Party hard with The Bard!

Well, not "with," exactly. Let's say "in honor of."

The Colonial Theatre, which stages Shakespeare in the Park each summer in Westerly, is organizing a 450th birthday party for William Shakespeare.

The festivities happen from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Westerly Library, and they'll involve birthday cake, light refreshments, and community members - including actors from the current Shakespeare To Go School Outreach programn - performing excerpts of Shakespeare's great works. Among the guest readers: Stonington First Selectman Ed Haberek and State Senator Andrew Maynard.

And the Colonial folks will chat a bit about this summer's production, "Twelfth Night," which will run from July 30 to Aug. 17 in Westerly's Wilcox Park.

- KRISTINA DORSEY

Shakespeare Birthday Party, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Westerly Public Library, 44 Broad St., Westerly; free; (401) 596-2877.