The Sandbox Collective and 9 Works Theatrical are among the theater companies celebrating nominations at the 16th Gawad Buhay Awards, with The Sandbox Collective’s Side Show emerging as one of the most nominated productions of the year.
Announced on May 26, the nominations saw Side Show tie Tanghalang Pilipino’s Kisapmata as the most nominated production, earning an impressive 14 nominations across performance, design, direction, and production categories.
The Sandbox Collective’s staging of the acclaimed Broadway musical received recognition for all four actresses who alternated in the lead roles of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton—Krystal Kane, Molly Langley, Marynor Madamesila, and Tanya Manalang—who were all nominated for Female Lead Performance in a Musical.
The production also stood out as the only show recognized in all seven design categories, highlighting the creative team’s achievements in choreography, costume design, lighting, sound, set design, and overall visual storytelling.
Additional nominations for Side Show include Outstanding Musical Direction for Ejay Yatco, Outstanding Choreography for JM Cabling, Outstanding Stage Direction for Toff de Venecia, Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical, and Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical.
Meanwhile, 9 Works Theatrical earned a nomination for A Christmas Carol in the Outstanding Production for Children category, reaffirming the company’s commitment to producing quality family-friendly theater experiences.
The production also received an acting nomination for Arnel Carrion in the Male Lead Performance in a Musical category, recognizing his work in bringing the beloved holiday classic to life on stage.
This year’s nominations were selected from 155 citations determined by a 13-member independent jury composed of theater practitioners, academics, reviewers, and journalists. All 18 eligible Philstage productions that opened between January 1 and December 31, 2025 received at least one nomination.
Winners will be announced at the 16th Gawad Buhay! Awards ceremony on July 28, 2026, at Aliw Theater in Pasay City.
