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The Outsiders (musical)

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The Outsiders
Broadway promotional poster
MusicJonathan Clay
Zach Chance
Justin Levine
LyricsJonathan Clay
Zach Chance
Justin Levine
BookAdam Rapp
Justin Levine
BasisThe Outsiders
by S. E. Hinton
The Outsiders
by Kathleen Rowell
PremiereFebruary 19, 2023 (2023-02-19): La Jolla Playhouse
Productions2023 La Jolla Playhouse
2024 Broadway
AwardsTony Award for Best Musical

The Outsiders is a 2023 musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance from the folk rock band Jamestown Revival alongside Justin Levine and a book by Adam Rapp and Levine.[1][2] It is based on The Outsiders, first published in 1967 and written by S. E. Hinton, and on its 1983 film adaptation written by Kathleen Rowell and directed by Francis Ford Coppola.[3] It is the second stage adaptation of Hinton's novel, following the 1990 play by Christopher Sergel.[4]

The musical, told from the perspective of 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, is set in Tulsa, Oklahoma during the 1960s and follows the conflict between two rival gangs divided by their socioeconomic status: the working-class "Greasers" and the upper-middle-class "Socs" (pronounced /ˈsoʊʃɪz/—short for Socials).[5]

The show received mixed-to-positive reviews, with most praising the script, score, choreography and Brody Grant's performance as Ponyboy. It received twelve nominations at the 77th Tony Awards and won four awards, including Best Musical.[6] A North American Tour is planned to kick off in 2025.[7]

Plot

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Act 1

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Ponyboy Curtis, aged 14, is writing in a notebook, when he begins to introduce the world of the show — Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1967. He introduces his eldest brother Darrel who used to be a football star with "a ticket out," and his middle brother Sodapop, who recently had his heart broken. He introduces the Greasers, the more gritty, grounded counterparts to the upper-class Socs who "live like socialites." He specifically points out his best friend, Greaser Johnny Cade, who was recently jumped by Socs ("Tulsa, '67").

Ponyboy is jumped by the same Socs who attacked Johnny, led by their ringleader Bob. The Socs attempt to cut Ponyboy's hair to make him look like a Soc, Ponyboy bites one of them, and then goes unconscious. He wakes up to his brothers cleaning him up. The other Greasers — led by Dally, who just got out of county lockup — tell Ponyboy that he has officially become a Greaser, having gotten through this experience and come out the other end. Darrel worries that Ponyboy is making an irresponsible choice in cementing himself as a Greaser, but Dally makes it official anyway ("Grease Got a Hold").

Darrel is at home folding laundry, reflecting on his role as a pseudo-father to his younger brothers after their parents recently died in a car accident ("Runs in the Family"). Ponyboy comes home and asks Darrel if he can go to the drive-in with Johnny, Two-Bit, and Dally. Darrel agrees, as long as Ponyboy stays careful and isn't late for curfew. Ponyboy and Sodapop discuss how Darrel's in a hard place right now, and Ponyboy asks his brother if, like himself, he dreams about his parents' accident. Sodapop says no, before asking Ponyboy about the book he's reading. Ponyboy and Sodapop reflect on the similarities they each see in the characters in the book "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens. After Sodapop goes to sleep, Ponyboy keeps reading and following this train of thought ("Great Expectations").

Meanwhile, Dally finds Johnny outside his house, with sounds of intense arguing from inside. After it becomes clear this has happened before, Johnny tells Dally that he stays at home because he's scared his father will kill his mother. Dally offers to go inside the house himself, but Johnny doesn't let him. Dally gives Johnny a cigarette for warmth, a Hershey Bar, and a knife, which he teaches Johnny how to use.

The next day, Dally, Johnny, and Ponyboy all go to the drive-in, which is full of Socs. There, they meet Sherri "Cherry" Valance ("Friday at the Drive-in"). Dally keeps hitting on Cherry, claiming she's "not as innocent" as she may seem. Johnny tries to stop him. After Dally leaves, Cherry and her friend Marcia invite Ponyboy and Johnny to sit with them, before eventually asking Ponyboy to escort her to the concession stand. There, the two begin talking and realize that the other isn't exactly as stereotypes led them to believe — Cherry is dealing with fighting and demanding parents, and Ponyboy likes books and watching the sky change colors as the sun sets ("I Could Talk to You All Night").

Bob, Cherry's boyfriend, tries to tell Cherry to not talk to Greasers, leading to an altercation between the two groups — notably between Bob and Two-Bit. Cherry stops them from fighting, but breaks up with Bob in doing so. Bob — who is clearly drunk — threatens Ponyboy. Cherry tells Ponyboy to not take it the wrong way if she doesn't say hello to him at school. Ponyboy and Johnny arrive at the Curtis home, late for curfew. An enraged Darrel begins shouting at his younger brother, and Ponyboy fights back. Sodapop is unable to quell the argument. As tensions escalate, Darrel slaps Ponyboy ("Runs in the Family" (reprise)). Ponyboy and Johnny run away. They sit and contemplate what could be next for them, dreaming of running far away ("Far Away From Tulsa").

Ponyboy and Johnny are stopped by the Socs, led by Bob. A fight breaks out, and it escalates quickly. The Socs attempt to drown Ponyboy in a water fountain, but before they can finish the job, Johnny stabs Bob with the knife Dally gave him, killing the Soc. By the time Ponyboy regains consciousness, the other Socs have fled. Ponyboy and Johnny run to Dally, who gives them money and instructions to an abandoned church where they can hide for the time being, and Ponyboy and Johnny do as they're told ("Run Run Brother").

Act 2

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In Tulsa, the Socs and police are searching for Ponyboy and Johnny, who the Socs told the police were responsible for Bob's death. At the abandoned church, Ponyboy and Johnny see their photos in the newspaper, and decide that Ponyboy needs to cut and bleach his hair in order to make him less recognizable. Darrel and Sodapop are interrogated about what they know or who they know that might know more, with the police singling out Dally as a specific person of interest. Cherry mourns her boyfriend, but acknowledges that he and his friends have made some bad choices. Paul mourns with Cherry before accusing her of antagonizing Bob into fighting Ponyboy. Paul and the Socs then declare war on the Greasers and plan a fight for next Saturday night ("Justice for Tulsa").

At the church, Ponyboy reflects on how he feels that he brings death and bad luck to others, and that Johnny should just leave him at the church and run away on his own. Johnny refuses, saying he will stick by Ponyboy no matter what ("Death's at My Door"). Meanwhile, at the Curtis house, Dally tells Darrel and Sodapop that no one will find Ponyboy and Johnny, but Darrel blames Dally for being a bad influence on the two boys. Dally counters that he spends more time with Ponyboy than Darrel, his own brother. He prepares to strike Darrel, but Sodapop stops the fighting before it can escalate further. Dally backs off, but walks away in anger. Darrel worries that he will never be able to help Ponyboy, and contemplates giving up. Sodapop reminds him that they don't give up on family. Ponyboy reflects on this from the church, on his own ("Throwing in the Towel").

Ponyboy recites a poem ("Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost) to Johnny, as they watch the sunrise. Dally arrives at the church, and tells Ponyboy and Johnny that there are kids at the church having a field trip or picnic of some kind. He gives Ponyboy a letter from Sodapop (really, both of his brothers, just signed by Sodapop) about how the house isn't complete without Ponyboy ("Soda's Letter"). Johnny decides he wants to return to Tulsa and turn himself in. Dally is adamant that this is a bad idea, telling the boys that it's always better to run away from trouble like he did, going from town to town. He also reveals that the Socs and Greasers' rivalry has only worsened, and that there will soon be a rumble. The winner gets control over the park. During this conversation, Ponyboy throws a cigarette he's finished with on the ground behind him.

Dally tells Ponyboy and Johnny that he is going to drive them to Iowa where someone is going to take them in. Before they can leave, though, the church catches on fire from the cigarette Ponyboy threw away. Ponyboy and Johnny run into the flames in order to rescue the kids Dally had mentioned earlier, turning them into local heroes back in Tulsa — where they return ("Hoods Turned Heroes"). Ponyboy ends up not badly injured, but a beam fell on Johnny's back, and he can no longer feel his legs. Dally says he will not be holding back at the rumble. Cherry comes to the hospital room, and tells Ponyboy that she just learned that both he and Johnny were cleared of all murder charges. She begs Ponyboy to not fight in the upcoming rumble ("Hopeless War").

Ponyboy feels he has to fight for Johnny, and joins the Greasers in preparing for the rumble. Darrel shows up, ready to fight, and asks Ponyboy to let him fight on his behalf. Ponyboy still refuses, and all three Curtis brothers prepare to fight in the rumble ("Trouble"). Darrel and Paul — once best friends, now rivals — start fighting one-on-one, before everyone breaks out into an all-out fight. The Greasers and Socs brutally fight one another in the pouring rain, and eventually the Greasers win. They go visit Johnny in the hospital after the fight. Johnny tells Ponyboy to "stay gold," and then dies. All the Greasers become emotional, but Dally in particular. Overwhelmed with grief, he storms out of the hospital. He runs to the train tracks — Ponyboy narrates that he's so fast, no one can catch him — and lets himself get hit by an oncoming train, killing him ("Little Brother").

Ponyboy is distraught, not speaking, and staring at the television while his brothers try to help him. They reveal he's been like that for two weeks. Darrel acknowledges that although Johnny and Dally are both heroes, they are both gone. A stunned and enraged Ponyboy pins Darrel to the ground, but Sodapop furiously stops them, fed up with the constant fighting. Cherry then stops by, revealing she started volunteering at the hospital. She found a pile of Johnny's clothes, and thought Ponyboy should have them. She tells Ponyboy that Johnny left a note for him in one of his pockets. The note — which Sodapop reads to Ponyboy, as Ponyboy is too emotional to even open it — reveals that Johnny had time to think before he died (which he knew was coming), and that he understands the meaning of "Nothing Gold Can Stay," which neither of them were sure the meaning of back at the church. He again tells Ponyboy to "stay gold," and asks him to remind Dally of the good in the world ("Stay Gold").

Ponyboy tells Darrel and Sodapop that while he loves being a Greaser, that's not all there is to him, which both of his brothers accept. Ponyboy sits down to eat dinner with the two of them. Sodapop asks him about what he was writing in his notebook before (after reading the note, before coming to dinner), and Ponyboy says Tulsa, and the things that go on there. Darrel and Sodapop want to read it, but Ponyboy is self-conscious about it. Eventually, Darrel reads it out loud, revealing it to be the opening narration to "The Outsiders" novel (Finale ("Tulsa '67")).

Production history

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San Diego (2023)

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The musical was originally announced in 2019 and was set to premiere at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago directed by Liesl Tommy with a performance run scheduled from June 20, 2020, until August 2, 2020, that was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] A prior workshop was held in 2022 with Casey Likes as Ponyboy.[9] The musical premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse on February 19, 2023, and closed April 9, 2023, after extending a week due to high ticket sales.[10] The principal cast included Brody Grant as Ponyboy Curtis, Sky Lakota-Lynch as Johnny Cade, Ryan Vasquez as Darrell Curtis, and Jason Schmidt as Sodapop Curtis.[11]

Broadway (2024)

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The production transferred to Broadway with the same creative team. The show began previews on March 16, 2024, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre with an opening night scheduled for April 11, 2024.[12] Among the show's producers are actresses LaChanze and Angelina Jolie, as well as The Araca Group, Francis Ford Coppola under his American Zoetrope banner, and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.[13] Other producers include Betsy Dollinger, Cristina Marie Vivenzio, The Shubert Organization, Marylee Fairbanks, Debra Martin Chase and others. [14]The show will be directed by Danya Taymor, niece of director Julie Taymor. Choreography is by brothers Rick and Jeff Kuperman. Costumes are by Sarafina Bush with music direction and orchestrations by Matt Hinkely. Jack Viertel served as creative director for the project. Tilly Evans-Krueger is the associate choreographer and dance captain for the ensemble. Before moving to Broadway, the cast traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma to see the real-life places and inspiration behind the original story.[15] Opening night reviews were mixed-to-positive, mostly praising the script, score, choreography and Brody Grant's performance.[16]

Planned North American Tour (2025)

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On May 29, 2024, it was announced that the show will embark on a North American Tour beginning in Fall 2025 at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma following previews at the West Herr Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, New York.[17]

Characters and original casts

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Character Workshop[18] San Diego[19] Broadway[20]
2022 2023 2024
Ponyboy Curtis Casey Likes Brody Grant
Johnny Cade Sky Lakota-Lynch
Sodapop "Soda" Curtis Brody Grant Jason Schmidt
Darrel "Darry" Curtis Ryan Vasquez Brent Comer
Dallas "Dally" Winston Phillip Johnson Richardson Da'Von T. Moody Joshua Boone
Keith "Two-Bit" Mathews Trevor McGhie Daryl Tofa
Steve Randle - Renni Anthony Magee
Sherri "Cherry" Valance Piper Rae Patterson Emma Pittman
Marcia Kiki Lemieux SarahGrace Mariani
Robert "Bob" Sheldon Blake Roman Kevin William Paul
Randy Anderson Daniel Marconi -
Paul Holden Aidan Wharton Brent Comer Dan Berry

Musical numbers

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Awards and nominations

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2024 Broadway production

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Year Award Category Nominee Result
2024
 Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a Musical Nominated
Distinguished Performance Joshua Boone Nominated
Brody Grant Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding New Broadway Musical Nominated
Outstanding Choreography (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman Nominated
Outstanding Lighting Design (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Brian MacDevitt Won
Drama Desk Awards[22] Outstanding Musical Nominated
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical Brody Grant Nominated
Outstanding Direction of a Musical Danya Taymor Nominated
Outstanding Choreography Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman Nominated
Outstanding Music Jonathan Clay, Zach Chance, and Justin Levine Nominated
Outstanding Lyrics Nominated
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical AMP and Tatiana Kahvegian Nominated
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical Brian MacDevitt and Hana S. Kim (projections) Won
Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical Cody Spencer Won
Tony Awards Best Musical Won
Best Actor in a Musical Brody Grant Nominated
Best Featured Actor in a Musical Joshua Boone Nominated
Sky Lakota-Lynch Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical Danya Taymor Won
Best Book of a Musical Justin Levine and Adam Rapp Nominated
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre Jamestown Revival (Zach Chance and Jonathan Clay) and Justin Levine (music and lyrics) Nominated
Best Scenic Design in a Musical AMP featuring Tatiana Kahvegian Nominated
Best Lighting Design in a Musical Hana S. Kim and Brian MacDevitt Won
Best Sound Design in a Musical Cody Spencer Won
Best Choreography Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman Nominated
Best Orchestrations Matt Hinkley, Justin Levine, and Jamestown Revival (Zach Chance and Jonathan Clay) Nominated
Theatre World Awards[23] Brody Grant Won

References

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  1. ^ Evans, Greg (2023-08-21). "'The Outsiders' Musical Sets Broadway Opening For Spring 2024". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  2. ^ "The Outsiders – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com.
  3. ^ Peck, Dale (September 23, 2007). "'The Outsiders': 40 Years Later". The New York Times. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  4. ^ "S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders by Sergel (Full-length Play)". www.dramaticpublishing.com. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  5. ^ Krischer, Hayley (March 12, 2017). "Why 'The Outsiders' Lives On: A Teenage Novel Turns 50". The New York Times. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  6. ^ Evans, Greg (April 30, 2024). "Tony Award Nominations: 'Hell's Kitchen', 'Stereophonic' Lead With 13".
  7. ^ https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/THE-OUTSIDERS-Will-Launch-National-Tour-in-2025-20240529
  8. ^ "New Musical Version of S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders Set for 2020 - TheaterMania.com". 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  9. ^ "The Outsiders at Unknown Venue 2022". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  10. ^ "The Outsiders". La Jolla Playhouse. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  11. ^ Gans, Andrew (January 5, 2023). "Cast Complete for La Jolla Playhouse World Premiere of The Outsiders Musical". Playbill.
  12. ^ "The Outsiders". Playbill.
  13. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (2023-08-21). "'The Outsiders' Musical to Open on Broadway With Angelina Jolie as Producer". Variety. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  14. ^ Evans, Greg (2023-08-21). "'The Outsiders' Musical Sets Broadway Opening For Spring 2024". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  15. ^ Ryzik, Melena (February 22, 2024). "On the Road With 'The Outsiders,' Where the Greasers and Socs Rumbled". The New York Times. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  16. ^ Cristi, A. A. "Review Roundup: THE OUTSIDERS Opens On Broadway". BroadwayWorld.com.
  17. ^ https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/THE-OUTSIDERS-Will-Launch-National-Tour-in-2025-20240529
  18. ^ "a workshop production of The Outsiders". about the artists. 2022-05-31. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  19. ^ "The Outsiders". La Jolla Playhouse. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  20. ^ "Broadway.com". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  21. ^ "The Outsiders (Broadway, Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 2024) | Playbill".
  22. ^ Rosky, Nicole. "2024 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  23. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan. "Cole Escola, Meleah Joi Moon, Rachel McAdams, More Win 2024 Theatre World Awards". Playbill. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
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