OTA sets auditions for ‘Spamalot’

Don’t let a mere flesh wound keep you from auditioning for Olympic Theatre Arts’ take on Monty Python’s “Spamalot,” a hilarious musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

Auditions for the farce are set for 10 a.m.-noon on Sunday, Feb. 18, and 6-9 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 19, both at Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave., as well as 6-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave. Call-backs are set for 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, at Trinity United Methodist Church.

Those auditioning are asked to wear comfortable clothing to move and dance. While not all roles require expert dancing, each will have some movement. Sides will be provided.

There are roles for singers, dancers, and non-singers and non-dancers.

“This will be a big production and we want everyone interested to come out and become part of it all,” OTA representatives said.

“Spamalot” is scheduled to run May 31-June 16.

Get more information at olympictheatrearts.org.

Old Time Fiddlers set ‘jam session’

The Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association meet for a “jam session” from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 525 N. Fifth Ave.

Members will play “Old Time” music — a genre of North American folk music played on acoustic instruments, generally centering on a combination of fiddle and plucked string instruments including the guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobros, dulcimers, autoharps and ukuleles.

Community members are invited to come play or just to listen and learn about this traditional style of music.

There is no charge to attend, through donations in support of the group’s youth scholarship program are welcome. Snacks to share are also appreciated.

City calls for non-recyclable plastics

The City of Sequim and the Sequim Arts Commission is seeking non-recyclable plastics for a community art project that will take place during the first weekend of the Sequim Irrigation Festival, set for May 4-5.

“We are seeking clean, small, colorful plastics that cannot be recycled in your blue bin and would otherwise be headed into the trash,” event organizers say.

Non-recyclable plastics include items such as plastic caps, action figures, toys and game pieces, deflated mylar balloons, empty plastic pens or marker casings and bread bag tabs.

Contributors can drop off their plastic items in the lobby at the Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St., in the Innovative Arts collection bin through Feb. 29 or until enough items are received for the project.

The Civic Center lobby is open from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

To see a general list of what can be recycled in the blue bin, visit sequimwa.gov/323/Waste-Recycling.

For more information, email city arts coordinator Sarah Hurt at shurt@sequimwa.gov.

View ‘Journey to Abstract Expression’

Artist Terry Anderson’s solo exhibit, “Journey to Abstract Expression,” is on display from Feb. 6-March 20 at Peninsula College’s PUB Gallery of Art on the main PC campus, 1502 E. Laurdisen Blvd., Port Angeles.

Photo courtesy of Peninsula College / Terry Anderson’s solo exhibit, “Journey to Abstract Expression,” is on display at Peninsula College’s PUB Gallery of Art through March 20. Learn more about the artists at a Studium Generale set for 12:35 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, at PC’s Little Theater or online.

In addition to the exhibition, Anderson will discuss his artistic journey and creative process at Studium Generale on 12:35 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, at the college’s Little Theater. Both the exhibition and Studium Generale presentation are free and open to the public. The Studium Generale presentation can also be livestreamed via Zoom at pencol.edu/events.

The exhibition and lecture offer an opportunity to explore Anderson’s artistic style that blends emotion, color and texture to “transcend traditional canvas boundaries.”

Anderson, an artist known for his innovative approach to abstract art, transitioned from a career in banking to painting. Anderson’s work has been recognized in various juried shows and exhibitions for more than 25 years.

OTA to host ‘Best of Enemies screening’

Olympic Theatre Arts, in partnership with Ghostlight Productions, Juan de Fuca Festival of Arts and The National Theatre, offer National Theatre Live: Screenings of professional productions of London’s West End.

“Best of Enemies” by James Graham gets a screening at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, at Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave.

Tickets are $14-24 and available online via Ghostlight Productions at glp.ludus.com/index.php.

”Best of Enemies” was directed by Jeremy Herrin and inspired by the documentary by Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon. In the film, David Harewood (“Homeland”) and Zachary Quinto (“Star Trek”) play feuding political rivals. In 1968 America, as two men fight to become the next president, all eyes are on the battle between two others: the conservative William F. Buckley Jr., and the liberal Gore Vidal. During a new nightly television format, they debate the moral landscape of a shattered nation. Herrin (“All My Sons”) directs this political thriller filmed live in London’s West End.

Valentine’s dance on tap at The Fifth

Enjoy live music and hors d’oeuvres at a special Valentine’s Dance set for 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, at The Fifth Avenue, 500 W. Hendrickson Road.

The versatile Buttercup Lane will be performing, offering jazz, classic 1950s rock and roll, big band swing, blues, pop, and country genres.

The chefs at The Fifth Avenue will have a selection of hors d’oeuvres

Admission is $5. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, attendees can also participate in the raffle for a chance to win a delightful Valentine basket.

“We’re thrilled to host this afternoon dance, bringing together our vibrant community and guests for an afternoon of music, dance and camaraderie,” The Fifth Avenue administrator Donna Ingram said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate life at The Fifth Avenue.”

For more information, call The Fifth Avenue at 360-683-3345.

Fiber art show with Sequim artists is held over in PT

“Burst of Color,” the sweeping fiber art show featuring several Sequim artists, has been extended. Initially set to close Feb. 11, the exhibit will stay on display through Feb. 25 at Northwind Art’s Jeanette Best Gallery, 701 Water St., Port Townsend.

Photo by Diane Urbani/Northwind Art Sequim artist Lora Armstrong’s felted wearable art is part of the “Burst of Color” exhibition at Northwind Art’s Jeanette Best Gallery in Port Townsend.

The venue is open noon-5 p.m., Thursdays through Mondays. Participating artists from Sequim include Lora Armstrong, Liisa Fagerlund, Linda Carlson, Marla Varner, Kathie Cook, Lynn Gilles and Susan Melka.

“The show is a big hit,” Northwind Art staffer Diane Urbani said. “We can use all of this color in the midst of winter.”

For information about “Burst of Color,” which showcases 75 works of art, visit northwindart.org.

PACP sets auditions for ‘Rumors’ play

Auditions for the Port Angeles Community Players’ (PACP) spring offering, Neil Simon’s “Rumors,” will be held Feb. 17-18.

Auditions on Saturday, Feb. 17, are from 4-7 p.m., and on Sunday, Feb. 18 are noon-2 p.m., both on the PACP Playhouse stage, 1235 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.

There are roles for five men and five women; No experience necessary.

Rehearsals will generally be weeknights, starting at 6:30 p.m. Not everyone will be called each night in the early rehearsals. There will be a read through by the selected cast from noon-3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, and the regular rehearsal schedule will start Tuesday, March 12.

The show runs May 3-19 with 7:30 p.m. performances on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays ,and 2 p.m. matinees on Sundays.

Perusal copies of the script are available at the Sequim and Port Angeles libraries.

Timothy Thorn, who has directed PACP’s “The Dresser,” “Savannah Sipping Society” and “Fortinbras,” will be back in the directors seat.

Those who wish to audition for the show but cannot make the scheduled audition dates, or those with questions about the play or roles, are encouraged to email PACP board member Ken Winters at kenpacp@gmail.com.

Neil Simon, perhaps the world’s most successful playwright, wrote “Rumors” in 1988, among his later works and was his first farce.

The Deputy Mayor of New York, Charlie Brock, has just shot himself. Though it’s only a flesh wound, the self-inflicted injury sets off a series of events causing four couples to experience a severe attack of farce. When their tenth wedding anniversary party commences, Charlie lies bleeding in another room, and his wife Myra is nowhere in sight. The first guests, lawyer Ken Gorman and his wife Chris, scramble to get “the story” straight before the other guests arrive. As the confusion and miscommunications mount, the evening spins off into classic farcical hilarity.

Sequim’s Klein to stage book talk, stand-up set

Melissa Klein, a Sequim-based artist, comedian and author, will read from her book “Match-Liss: Tales of Online Dating” and offer stand-up comedy and a multimedia performance from 7-8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16, at the Max Grover Gallery, 236 Taylor St., Port Townsend.

The event is free and open to the public; the performance does contain some adult content.

Klein combines stand-up performance, artwork and “Match-Liss” book excerpts to tell the story of what she has learned from her online dating experiences as a statement about learning self-worth in a society that commodifies love, sex and people.

“Match-Liss” is illustrated with more 60 drawings, cartoons, photographs, and paintings spanning More than 40 years of Klein’s work as an artist. The talk features full-color slides with the stories behind the work and the intersection of her artistic process with her personal life.

“I wrote the book I wish I could have read when I was newly divorced and trying online dating,” Klein said.

For more about the artist, see MelissaKlein.com.

For more about the gallery, visit TheGroverGallery.com.

PTFF Focus series schedules events

In February, the Port Townsend Film Festival (PTFF) hosts the Media Lab Short Film Showcase, a diverse collection of short films created by the students of the Port Townsend High School Media Lab, under the direction of David Egeler, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15., at the Balcony Theatre, 211 Taylor St. Suite 401A, Port Townsend.

A silent auction to support the Media Lab will be part of the evening.

Tickets are $10, with free tickets for students and their families.

Ger tickets and more information at ptfilmfest.com/year-round-programming.

PTFF will also partner with the Port Townsend Public Library’s Community Read to screen “The Wizard of Oz” at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 2, at the Rose Theater, 235 Taylor St., Port Townsend. The event is free but attendees must get a ticket for entry; see ptfilmfest.com/year-round-programming.

The library’s Community Read is “On the Way to the End of the World” by Adrianne Harun.

PTFF Focus is a year-round film series which explores meaningful topics using film. Monthly screenings are often followed by facilitated discussion or informal conversation related to the films, which help create deeper connections beyond the films.

Art courtesy of Terry Anderson / “Hologram #10” by Terry Anderson, whose solo exhibit, “Journey to Abstract Expression,” will be on display at Peninsula College’s PUB Gallery of Art through March 20.