STONINGTON – Opera House Arts at the Stonington Opera House is pleased to present "Bus to Bamako", written and performed by Pierre-Marc Diennet ("Perdita"), in an in–development performance Wednesday, February 18 at 7 p.m. "Bus to Bamako" is set in the capital city of Mali in west Africa and is a uniquely personal, emotional study of the United State's problematic relationship with Africa–and that continent's hopes, hardships, and disasters.

"Pierre is a brilliant writer and performer, and his show "Perdita" meant a lot to our community and state–especially when it moved to Off Broadway!" said Judith Jerome, the show's director and dramaturg as well as OHA's Artistic Director. "We're delighted to be working together again to develop this new project." said Jerome

Now in its early stages of development, "Bus to Bamako" finds a North American photojournalist, Peter, in a hotel bar in Bamako, Mali. He is finished with his assignment but he cannot or will not return home to the U.S. because of something that happened on a bus during his time in Mali. Feverish with an indigenous disease, and plagued by his memories of the event, Peter must recount his story or recant his actions before they will release him. Baba, the bar's Malian musician, accompanies Peter on his Kora (an early guitar–like instrument) and sings traditional Malian music while Peter unveils his story by showing us the startling photographs he took on his troubled journey. The play's content is inspired in part by Diennet's first hand experiences growing up and travelling in developing countries throughout the world with his Maine–born mother, Perdita Huston, an international human rights worker.

Pierre–Marc Diennet has been a professional actor since graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 1996. In addition to developing "Perdita" with Opera House Arts and touring it to 12 venues throughout Maine, Pierre also appeared on the Stonington Opera House stage as the Moose Boy in "The Ferry Musicals". He has worked at many other theaters including the Public Theater in Lewiston/Auburn, ME; The Utah Shakespearean Festival; the Denver Center Theatre Company; and the Brooklyn Academy of music. He has toured the U.S., South America, and the UK in the title role in "Scooby–Doo in Stagefright". He has worked on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and has appeared on "The Guiding Light", the daytime television show. Diennet earned his MFA from the National Theatre Conservatory and in addition to "Perdita", which had a successful run on Off Broadway in New York City in December 2008, has written two other full length play's &quoy;Shell" and "Murder of the Seas."

The development and initial public performance of "Bus to Bamako" is a component of Opera House Arts' live dramatic programming which includes its "Our Own" playreading series; playwriting seminars; and the commissioning of original work. The performance will be followed by a Talk Back session with the Diennet and Jerome. All tickets are $6 and advance reservations are not necessary; tickets are available at the door starting at 6:30 p.m. the evening of the show. For more information on show times or tickets go to www.operahousearts.org or call 207-367-2788.