Another locally-developed musical is turning heads at the highest level of the entertainment industry.

“Million Dollar Quartet,” which was developed at Issaquah’s Village Theatre Village, has received 3 nominations for the 64th Annual Tony Awards.

The Tony Awards is the American theater world’s equivalent of the Oscars. In 2009, “Next to Normal,” a musical that was also born and developed through Village’s Originals program, went on to win three Tony Awards.

This year, the smash-hit new musical “Million Dollar Quartet” received nods for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for Levi Kreis. Kreis was first cast in Village Theatre’s Mainstage production.

“Million Dollar Quartet” was originally part of Village Theatre’s 6th Annual Festival of New Musicals in 2006. To date, the production is Village Theatre’s largest selling new musical, bringing in over $1 million in overall ticket sales. From Village Theatre on Front Street, the commercial producers shepherded the show on its journey to Chicago where it is still enjoying a successful run after more than a year at the Apollo Theatre.

In 2010, “Million Dollar Quartet” was called to Broadway, opening April 11 to a packed house at the Nederlander Theatre.

“Million Dollar Quartet’s success is truly a milestone for Village Theatre’s new works program,” said Village Theatre Executive Producer Robb Hunt. “It is the first new musical that was produced on our Mainstage to move on to Broadway. Colin Escott [author] has done remarkable work and development on the book along the way, and we are proud of the wonderful performers who have stayed with the show since they were here in Issaquah, continuing to give the show new life and excitement with each performance.”

Famous winners in the Tony Awards’ illustrious past include Elia Kazan, Neil Simon, Alan Jay Lerner, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Billy Crystal, Cecil Beaton, Vanessa Redgrave and Ingrid Bergman.

Broadway cast members that have been with “Million Dollar Quartet” since the Mainstage production in Issaquah include Kreis (who plays Jerry Lee Lewis), Lance Guest (Johnny Cash), Rob Lyons (Carl Perkins), and Corey Kaiser (upright bassist, Jay Perkins).

Not content to rest on their laurels, this month Village Theatre produces one of the most celebrated backstage musical story of our time, “42nd Street.” This production will have one preview performance in Issaquah on Wednesday, May 12, and will open the following day, running May 13-July 2.

For more information on Village Theatre, visit www.villagetheatre.org.