The Hot Seat

Theater

A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney

Majestic Repertory TheatreThe setting: a bland conference room. The setup: Walt Disney is reading aloud a screenplay he’s written about his life and achievements — to the people, brother and daughter included, who shared that life, for good or ill. Lucas Hnath’s play is a dark comedy (the Times says: “Walt would be doing cartoonish gyrations in his grave”) with an intriguing theatrical challenge: Make it work despite a lack of action — the actors are sitting around a table. Take it away, Majestic Rep! November 1-25, various times, $25, majesticrepertory.com

The Lion King. You saw it on the screen, now take your kids to see it onstage. That’s the circle of life. November 7-25, various times, The Smith Center, $40-$173, thesmithcenter.com

 

Pop Culture

Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival

Clark County LibraryYou needn’t be an advanced nerd to have a good time here. “Wonder Woman: Bondage and Liberation” — does that sound like a nerd-only discussion topic? There’s more: how to create James Bond comics for the 21st century; work by creators of color; “Can Comic Books Save the World?” The real-world impact of comics was seen locally in the funds raised for victims of October 1 by the comics anthology Where We Live — there will be a panel about that, too. November 3, 10a-4:30p, free, vegasvalleycomicbookffestival.org

 

Classical

Celebration of Virko Baley

UNLV’s Beam Music CenterBorn in the Ukraine, composer and conductor Virko Baley has been in Las Vegas almost forever, joining the UNLV music faculty in 1970. During his stint helming the Nevada Symphony Orchestra in the ’80s and early ’90s, he introduced local audiences to demanding modernist works, then went on to win enough accolades, honors, and awards that the “short bio” on his website runs to 650 words. The university marks his 80th birthday with a special concert. November 8, 7:30p, free, unlv.edu/calendar

 

Literature

Natasha Trethewey

The Writer’s BlockIt’ll be laureate-squared at this Believer magazine event: Natasha Trethewey, former U.S. poet laureate, will be joined by Vogue Robinson, Clark County’s poet laureate. The topic will be Trethewey’s new collection, Monument. This is not an unbig deal, folks. But: Will it be at the Writer’s Block’s new or old location? Watch social media! November 29, 7p, free, blackmountaininstitute.org

 

Culture

Derrick Suwaima Davis

Sahara West LibraryDavis, a member of the Hopi and Choctaw nations, is a champion hoop dancer. This is a feat both dauntingly physical — requiring him to keep up to five rattan hoops going at any one time — and deeply cultural, in that he “conveys the Hopi story of creation through his hoops, creating intricate patterns while keeping time to the singing and drumming of a musician.” Part of the Library District’s celebration of Native American Heritage Month. November 14, 6:30p, free, lvccld.org

Civility and Climate Change. This University Forum talk is subtitled “How (Not) to Talk About Scientific Controversy.” Given the stakes — you know, human survival and all — it might be worth a listen. November 30, 7:30p, free, UNLV’s Barrick Museum, unlv.edu/calendar