We consider the problem of an optimal control of the wave equation with a localized nonlinear dissipation. An optimal control is used to bring the state solutions close to a desired profile under a quadratic cost of control. We establish the existence of solutions of the underlying initial boundary value problem and of an optimal control that minimizes the cost functional. We derive an optimality system by formally differentiating the cost functional with respect to the control and evaluating the result at an optimal control.