Olympic Theatre Arts, at 414 N. Sequim Ave., Sequim, will be hosting its first “Open Mic at OTA” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 16, as the precursor to a monthly series OTA plans to stage.

The open mic format gives actors, musicians, comedians and singers a chance to see others perform and to sharpen their own skills.

The group encourages all forms of staged performances including dramatic readings, comedy sketches and stand-up monologues as well as vocal and instrumental musical appearances.

Michael Bunnell, a local entertainer and author of the recently published novel “The Friendly Little War of Lyman Cutler,” will be the emcee.

Bunnell explained, “This is not a competitive event. It’s a chance for accomplished performers to showcase their talents and for those with less experience to develop confidence on stage.”

He joins OTA in welcoming not only veteran performers but also those with little or no previous onstage experience.

“Open Mic at OTA” will be from 6-9 p.m. in the theater’s Gathering Hall. Sign-ups for performers will begin at 5:30 p.m. and audience members may come and go throughout the evening. There is no charge for admission; however, gratuities will be gratefully accepted and set aside to finance a new sound system for the Gathering Hall space.

Concessions and beverage bars also will be open during the event.

Look for “Open Mic at OTA” every third Monday of the month. For more information, call the business office at OTA between 1-5 p.m. weekdays at 683-7326 or Bunnell at 681-2686 or mbunnell@olypen.com.

OTA offers youth musical workshop

Olympic Theatre Arts and pianist/composer Linda Dowdell have joined forces to bring to OTA this summer a two-week musical theater workshop tailored specifically for teens.

For the past four summers groups of about 20 teens have assembled for two weeks during the summer at Sequim’s Dungeness Schoolhouse to study and perform musical numbers guided by professionals in the field.

The Musical Theatre Intensive for Teens at OTA will be from 9:45 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, from July 25-Aug. 5, with two performances at the OTA Main Stage theater on Aug. 5.

Tuition will be $475 for the two-week session, including lunch from Pacific Pantry of Sequim.

For more information or to register for the program, contact OTA at 683-7326. The business office is open from 1-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.