Tolentino, treasurer; Ballet Manila's (BM) Susan Macuja, Gantimpala Theater Foundation's Tony Espejo, Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit's (OPM) Mitch Valdes, TRUMPETS's Audie Gemora, and PHILSTAGE Executive Director Elmar Beltran Ingles as members.

2009 PHILSTAGE Awards' jury is composed of Exie Abola, Walter Ang, Gilbert Cadiz, Ronald Elepaño III, Arvin Ello, Ralph Semino Galan, Rolando Inocencio, Glenn Sevilla Mas, Joy Parohinog, Joey Ting, and Basilio Esteban Villaruz.

Below is the complete list of winners:

Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Dance Production: The Cast of BP's "Masterworks"

Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Musical: (Tie) The Cast of PETA's "Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo" and "Ang Limang Milyong Boto and Ismail at Isabel"

Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Play: The Cast of Tanghalang Pilipino's "Madonna Brava ng Mindanao"

Outstanding Musical Composition: Vincent De Jesus (PETA's "Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at Ang Limang Milyong Boto")  

Outstanding Musical Direction: Gerard Salonga (REP's "Sweeney Todd") 

Outstanding Set Design: Tuxqs Rutaquio (TP's "Streetcar Named Desire/Flores Para Los Muertos")

Outstanding Costume Design: Gino Gonzales (BP's "Neo-Filipino")

Outstanding Lighting Design: Katsch Catoy (BP's "Neo Filipino")

Outstanding Sound Design: Aries Alcayaga (PETA's "Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?") 

Outstanding Adaptation or Translation: Alice Reyes (BP's "Amada in Neo-Filipino")

Outstanding Libretto: Vince De Jesus (PETA's "Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at ang Limang Milyong Boto") 

Outstanding Original Script: Tony Perez (PETA's "Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?")

Outstanding Choreography for Play or Musical: Carlon Matobato (PETA's "Ismail at Isabel") 

Outstanding Choreography for Dance Production: Augustus Damian III's "Evacuation" (BP's Masterworks) 

Outstanding Male Featured Performance in Dance: Lucky Vicentino (BP's "Neo Filipino")

Outstanding Female Featured Performance in Dance: Marian Faustino (BP's "Neo- Filipino") 

Outstanding Male Featured Performance in a Musical: Marvin Ong (REP's "Sweeney Todd") 

Outstanding Female Featured Performance in a Musical: Liesl Batucan (REP's "Sweeney Todd")  

Outstanding Male Featured Performance in a Play: Dido Dela Paz (REP's "Portrait of the Artist as Filipino")

Outstanding Female Featured Performance in a Play: Peewee O'Hara (TP's "Mga Mansanas sa Disyerto/Apples from the Desert") 

Outstanding Male Lead Performance in Dance: Ronelson Yadao (BP's "Neo-Filipino") 

Outstanding Female Lead Performance in Dance: Candice Adea (BP's "Neo-Filipino")

Outstanding Male Lead Performance in a Musical: Audie Gemora (REP's "Sweeney Todd") 

Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Musical: Mechu Lauchengco-Yulo (REP's "Sweeney Todd") 

Outstanding Male Lead Performance in a Play: Lex Marcos (PETA's "Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?") 

Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Play: Shamaine Centenera Buencamino (TP's "Madonna Brava ng Mindanao") 

Outstanding Stage Direction: Nonon Padilla (PETA's "Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?")

Outstanding Dance Production: BP's "Masterworks"

Outstanding Musical Production: PETA's "Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at ang Limang Milyong Boto"

Outstanding Play Production: PETA's "Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre?"

Photos by Ulysses Manuel