OTA to offer musical theater workshop for teens

Olympic Theatre Arts, Sequim, is accepting registrations for its summer workshop program called “Musical Theatre Intensive for Teens.”

The workshop will run daily for two weeks from 9:45 a.m.-4 p.m. July 24-Aug. 4 at the Olympic Theatre Arts Center, 414 N. Sequim Ave., where Sequim’s Pacific Pantry will provide lunch. Enrollment is limited to 20 students and the cost is $475, with limited tuition assistance available.

The program is in its sixth year and this is the second year that OTA will be hosting the intensive. An impressive group of professionals who are currently working in the field will conduct this fast-paced and creative two-week workshop.

Linda Dowdell, local award-winning musical composer and arranger, will lead the group with Elinore O’Connell, Broadway singer and actor coming to Sequim from New York City, and Annuel Preston, Seattle-based dance and yoga instructor. The workshop is open to 20 teens between the ages of 12-19. Slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

The workshop will focus on “Finding Your Voice,” “Acting a Song,” “Dance Basics,” “Improvisation” and “Audition Coaching.” Rehearsals will integrate singing, acting, staging and choreography to produce musical numbers.

In addition to group activities, students will receive individual coaching and benefit from discussions of confidence building, discovering and fine-tuning their talents, and communicating their own stories. After two weeks of training as a company, the students and staff will present an informal performance to invited audiences.

“This final performance always exceeds expectations,” said Carol Willis, executive director of Olympic Theatre Arts. “The vitality, talent and fearlessness of these performers is exciting to behold. It is our future personified.”

Registration forms are available online at olympictheatrearts.org or by contacting the OTA business office from 1-5 p.m. Monday-Friday or by calling 683-7326.