Seattle-born musicals miss shots at Tony Awards

NEW YORK CITY — The 5th Avenue Theatre's Broadway hit "A Christmas Story, The Musical!," was nominated for three Tony Awards.

In addition to Best Musical,  the show was nominated for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score Written for the Theater.

Actress Carolee Carmello also received a Tony nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical  for her performance in "Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson," which premiered at The 5th Avenue two years ago as "Saving Aimee."

The theater did not take home any awards Sunday night.

The fact that these shows with local beginnings were nominated is amazing enough for local drama students.

“It’s really inspirational to know that there are people that started here that go all the way to the top," said Redmond’s Samantha Miller.

David Armstrong, The Fifth Avenue Theatre's Executive Producer, said Seattle is now one of the top three cities for live theater in the USA, behind New York and Chicago.

Altogether, 14 Tony Awards have gone to shows that started in Seattle, including "Memphis" and "Hairspray."

Actors are coming from all over the country to work in one of five major theater companies in Seattle and in a number of smaller ones. It gives local drama students hope that one day that can work close to home on a musical that could wind up on Broadway.

Callie Maxson, from Monroe, has friends now working in musicals.

“Watching them go on be successful, it's like a real inspiration that I can go do it myself,” Maxson said.

KIRO 7 provided live updates -- including reactions from The 5th Avenue Theatre staff -- during the Tony Awards show on Twitter using the hashtag #kiro7tonys.

KIRO