Photo provided to the Times Observer Logan Johnson and Marylin Shene will be directing tonightás performance of Lion King Jr. at the Struthers Library Theatre. Friday will mark the first time in that role for both of them.

The stage at the Struthers Library Theatre will be alive tonight.

The SLT Academy will be performing Lion King Jr. at 7 p.m. The show will bring two Warren Area High School students — Logan Johnson and Marylin Shene — into the role of director for the first time.

“Logan and Marylin have brought a youthful ambition and creative touch to this semester’s show,” Eric Morelli, marketing and education director at Struthers Library Theatre, said, “but most impressively, they’ve shown great maturity and work ethic.”

Marylin, who will be attending Point Park University next year to major in artistic management with a minor in dance and stage technology, credits a joint production of White Christmas by Molly Dies’ Dance Express and The Warren Players as her awakening on the stage.

It was the combination of disciplines or “the well-rounded performer,” as she calls it, that appealed to her.

“I remember watching Kira Spencer on stage and being like, wow, she can literally do it all,” Shene said.

Johnson, who was recruited into the SLT Academy’s ARTE program under Sue Spencer while still in kindergarten, has found a home at the theatre.

“I feel very in my element doing this,” he said, “All of that learned knowledge has just spilled right back into my creation.”

The Lion King Jr. is the story of Simba — played by Blake Ristau — who is an adventurous and energetic lion cub who is next in line to be king of the Pride Lands.

The show also stars Anna Courson as Rafiki, Ethan Monroe as Mufasa, Ella Getner as Nala, Macy Winiki as Zazu, Jadenne Fofana as Scar, Alyssa Wismar as Timon, Colin Dreyer as Pumba, Sydney Johnson as Sarabi, Peyton Kellogg, Charlotte Keeports, Brigit Cook and Kayla Oaks as Lionesses, Caroline Smyth as Banzai, Abigail Wilson as Shenzi and Elias Eastman as Ed.

The youngest SLT Academy students will be playing assorted animals and ensemble roles.

“The first theatre production I ever saw was The Lion King in Pittsburgh,” Johnson said. “For that to be the first show I ever directed really brings this full circle for me.” The SLT Academy is made possible by the Kay Logan Foundation and the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts. For more information and tickets, visit: www.strutherslibrarytheatre.org

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. An online ticket option is available at strutherslibrarytheatre.org.