Peninsula College welcomes the Oregon Shakespeare Festival actors for two performances, set for 10:20 a.m. and 12:35 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8. Both shows are free, open to the public and will be held in the college gymnasium on the main campus, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.

Armando McClain and Kaileela Hobby are the featured actors. They will be pairing some of the following Shakespeare scenes with modern literature. The program, held on the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, is part of what is called the “Literature Program,” featuring pairings of Shakespeare’s plays with contemporary scenes that confront related concepts and issues. Event organizers say this helps students see the continued relevance of Shakespeare’s work.

The first program includes scenes from “Romeo and Juliet,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Sir Thomas More” and “Macbeth.”

The second performance will feature a shortened version of “Julius Caesar.”

This year’s program will draw a large, diverse audience, as the result of thoughtful collaborations between the college and the Sequim High School English department. SHS principal Shawn Langston and three faculty members — Chelsea Reichner, Jon Eekhoff and Nellie Bridge — worked to bring “all the seniors who can join in,” arranging for more than 160 students to attend the performances. During the brown-bag lunch break between shows, they will have an opportunity to learn from the college’s English department faculty. Members of the PC faculty will present a brief overview then an opportunity for discussion.

Call 417-6489 or email Kate Reavey at kreavey@pencol.edu for more.