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Scenes from 'Side Show' and 'Kisapmata.' Sandbox Collective/Tanghalang Pilipino

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17797070333002-Composite straight 5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Scenes from &#x27;Side Show&#x27; and &#x27;Kisapmata.&#x27; Sandbox Collective/Tanghalang PilipinoScenes from &#x27;Side Show&#x27; and &#x27;Kisapmata.&#x27; Sandbox Collective/Tanghalang Pilipino"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Scenes from &#x27;Side Show&#x27; and &#x27;Kisapmata.&#x27; <em>Sandbox Collective/Tanghalang Pilipino</em></span></span></span></div><p>Philstage on Tuesday unveiled the nominees for the 16th edition of the Gawad Buhay! Awards, with “Kisapmata” and “Side Show” emerging as the most nominated shows.</p><p>The nominees for the annual theater awards were selected by a 13-member independent jury from the final pool of citations across all categories. According to Philstage, a citation makes a production or production element eligible for nomination but does not automatically guarantee a slot in the final lineup.</p><p>Tanghalang Pilipino’s “Kisapmata” earned nominations across major categories, including Outstanding Play, Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play for Guelan Varela-Luarca, and acting nods for Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan, Jonathan Tadioan, Toni Go-Yadao, and Marco Viaña.</p><p>Meanwhile, The Sandbox Collective’s “Side Show” dominated the musical categories, including nominations for Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical and Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical for Toff de Venecia. The production also scored four nominations in the Female Lead Performance in a Musical category for Krystal Kane, Molly Langley, Marynor Madamesila, and Tanya Manalang.</p><p>Close behind were “Shrek the Musical” and “We Aren’t Kids Anymore,” which each received multiple nominations in technical and performance categories.</p><p>Tanghalang Pilipino’s “Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical” also figured prominently in the nominations, including Outstanding Musical – Original or Translation/Adaptation, Outstanding Book of a Musical, and Outstanding Original Score.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779706855920594026156_1268250128677712_5644784191852395774_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="A scene from &#x27;Gregoria Lakambini.&#x27; Tanghalang Pilipino/Facebook "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A scene from &#x27;Gregoria Lakambini.&#x27; <em>Tanghalang Pilipino/Facebook </em></span></span></span></div><p>The 16th Gawad Buhay! Awards will be held on July 28 at the Aliw Theater.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FULL LIST OF NOMINEES</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Original Script</strong></div><p>Chesie Galvez-Cariño (‘The Foxtrot’)</p><p>Liza Magtoto, J-mee Katanyag, Nina Gühlstorff, and the cast of ‘Nobody Is Home’ (‘Nobody Is Home’) </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Translation or Adaptation</strong></div><p>Guelan Varela-Luarca and the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company (‘Kisapmata’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Book of a Musical</strong></div><p>Nicanor Tiongson and Eljay Castro Deldoc (‘Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Original Score</strong></div><p>Nica del Rosario, Matthew Chang, Nicanor Tiongson, and Eljay Castro Deldoc (‘Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical’)</p><p>Gabriel Ramos and Dexter Lansang (‘Via Dolorosa’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Musical Direction<br/></strong></div><p>Farley Asuncion and Myke Salomon (‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’)</p><p>Nica del Rosario and Matthew Chang (‘Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical’) </p><p>Rony Fortich (‘Come From Away’)</p><p>Ejay Yatco (‘Shrek the Musical’)</p><p>Ejay Yatco (‘Side Show’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Choreography</strong></div><p>JM Cabling (‘Kisapmata’)</p><p>JM Cabling (‘Side Show’)</p><p>Jomelle Era (‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’)</p><p>Paul Alexander Morales (‘The Foxtrot’) </p><p>Stephen Viñas (‘Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo’)</p><p>Stephen Viñas (‘Shrek the Musical’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Costume Design</strong></div><p>Bonsai Cielo (‘Kisapmata’)</p><p>Mitoy Sta. Ana (‘Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo’)</p><p>Carlos Siongco (‘Side Show’)</p><p>Hershee Tantiado and Phillip Domingo (‘Alice in Wonderland’) </p><p>Marco Viaña (‘Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Lighting Design</strong></div><p>John Batalla (‘Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo’)</p><p>D Cortezano (‘Kisapmata’)</p><p>D Cortezano (‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’)</p><p>Meliton Roxas Jr. (‘Shrek the Musical’) </p><p>Gabo Tolentino (‘Side Show’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Sound Design</strong></div><p>Arvy Dimaculangan (‘Kisapmata’)</p><p>Aji Manalo (‘Side Show’)</p><p>Fabian Obispo (‘Art’)</p><p>Aron Roca (‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’)</p><p>Luke Swaffield (‘Come From Away’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Set Design</strong></div><p>Lawyn Cruz (‘Shrek the Musical’)</p><p>Mark Dalacat (‘Side Show’) </p><p>Joey Mendoza (‘Kisapmata’)</p><p>Joey Mendoza (‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’)</p><p>Mikayla Teodoro (‘Come From Away’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Projection and Video Design</strong></div><p>GA Fallarme (‘Liwanag sa Dilim’)</p><p>GA Fallarme and Joyce Garcia (‘Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo’)</p><p>GA Fallarme, Justin Santiago, and JM Jimenez (‘Shrek the Musical’)</p><p>Joey Mendoza, D Cortezano, Justin Santiago, and JM Jimenez (‘Kisapmata’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Female Lead Performance in a Play</strong></div><p>Jackie Lou Blanco (‘The Foxtrot’)</p><p>Meann Espinosa (‘Nobody Is Home’)</p><p>Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan (‘Kisapmata’)  </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Male Lead Performance in a Play</strong></div><p>Ron Capinding (‘Kaliwaan’)</p><p>Bart Guingona (‘Via Dolorosa’) </p><p>JC Santos (‘The Foxtrot’) </p><p>Brian Sy (‘Art’)</p><p>Jonathan Tadioan (‘Kisapmata’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Female Featured Performance in a Play</strong></div><p>Ute Baggeröhr (‘Nobody Is Home’) </p><p>Toni Go-Yadao (‘Kisapmata’) </p><p>Ash Nicanor (‘Let’s Do Lunch’)</p><p>Susi Wirth (‘Nobody Is Home’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Male Featured Performance in a Play</strong></div><p>Marco Viaña (‘Kisapmata’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Female Lead Performance in a Musical</strong></div><p>Krystal Kane (‘Side Show’) </p><p>Molly Langley (‘Side Show’)</p><p>Marynor Madamesila (‘Side Show’)</p><p>Tanya Manalang (‘Side Show’)</p><p>Nikki Valdez (‘Next to Normal’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Male Lead Performance in a Musical</strong></div><p>Arnel Carrion (‘A Christmas Carol’) </p><p>Phi Palmos (‘Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo’)</p><p>Jamie Wilson (‘Shrek the Musical’) </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Female Featured Performance in a Musical</strong></div><p>Cathy Azanza-Dy (‘Come From Away’)</p><p>Maronne Cruz (‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’) </p><p>Sheila Francisco (‘Come From Away’)</p><p>Sheena Lee Palad (‘The Bodyguard The Musical’)</p><p>Heart Puyong (‘Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Male Featured Performance in a Musical</strong></div><p>Topper Fabregas (‘Shrek the Musical’) </p><p>John Lapus (‘Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo’)</p><p>Vino Mabalot (‘Next to Normal’) </p><p>Marvin Ong (‘Side Show’)</p><p>Benedix Ramos (‘Next to Normal’) </p><p>Alfredo Reyes (‘Shrek the Musical’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play</strong></div><p>’Kisapmata’ (Tanghalang Pilipino) </p><p>‘Nobody Is Home’ (Philippine Educational Theater Association)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical</strong></div><p>’Come From Away’ (Stages Production Specialists, Inc.)</p><p>‘Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical’ (Tanghalang Pilipino) </p><p>‘Shrek The Musical’ (Full House Theater Company) </p><p>‘Side Show’ (The Sandbox Collective)</p><p>‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’ (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative) </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play</strong></div><p>Bart Guingona (‘Via Dolorosa’)</p><p>Nina Gühlstorff and J-mee Katanyag (‘Nobody Is Home’)</p><p>Guelan Varela-Luarca (‘Kisapmata’)</p><p>Paul Alexander Morales (‘The Foxtrot’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical</strong></div><p>Delphine Buencamino (‘Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical’)</p><p>Toff de Venecia (‘Side Show’) </p><p>Dexter Santos (‘Shrek the Musical’) </p><p>Michael Williams (‘Come From Away’)</p><p>Rem Zamora (‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Play – Original or Translation/Adaptation</strong></div><p>’The Foxtrot’ (Theatre Titas) </p><p>‘Kisapmata’ (Tanghalang Pilipino) </p><p>‘Nobody Is Home’ (Philippine Educational Theater Association)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play</strong></div><p>’Via Dolorosa’ (The Necessary Theatre)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical</strong></div><p>’Come From Away’ (Stages Production Specialists, Inc.)</p><p>‘Shrek the Musical’ (Full House Theater Company) </p><p>‘Side Show’ (The Sandbox Collective) </p><p>‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’ (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative) </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Musical – Original or Translation/Adaptation</strong></div><p>’Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical’ (Tanghalang Pilipino)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Outstanding Production for Children<br/></strong></div><p>’A Christmas Carol’ (9 Works Theatrical)</p><p>‘Shrek the Musical’ (Full House Theater Company)</p>

<p>Philstage on Monday unveiled the nominees for the 16th edition of the Gawad Buhay! Awards, with “Kisapmata” and “Side Show” emerging as the most nominated shows.</p>

Philstage on Monday unveiled the nominees for the 16th edition of the Gawad Buhay! Awards, with “Kisapmata” and “Side Show” emerging as the most nominated shows.

‘Kisapmata,’ ‘Side Show’ lead 2026 Gawad Buhay nominations

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‘Kisapmata,’ ‘Side Show’ lead 2026 Gawad Buhay nominations

ABS-CBN Lifestyle

Published May 26, 2026 12:35 PM PHT

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