‘The Lion King’ Continues at The Benedum; ‘War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast’ at South Park (Thurs., 9/26/19)

Buyl Zama is Rafiki, the shamanic mandrill, in ‘The Lion King’ at Benedum Center. Note the gazelles in motion behind her. (photo: Deen van Meer, © Disney)

1) Authoritarian rule is to be dreaded, except in The Lion King. All creatures rejoice when young Simba, a benevolent though carnivorous monarch, defeats a coup to reclaim his place at the top of the food chain. The 1994 Disney animated movie won the hearts of millions. The Broadway musical, stunningly adapted under the direction of Julie Taymor, has played continuously in New York since 1997. Now the latest touring production of The Lion King visits Pittsburgh. It retains all the features that won multiple Tony Awards (including Best Musical) for the Broadway original. Actors use Taymor’s costumes and puppets to vividly re-create a story in which no characters are humans. The musical has additional scenes and many songs beyond those in the animated film, as composers such as Lebo M of South Africa expanded on the movie’s Elton John-Tim Rice score. With the recent release of the CGI movie remake, Lion King aficionados can do a triple dip, comparing both screen versions and the musical. Just be advised that the live stage show is a hot ticket. Reserve promptly. 7:30 p.m. Performances run through September 29. Benedum Center, 237 7th St., Cultural District. (MV)

After his too-realistic ‘War of the Worlds,’ Orson Welles—wide-eyed at center—met the press for some carefully scripted ’splaining. (photo: unknown news photographer, 1938)

2) South Park Theatre presents a history play framed as radio meta-theater inside meta-theater. The subject is Orson Welles’ legendary 1938 adaptation of the H.G. Wells sci-fi novel The War of the Worlds. Done live on national radio, in the style of breaking news reports about a Martian invasion, it led off with a this-is-fiction advisory but still alarmed listeners who tuned in midway. Modern playwright Joe Landry has developed a piece called War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast. Done live on stage, it re-creates an imaginary 1940s radio show re-creating Welles’ 1938 show and the hubbub that followed. Got that? It’s said to be fun. 7:30 p.m. Continues through October 5. Brownsville Rd. at Corrigan Dr., South Park Township. (MV)

3) Looking for a rising pop punk band to check out? Head to Crafthouse Stage & Grill tonight and catch Richmond, Virginia based alternative pop-punk band Telltale. They are opening for Broadside and touring in support of their recently released EP, Timeless Youth, available now from SharpTone Records. Telltale formed in 2017, and  subsequently released their debut EP Good Intentions, which caught the attention of SharpTone Records. 7:30 p.m. 5024 Curry Rd., Whitehall.

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