Local playwright reaches the heights

NORTH PHILADELPHIA - May 16, 2008 The musical that Quiara Alegria Hudes penned is up for more Tony Awards than any other show on Broadway this year.

"I'm sure I'll be completely star-struck and glamour struck to be just sitting there at the Tony's" Hudes said.

Quiara Alegria Hudes got the thrill of her life this week when she received a Tony nomination for her script of the new hit musical called "In the Heights."

"[It's an] old fashion musical meets salsa, hip hop. and meringue, three generation story. It's about the immigrant experience in the United States," Hudes said.

In all, the musical won 13 nominations! Quiara based the story on her experiences growing up in Philadelphia with her grandmother as the matriarch of the block.

"I feel like that's a very urban specific thing where you get these matriarchs and patriarchs of the block, and everyone's like their Godchild," Hudes said.

The Tony Awards are on June 15.