Eto Na! Musikal nAPO, a musical co-produced by Globe Live and 9Works Theatrical (9WT), added another feather to its illustrious cap as it went home as one of the biggest winners during the 11th Philstage Gawad Buhay Awards, the biggest local theater event of the year.
The hip, rip-roaringly funny musical comedy bagged a total of five major awards that include: Outstanding Musical Original Translation or Adaptation, Outstanding Original Libretto (Robbie Guevarra), Male Featured Performance in a Musical (Jon Abella), Male Lead Performance in a Musical (Jobim Javier), and Outstanding Sound Design (Rards Corpuz).
This is the second year in a row that Globe Live and 9Works won Outstanding Musical and Male Featured Performance in a Musical awards, and the first musical stint of Jobim Javier who scored the Male Lead Performance in a Musical award. Last year, Globe Live and 9Works Theatrical’s ‘Newsies’ was also a big winner taking home Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical, among others.
With music and lyrics from the triumphant trio of musical geniuses Danny Javier, Boboy Garovillo, and Jim Paredes of the famed APO Hiking Society, Eto na! Musikal nAPO! centers on the story of seven friends who joined a song-writing and singing contest for college students.
Set during the dark period of Martial Law, the friends were beset with the challenge of who will compose and arrange that perfect song for the competition, while they struggled with problems in their personal lives.
The musical comedy, which recently ended its extended second run at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater in Taguig City, received rave reviews as it wowed its audiences with an assortment of emotions from rom-com to nostalgia during its performances,
Other big winners at the 11th Philstage Gawad Buhay Awards were Himala: Isang Musikal, adapted from the hit 1982 movie Himala, which starred Nora Aunor with 8 awards, including Outstanding Ensemble Performance and Outstanding Direction. A Doll’s House, part 2 from Red Turnip Theater went home with four while Philippine Educational Theater Association’s “night, Mother” bagged three, including Outstanding Play.