Mahida�s Extra Key To Heaven at The Peter Norton Space

Epic Theatre Ensemble launches its 9th Season with the world premiere of Mahida�s Extra Key To Heaven, by Russell Davis, winner of the 2008 Pew Fellowship in the Arts. The play opens at The Peter Norton Space on 26 Sep 2009, following previews from 16 Sep and running through to 11 Oct 2009.

With direction by Will Pomerantz, the four-person cast features Tony Award-winner Michele Pawk (Hollywood Arms) with Roxanna Hope, Arian Moayed and James Wallert.

Mahida�s Extra Key To Heaven: Thomas is visiting his mother�s island home when he encounters Mahida, an Iranian college student stranded after an argument with her brother. The two strangers begin a beautifully awkward search for a common country, but discover that sometimes the smaller the world the bigger the invasions.

"I've worked extensively with Russell Davis and I am so struck by the subtle, original beauty of Mahida's Extra Key To Heaven, by the immediacy of its concerns and its timeless message,� explained Epic Theatre Ensemble Board Member David Strathairn. �It addresses the alarming rise of political and ideological polarity in our world today without preaching, but rather creates a potentially more complete and hopeful world. I am thrilled Epic is premiering it in New York this season."

The creative team includes Mimi Lien (Scenic Design), Theresa Squire (Costume Design), Justin Townsend, (Lighting Design) and Katie Down (Sound Design).

Bios:

Michele Pawk (Edna). Broadway: Hairspray; Losing Louie; Mamma Mia; Hollywood Arms (Tony Award); Chicago; Suessical; Cabaret; Triumph of Love; Crazy For You; Mail. Off Broadway: The Paris Letter; The Dark at the Top of the Stairs; Reefer Madness; jon & jen; Merrily We Roll Along; Hello Again.

Roxanna Hope (Mahida). Broadway: Frost/Nixon; After the Fall; The Women. Off Broadway: The Idiot.

Arian Moayed (Ramin). Off Broadway: Queens Boulevard (the musical); The Last Year in the Life of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr; The Persians.

James Wallert (Thomas). As an actor with Epic, Wallert has appeared in seven Off Broadway productions including 'A Hard Heart,' 'Widowers' Houses,' 'Einstein�s Gift,' 'Hannah and Martin,' 'Habitat,' 'Little Eyolf,' 'Time & the Conways' and ten workshops including the musicals 'POP'd' and 'A Night in Seville,' which he wrote.

Will Pomerantz (Director) is Associate Director for Artistic Development for Epic Theatre Ensemble where he directed the New York premiere of Howard Barker�s 'A Hard Heart'. He has directed world premieres by such playwrights as John Guare, David Auburn, Neil LaBute, Craig Lucas, David Lindsay-Abaire, Stephen Belber, Noah Haidle, Linda Cho, Kira Obolensky and Carey Perloff.

Russell Davis (Playwright). Plays include 'Appointment with a High Wire Lady,' 'The Last Good Moment of Lily Baker,' 'The Second Death of Priscilla,' 'The Song of Grendelyn,' and 'Sally's Gone, She Left Her Name.'