The professionals decided last night that it was the best Spanish show of last season Eating from afaran Argentinian production of a Broadway title. He did it at the 17th edition of the Musical Theater Awards, assigned every year by professionals in the sector, in a simple gala on the roof of the Calderón theater in Madrid, a new space called Rooftop Lírico, where they also stood out gypsy, a classic under the direction of Antonio Banderas; and Ànima, a new musical based on the first woman who wanted to become a fictional animator in Hollywood.
Eating from afar It won the categories best musical, musical direction, theater direction, supporting actress and outstanding female performance, an award given to the best performance, regardless of whether it is a leading lady or an ensemble cast. This opera, which could be seen at the Teatro Marquina in Madrid between September 2024 and February 2025, has a book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, and is based on true events that occurred in the Canadian city of Gander, Newfoundland, in the days following the terrorist attacks of September 11th.
To the rhythm of the music people AND soft rock tells how its inhabitants served almost 7,000 passengers from 38 flights, after the closure of air traffic in the United States and Canada. A story, as its director, Carla Calabrese, said, of people who come from very far away: “Like us and who are well welcomed. It is a story that does not belong to any place, but to all of humanity”, she remarked.
Both the cast and crew of Eating from afar belongs to The Stage Company, a group with roots in the legendary Teatro Maipo in Buenos Aires, and they were almost entirely present at the gala to celebrate their success. Among them there was the only Spaniard, Pepa Lucas, who won the award for best supporting actress and who we can now see in Cabaret of the Albéniz Theater.
Gypsythe production directed by Antonio Banderas of Jule Steyne’s classic with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, won the awards for best characterization for Laura Rodríguez and best leading actress for Lydia Fairén, one of the stars of star system Spanish musical, of which he is now in the cast Evil. In accepting the award, the actress recalled how ten years ago she lost her voice due to too much work and how she managed to recover it thanks to the support of her singing teacher Mamen Sánchez, to the point that she can now reach the notes of one of the most difficult songs on the bill, Defy gravityFrom Evil, this season at the Alcalá theater.
For gypsy, based on Gypsy Rose Lee, an artist of the genre burlesqueit was also the best choreography, by Borja Rueda, who adds another success after having choreographed JJ, the Austrian with the operatic voice who won Eurovision 2025 with Wasted love.
The black comedy was made with two awards Murder for two AND Soulone of the most interesting productions of last season. This musical, based on the true story of a woman who wanted to become a film animator in 1930s Hollywood, could be seen at the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya (TNC). Its score, full of sounds of Broadway, Disney and the golden age of American cinema, and its script full of humor and emotion received the award for best original musical.
The staging of Ànima, the work of Pizarro Studios, a studio composed of David Pizarro and Roberto de Arte, stood out as the best scenography. Many will know the work of Pizarro Studios from their work for Benidorm Fest. In this latest edition they took care of the stage production of four competitors, including Melody.
The recognition of an entire career through the “Crea” award went to the actor, director Ricard Reguant, author of the encyclopedia History of musicals in the world, Consisting of 3,000 pages in four volumes, it traces the industry from its beginnings in the early 20th century in England and the United States to its expansion around the world, with a special dedication to the format in Spain in the last two volumes. Reguant took advantage of the thanks to reflect on the sector and defend that any stage, regardless of its size, is legitimate and that masterpieces such as Divine spell OR Rentor claim the work of covercast of figures ready to replace the protagonists when necessary, and the oscillationwho fill different roles.
Reguant, along with brief appearances by presenters, regulars Inés León and Alejandro Vera, set the entertaining tone of the evening. The organizers, Sonia Dorado and Raúl Ibai, dedicated the evening’s official speech to reclaiming this type of show, which occupies stages rich in history and new exhibition spaces, as an indispensable part of the tourism industry. “Musical theater fills theaters and hotels,” Dorado proudly proclaims in an event that he keeps afloat every year thanks to the support of his sponsors but, above all, to the enthusiasm and altruistic dedication of the entire profession.
