Ursula Taherian wins supporting role in Arete Films' "Pizza Palace'

Ursula Taherian will play the role of a Greek American named Marina Constantine, in Arete Films, LLC's feature film "Pizza Palace'. In this role she will be the love interest of a Greek American teenager named Alex Corey played by veteran actor Carl Anthony Tramon. This independent feature film is of a story of an irresponsible teenager, Alex Corey, who comes of age in the film and learns both responsibility and respect for his Hellenic heritage after coming to work at the Pizza Palace diner run by a colorful Greek immigrant named George Stamakos who is played by northern Virginia actor George Kardulias. Mr. Kardulias said the chemistry that Ursula generated during auditions and screening made her the hands down winner for the role and he looks forward to working with her.

Ursula Teresa Taherian was born in Washington, D.C. on June 18, 1979 and subsequently raised in Crofton, Maryland. She attended Arundel High School where she graduated in the top 3% of her class, in addition to serving as class president, playing on the soccer and softball teams, acting with the Arundel Players, and serving as a member of the Spanish Honor Society. She moved to Baltimore in 1997 to attend Loyola College of Maryland, where she graduated Suma cum laude with a major in Finance and a minor in Spanish. At Loyola, Ursula stayed involved in both theatre and student government and enjoyed membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, Sigma Delta Pi, and the Financial Management Association Honor Society. Upon graduation in May 2001, Ursula accepted a position in MBNA America's elite Management Development Program and was soon promoted to Personal Banking Officer and manager.

Ursula's experience in the entertainment industry includes lead roles in several plays at AHS and McManus Theatres, modeling and promotional work, and hosting various non-for-profit/fundraising events. She broke into the film industry through her role as "Tanya' in the film entitled "Lackluster Syndrome' produced by Two For Flinching Productions. She will also be starring as "Lisa' in JPNT Films' production, "Welcome Home,' scheduled to film this summer.

"Pizza Palace will be shot in Baltimore and its suburbs. The film is directed by Rod Lopez of Timonium, Maryland. Executive producers are George Kardulias and Kyriakos Marudas. Media wanting to interview Ursula Taherian or other cast members during principal photography can do so by sending an e-mail to kardulig@erols.com.