Playwright Arlene Hutton, whose romantic drama Last Train to Nibroc received a 2000 Drama Desk nomination, will be back in New York Sept. 13 with her latest, As it Is in Heaven, opening at the 78th Street Theatre Lab. But first the musical drama takes its first bows at the 2001 Edinburgh Festival Fringe Aug. 3-28.

As it Is in Heaven explores the lives of nine Shaker women in 1830's Kentucky who are threatened when a newcomer to their strict religious sect begins having visions of angels. Developed at New Dramatists where Hutton has been a member since 1998, As It Is in Heaven received a Cameron Mackintosh Foundation Grant and the John Lippman New Frontier Award.

Hutton is the pen name for actress-director Beth Lincks. Her other works include the short plays I Dream Before I Take the Stand, Houseplay, Pushing Buttons and In the Mind's Eye. As It Is in Heaven is her second full-length play.

Judith Hawking (Kevin Kline's Ivanov, Marco Polo Sings a Solo) stars with Priscilla Shanks, Margot Avery and Fringe Best Actress nominee Alexandra Geis, who originated the role of May in Last Train to Nibroc.

As it Is in Heaven, presented by the Journey Company in a co production with the 78th Street Theatre Lab, plays the Scotsman Assembly at 54 George Street at the Festival Fringe. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is on the web at http://www.edfringe.com/home.html. — By Christine Ehren