Write-Up by: Brianna Guinigundo
Photos by: Matthew Murphy
(Dr. Phillips, Orlando FL) A beloved classic for all ages, the well-known story of the Greasers reaches the stage in this musical adaptation of The Outsiders. What started as S.E. Hinton’s novel in 1967 then movie adaptation in 1983, this plot did not premier on Broadway until recently in 2023. But the momentum it has picked up is unlike any other. The Outsiders was the winner of four distinct 2024 Tony Awards, most notably receiving “Best Musical”.
Brief Synopsis
What has made “The Outsiders” a household tale is its timelessness. Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1967, young teenager Ponyboy Curtis navigates loyalty, violence, and identity during a fierce rivalry between two social classes, the working class “Greasers” against the affluent “Socs”. But this story goes beyond the divide of socioeconomics - this is a story of what friendship, family, and belonging truly mean.
“Best Direction of a Musical; Best Lighting Design of a Musical; and Best Sound Design of a Musical”
It is no wonder how this production received this many, well-deserved accolades at the 77th Tony Awards. The music adopts a mix between blues and country, with the songs primarily having a slower yet heavier feel, fitting for the small-town, rustic setting. If you have yet to experience “The Outsiders” story, you’re in luck - the lyricism and pace of the music is straightforward and conveniently understandable for newcomers. The plot is very true to the original book, including opening and ending with the same words of the novel, famous for having the first and last lines of the novel be the exact sentence. In addition to the lyricism, the dancing is phenomenal. The precise synchronization among the large mass of performers does not go unnoticed. During one of the pivotal points, a “rumble”, or fight, breaks out - this cast transformed the fighting into a graceful yet powerful dance, having one row of one social class all “punch” the other row of the other social class, and tumbling and turning to switch who was punching who. This coordination of fake punches and tumbles timed perfectly with the short flashes of light and beat drops was unlike any other fight scene - it was well-coordinated and received a prolonged round of applause from the audience after the scene ended. The lighting design and sound design earned its accolades from additional scenes similar to this one, including conveying the idea of being underwater by having the blue lights project and flicker and playing the muffled sound of being surrounded by water too. Overall, the lighting and sound designs truly immersed the audience and conveyed scenes in seamless, creative ways.
Adding onto the production’s design, the set itself was highly practical - each element of the set you see on stage is used at some point of the performance, often with dual-purposes. For example, the rusty car on the right side of the stage is not just the car the Greasers walk on top of, but also, serves to act as the bed that Ponyboy and his brother Sodapop sleep on at night. The rusty building in the background where best friend Johnny Cade’s parents were fighting inside their “house” in Act 1 transformed into the church that the characters even climbed to the top of in Act 2. What was really innovative was the countless transformations created with the stacks of tires and wooden planks. These acted as the benches at the drive-through movie theater, a bed, and even a moving train on the railroads. Each transition was more seamless and fluid than the last, with even the littlest of movements being thoughtful and purposeful. The attention to detail was incredible, with the dirt and dust on the stage’s floor successfully engrossing the audience into this world of “dirty Greasers”.
Act 2 was especially impressive as it conveyed the idea of a large fire in one scene and a rain pouring in a separate scene. The colors of the lighting heavily matched the movements and forms of a real fire. Of course, it was not real fire used, thankfully - but it was real water used for the rain effects. Steadily drizzling downwards, audience members could clearly see that the actors’ hairs were genuinely soaked, as if they were actually fighting in the rain.
Characters
The Greasers
“Ponyboy Curtis” - Nolan White
Having now set the stage, Ponyboy Curtis is the main character and narrator of our story. Performed by Nolan White, White did an incredible job showing the complexities of being a youthful teenager eager to get involved for a cause he doesn’t initially fully understand. This character is not an easy one to portray as one must really capture the emotional growth and maturity carefully developed throughout the plot, but White did exactly that. A wonderful soprano, White especially shined during his rendition of “Great Expectations”.
“Darrel Curtis” - Travis Roy Rogers
With Ponyboy being the youngest, his two brothers try their best to look after him after both their parents passed away. Travis Roy Rogers, playing Darrel the eldest brother, successfully conveyed the conflict that the character Darrel is experiencing, being a brother by blood but having to now act as the father and caretaker. Two voices really stood out tonight for their richness, and Rogers was one of them.
“Sodapop Curtis” - Corbin Drew Ross
The middle brother, Sodapop, was played by Corbin Drew Ross - his good-natured charm had the audience laughing at his jokes the most. Shirtless for the entire first act, Ross really appealed to the characters’ desired good looks that The Outsiders movie had initially instilled. Because this particular character, Sodapop, is not necessarily the brightest in the bunch, it can be tricky to ensure that the audience loves him - but Ross made this very easy with his on-point comedic timing and delivery.
“Johnny Cade” - Bonale Fambrini
Johnny Cade is Ponyboy’s best friend, also one of the youngest in the bunch but faces a different set of family problems of his own - his parents violently fighting. Johnny encounters his own ordeal of personal problems that he finds himself situated in because he was simply trying to do the right thing - actor Fambrini carefully curated this complexity of how the wrong action can have the right intention, and that there is still good in even the unexpected characters.
“Dallas Winston” - Tyler Jordan Wesley
The ringleader of the Greasers, Dally, is played by Tyler Jordan Wesley. This is the second of the two singers that highly stood out vocally by the effortless richness in their voices. This character is supposed to be tough on the outside but a softie on the inside. With Wesley playing him, you do grow to love him and see him the way the other Greasers looked up to him, while also beginning to understand that despite how tough he is on the outside, everyone still has their own set of problems to tackle.
The Socs
“Bob” - Mark Doyle
The Socs are a group of teenagers from the affluent West Side, often tormenting the Greasers from the East Side throughout the story. While the Socs’ outfits are neat and preppy, complete with letterman jackets for the jocks and long skirts with high socks for the girls, it does not take long to dislike the Socs’ characters for bullying the Greasers, led by their ringleader Bob. Bob was played by Mark Doyle who perfectly encapsulated the intimidation and commanding nature one would expect of a bully taken to the extreme. From his dominant posture and stance to his loud whooping voice, Doyle made it clear why the Greasers had to stand strong against the Socs.
“Cherry and Marcia” - Emma Hearn and Katie Reidel
The sweetheart Soc named Cherry, played by Emma Hearn, showed how even those with seemingly perfect lives can still have troubling problems of their own, too. Hearn had a milky, alluring voice distinct from the rest of her counterparts on stage. Cherry’s best friend named Marcia was played by Katie Reidel, and her character's brief but witty remarks still made a notable impact being one of only three female characters voiced on stage, with Reidel guaranteed to gain a laugh from the audience.
Final Thoughts
All in all, this production really has something for everyone to look forward to. To better learn how this Tony-award winning musical was able to convey these heavier topics and thought-provoking messages about society, social connections, and what it means to be “good”, check out their tour at Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center in Orlando, Florida from now until December 23rd, 2025. I have had the personal fortune of recently being able to view The Outsiders on Broadway in New York and I will say that this tour was highly comparable to the Broadway production and all the more captivating, no matter how many times you may watch. Ultimately, The Outsiders endures not just because of its powerful storytelling, but because of its reminder to hold onto empathy, innocence, and hope in a world that often hardens people too quickly. This musical adaptation honors original author S.E. Hinton’s legacy while breathing new life into a story that continues to resonate across generations. As the final moments echo the novel’s timeless message, audiences are left with a simple yet profound reminder—to see the good in themselves and others, to protect what is pure, and above all, to “Stay gold.”
Photos by: Matthew Murphy
(Dr. Phillips, Orlando FL) A beloved classic for all ages, the well-known story of the Greasers reaches the stage in this musical adaptation of The Outsiders. What started as S.E. Hinton’s novel in 1967 then movie adaptation in 1983, this plot did not premier on Broadway until recently in 2023. But the momentum it has picked up is unlike any other. The Outsiders was the winner of four distinct 2024 Tony Awards, most notably receiving “Best Musical”.
Brief Synopsis
What has made “The Outsiders” a household tale is its timelessness. Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1967, young teenager Ponyboy Curtis navigates loyalty, violence, and identity during a fierce rivalry between two social classes, the working class “Greasers” against the affluent “Socs”. But this story goes beyond the divide of socioeconomics - this is a story of what friendship, family, and belonging truly mean.
“Best Direction of a Musical; Best Lighting Design of a Musical; and Best Sound Design of a Musical”
It is no wonder how this production received this many, well-deserved accolades at the 77th Tony Awards. The music adopts a mix between blues and country, with the songs primarily having a slower yet heavier feel, fitting for the small-town, rustic setting. If you have yet to experience “The Outsiders” story, you’re in luck - the lyricism and pace of the music is straightforward and conveniently understandable for newcomers. The plot is very true to the original book, including opening and ending with the same words of the novel, famous for having the first and last lines of the novel be the exact sentence. In addition to the lyricism, the dancing is phenomenal. The precise synchronization among the large mass of performers does not go unnoticed. During one of the pivotal points, a “rumble”, or fight, breaks out - this cast transformed the fighting into a graceful yet powerful dance, having one row of one social class all “punch” the other row of the other social class, and tumbling and turning to switch who was punching who. This coordination of fake punches and tumbles timed perfectly with the short flashes of light and beat drops was unlike any other fight scene - it was well-coordinated and received a prolonged round of applause from the audience after the scene ended. The lighting design and sound design earned its accolades from additional scenes similar to this one, including conveying the idea of being underwater by having the blue lights project and flicker and playing the muffled sound of being surrounded by water too. Overall, the lighting and sound designs truly immersed the audience and conveyed scenes in seamless, creative ways.
Adding onto the production’s design, the set itself was highly practical - each element of the set you see on stage is used at some point of the performance, often with dual-purposes. For example, the rusty car on the right side of the stage is not just the car the Greasers walk on top of, but also, serves to act as the bed that Ponyboy and his brother Sodapop sleep on at night. The rusty building in the background where best friend Johnny Cade’s parents were fighting inside their “house” in Act 1 transformed into the church that the characters even climbed to the top of in Act 2. What was really innovative was the countless transformations created with the stacks of tires and wooden planks. These acted as the benches at the drive-through movie theater, a bed, and even a moving train on the railroads. Each transition was more seamless and fluid than the last, with even the littlest of movements being thoughtful and purposeful. The attention to detail was incredible, with the dirt and dust on the stage’s floor successfully engrossing the audience into this world of “dirty Greasers”.
Act 2 was especially impressive as it conveyed the idea of a large fire in one scene and a rain pouring in a separate scene. The colors of the lighting heavily matched the movements and forms of a real fire. Of course, it was not real fire used, thankfully - but it was real water used for the rain effects. Steadily drizzling downwards, audience members could clearly see that the actors’ hairs were genuinely soaked, as if they were actually fighting in the rain.
Characters
The Greasers
“Ponyboy Curtis” - Nolan White
Having now set the stage, Ponyboy Curtis is the main character and narrator of our story. Performed by Nolan White, White did an incredible job showing the complexities of being a youthful teenager eager to get involved for a cause he doesn’t initially fully understand. This character is not an easy one to portray as one must really capture the emotional growth and maturity carefully developed throughout the plot, but White did exactly that. A wonderful soprano, White especially shined during his rendition of “Great Expectations”.
“Darrel Curtis” - Travis Roy Rogers
With Ponyboy being the youngest, his two brothers try their best to look after him after both their parents passed away. Travis Roy Rogers, playing Darrel the eldest brother, successfully conveyed the conflict that the character Darrel is experiencing, being a brother by blood but having to now act as the father and caretaker. Two voices really stood out tonight for their richness, and Rogers was one of them.
“Sodapop Curtis” - Corbin Drew Ross
The middle brother, Sodapop, was played by Corbin Drew Ross - his good-natured charm had the audience laughing at his jokes the most. Shirtless for the entire first act, Ross really appealed to the characters’ desired good looks that The Outsiders movie had initially instilled. Because this particular character, Sodapop, is not necessarily the brightest in the bunch, it can be tricky to ensure that the audience loves him - but Ross made this very easy with his on-point comedic timing and delivery.
“Johnny Cade” - Bonale Fambrini
Johnny Cade is Ponyboy’s best friend, also one of the youngest in the bunch but faces a different set of family problems of his own - his parents violently fighting. Johnny encounters his own ordeal of personal problems that he finds himself situated in because he was simply trying to do the right thing - actor Fambrini carefully curated this complexity of how the wrong action can have the right intention, and that there is still good in even the unexpected characters.
“Dallas Winston” - Tyler Jordan Wesley
The ringleader of the Greasers, Dally, is played by Tyler Jordan Wesley. This is the second of the two singers that highly stood out vocally by the effortless richness in their voices. This character is supposed to be tough on the outside but a softie on the inside. With Wesley playing him, you do grow to love him and see him the way the other Greasers looked up to him, while also beginning to understand that despite how tough he is on the outside, everyone still has their own set of problems to tackle.
The Socs
“Bob” - Mark Doyle
The Socs are a group of teenagers from the affluent West Side, often tormenting the Greasers from the East Side throughout the story. While the Socs’ outfits are neat and preppy, complete with letterman jackets for the jocks and long skirts with high socks for the girls, it does not take long to dislike the Socs’ characters for bullying the Greasers, led by their ringleader Bob. Bob was played by Mark Doyle who perfectly encapsulated the intimidation and commanding nature one would expect of a bully taken to the extreme. From his dominant posture and stance to his loud whooping voice, Doyle made it clear why the Greasers had to stand strong against the Socs.
“Cherry and Marcia” - Emma Hearn and Katie Reidel
The sweetheart Soc named Cherry, played by Emma Hearn, showed how even those with seemingly perfect lives can still have troubling problems of their own, too. Hearn had a milky, alluring voice distinct from the rest of her counterparts on stage. Cherry’s best friend named Marcia was played by Katie Reidel, and her character's brief but witty remarks still made a notable impact being one of only three female characters voiced on stage, with Reidel guaranteed to gain a laugh from the audience.
Final Thoughts
All in all, this production really has something for everyone to look forward to. To better learn how this Tony-award winning musical was able to convey these heavier topics and thought-provoking messages about society, social connections, and what it means to be “good”, check out their tour at Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center in Orlando, Florida from now until December 23rd, 2025. I have had the personal fortune of recently being able to view The Outsiders on Broadway in New York and I will say that this tour was highly comparable to the Broadway production and all the more captivating, no matter how many times you may watch. Ultimately, The Outsiders endures not just because of its powerful storytelling, but because of its reminder to hold onto empathy, innocence, and hope in a world that often hardens people too quickly. This musical adaptation honors original author S.E. Hinton’s legacy while breathing new life into a story that continues to resonate across generations. As the final moments echo the novel’s timeless message, audiences are left with a simple yet profound reminder—to see the good in themselves and others, to protect what is pure, and above all, to “Stay gold.”
RSS Feed