Grant Turner played King Richard II during the Shakespeare Festival in Elgin.

ELGIN — The Opera House Shakespeare Festival is in its second year and announced the performance of three classic Shakespeare plays between July 21-30.

“Richard II” and “Henry IV” will be performed at the 75-seat Jewel Theater, 831 Alder St., and “The Taming of the Shrew” will be performed at the Opera House Outdoor Stage.

Tickets are $18 and available by phone at 541-663-6324 or online at elginoperahouse.com.

“Richard II and Henry IV are history plays, Shakespeare at his best,” said Grant Turner, the festival’s artistic director, who plays Richard II. “The plays can be comic and tragic, but also have a message — what happens to a country when a king isn’t particularly good at what he does, and the monarchy is less successful?”

Turner co-directs both history plays with Jonathan Cullen, the festival’s ambassador, who plays the character of Henry IV. Cullen is a performer from the United Kingdom, and he has played on all the major stages there before moving to the U.S. five years ago, Turner said.

He lives in Portland and was introduced to the Elgin Opera House through a colleague.

“Richard II” chronicles the rise and fall of King Richard II and his usurpation by Henry IV. Turner said to truly get a full picture of this history, one should really see both plays, Richard II and then Henry IV.

“Henry IV” parts 1 and 2 are combined into a 3-hour performance, a sequel to “Richard II,” and this production further explores the reign of Henry IV and introduces the audience to his wayward son, Hal (Henry V) as well as one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedic characters, Sir John Falstaff, played by Liberty O’Dell.

“The Taming of the Shrew” is an all-female production of Shakespeare’s most renowned comedy. Playing the role of Kate, the Shrew is Carly Elder of Pendleton and Petruchio is played by Cassandra Johnson of La Grande. It is the drama of two sisters, both in pursuit of romance, marriage, duty and family.

Turner has been producing Shakespeare in Union County for about eight years, the last four being with the Elgin Opera House, but his background in Shakespeare theater actually started long before this.

“I ran a theater company in Portland for 18 years that was primarily Shakespeare but also other classic artists,” he said.

Despite the “thee, thou, betwixt and doths,” Shakespeare plays remain popular.

“There’s a reason why these plays are successful today,” Turner said, “because when they are done well, they can be moving, thought-provoking, provocative and challenging. So, one should never be afraid to come to a Shakespeare play.”

“Richard II”

Jewel Theater

July 21, 26, 28 at 7:30 p.m.

July 23 and 30 at 2 p.m.

“Henry IV”

Jewel Theater

July 22, 23, 27, 29, 30 at 7:30 p.m.

“The Taming of the Shrew”

Opera House outdoor stage

July 22, 23, 29, 30 at 5 p.m.