The Outsiders (musical) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Outsiders
Broadway promotional poster
Music	Jonathan Clay Zach Chance Justin Levine
Lyrics	Jonathan Clay Zach Chance Justin Levine
Book	Adam Rapp Justin Levine
Basis	The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton The Outsiders by Kathleen Rowell
Productions	2023 La Jolla Playhouse 2024 Broadway
Awards	Tony Award for Best Musical

The Outsiders is a musical that first opened in 2023. It tells a powerful story through music and songs. The music and lyrics were created by Jonathan Clay, Zach Chance, and Justin Levine. The story for the musical was written by Adam Rapp and Justin Levine.

This musical is based on a famous book called The Outsiders, written by S. E. Hinton in 1967. It also takes ideas from the 1983 movie based on the book, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

The story is told by a 14-year-old boy named Ponyboy Curtis. It takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1960s. The musical shows the conflict between two groups of teenagers. These groups are divided by their social backgrounds. One group is the "Greasers", who are from working-class families. The other group is the "Socs" (pronounced "So-shiz"), who are from wealthier families.

The show got good reviews, with many people praising the script, music, and dancing. Brody Grant, who plays Ponyboy, was especially praised for his acting. The musical was nominated for twelve Tony Awards and won four of them, including the award for Best Musical.

The Story of The Outsiders

This is the story of The Outsiders musical as seen on Broadway in 2024. Some small parts might have been different in earlier versions of the show.

Act One: Friends and Trouble

Ponyboy Curtis, who is 14, starts writing in his notebook. He introduces the audience to his world in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1967. He talks about his older brother, Darrel, who was a football star. He also mentions his middle brother, Sodapop, who recently had his heart broken. Ponyboy then introduces the "Greasers," his group of friends. They are different from the wealthier "Socs." He points out his best friend, Johnny Cade, who was recently attacked by Socs.

Ponyboy himself is attacked by the same Socs, led by Bob. They try to cut his hair, but Ponyboy fights back. He wakes up to his brothers helping him. The other Greasers, led by Dally, welcome Ponyboy. They say he is now truly a Greaser after what he went through. Darrel worries about Ponyboy making bad choices.

Darrel is at home, thinking about how he has to act like a parent to his younger brothers. Their parents recently passed away in a car accident. Ponyboy asks Darrel if he can go to the drive-in movie theater with Johnny, Two-Bit, and Dally. Darrel says yes, but tells him to be careful and not be late. Ponyboy and Sodapop talk about Darrel's difficult situation. Ponyboy asks Sodapop if he dreams about their parents' accident. Sodapop says no. They then talk about a book Ponyboy is reading, Great Expectations.

Meanwhile, Dally finds Johnny outside his house. There is a lot of arguing happening inside Johnny's home. Johnny tells Dally he stays outside because he is afraid of his father. Dally offers to go inside, but Johnny stops him. Dally gives Johnny a cigarette and a knife, showing him how to use it for protection.

The next day, Dally, Johnny, and Ponyboy go to the drive-in. They meet Cherry Valance there. Dally tries to flirt with Cherry, but Johnny tries to stop him. After Dally leaves, Cherry and her friend Marcia invite Ponyboy and Johnny to sit with them. Ponyboy and Cherry go to get snacks. They start talking and realize they are not so different, even though they come from different groups. Cherry has problems with her parents, and Ponyboy loves books and watching sunsets.

Bob, Cherry's boyfriend, gets upset that she is talking to Greasers. A fight almost starts between the groups. Cherry stops the fight but breaks up with Bob. Bob threatens Ponyboy. Cherry tells Ponyboy not to be offended if she doesn't say hello to him at school. Ponyboy and Johnny arrive home late. Darrel gets angry and slaps Ponyboy. Ponyboy and Johnny run away. They think about what to do next, dreaming of going far away from Tulsa.

Ponyboy and Johnny are stopped by the Socs, led by Bob. A big fight breaks out. The Socs try to drown Ponyboy. To save Ponyboy, Johnny uses the knife Dally gave him, and something terrible happens to Bob. Ponyboy and Johnny run to Dally. Dally gives them money and tells them to hide in an old church. They follow his instructions.

Act Two: Heroes and Heartbreak

Back in Tulsa, the Socs and police are looking for Ponyboy and Johnny. At the abandoned church, Ponyboy and Johnny see their pictures in the newspaper. They decide Ponyboy needs to cut and dye his hair so he won't be recognized. Darrel and Sodapop are questioned by the police. Cherry is sad about Bob, but she knows he and his friends made bad choices. Paul, another Soc, blames Cherry for the fight. Paul and the Socs then plan a big fight with the Greasers.

Dally tells Darrel and Sodapop that no one will find Ponyboy and Johnny. But Darrel blames Dally for being a bad influence. Dally argues that he spends more time with Ponyboy than Darrel does. Sodapop stops their argument. At the church, Ponyboy feels like he brings bad luck to others. He thinks Johnny should leave him and run away alone. Johnny refuses, saying he will stay with Ponyboy. Back at home, Darrel worries he can't help Ponyboy. Sodapop reminds him that they don't give up on family.

Ponyboy reads a poem called "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost to Johnny as they watch the sunrise. Dally arrives at the church. He tells them there are kids from a field trip nearby. He gives Ponyboy a letter from Sodapop, which is really from both his brothers. The letter says the house isn't complete without Ponyboy. Johnny decides he wants to go back to Tulsa and turn himself in. Dally strongly disagrees, saying it's better to run from trouble. He also says the rivalry between the Socs and Greasers has gotten worse, and there will be a big fight soon. The winner will control the park. During this talk, Ponyboy throws a cigarette he just finished onto the ground.

Dally tells Ponyboy and Johnny he will drive them to Iowa. But before they can leave, the church catches fire from Ponyboy's cigarette. Ponyboy and Johnny run into the burning church to rescue the kids Dally mentioned. They become local heroes when they return to Tulsa. Ponyboy is not badly hurt, but a beam fell on Johnny's back, and he can't feel his legs. Dally says he will fight hard in the rumble. Cherry visits Ponyboy in the hospital. She tells him that he and Johnny are cleared of any serious charges. She begs Ponyboy not to fight in the rumble.

Ponyboy feels he must fight for Johnny. He joins the Greasers to get ready for the rumble. Darrel shows up, ready to fight, and asks Ponyboy to let him fight instead. Ponyboy still refuses. All three Curtis brothers prepare for the fight. Darrel and Paul, who used to be best friends, start fighting. Then everyone joins in a big, messy fight in the rain. The Greasers win. They go to visit Johnny in the hospital. Johnny tells Ponyboy to "stay gold," and then he passes away. All the Greasers are very sad, especially Dally. Dally gets angry and storms out. He runs to the train tracks, and something sad happens to him.

Ponyboy is very upset and doesn't speak for two weeks. His brothers try to help him. Ponyboy and Darrel argue, but Sodapop stops them. Cherry visits and says she is volunteering at the hospital. She found some 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. Sodapop reads the note to Ponyboy because Ponyboy is too emotional. The note says Johnny had time to think before he passed away. He finally understood the meaning of "Nothing Gold Can Stay." He tells Ponyboy again to "stay gold" and asks him to remind Dally of the good things in the world.

Ponyboy tells Darrel and Sodapop that even though he loves being a Greaser, there is more to him than that. Both his brothers accept this. Ponyboy sits down to eat dinner with them. Sodapop asks him what he was writing in his notebook. Ponyboy says it was about Tulsa and everything that happens there. Darrel and Sodapop want to read it, but Ponyboy is shy. Finally, Darrel reads it aloud. It turns out to be the opening words of The Outsiders novel.

How the Musical Was Made

First Shows (2023)

The idea for The Outsiders musical was first announced in 2019. It was supposed to open in Chicago in 2020. However, it was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, a practice workshop was held in 2022.

The musical officially premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse in California on February 19, 2023. It was very popular and ran until April 9, 2023. The main actors in this first show included Brody Grant as Ponyboy Curtis and Sky Lakota-Lynch as Johnny Cade.

Broadway Debut (2024)

The show then moved to Broadway in New York City with the same creative team. Previews for the Broadway show began on March 16, 2024. The official opening night was April 11, 2024, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

Famous people like actresses LaChanze and Angelina Jolie helped produce the show. Francis Ford Coppola, who directed The Outsiders movie, was also a producer. The show was directed by Danya Taymor. The dancing was created by brothers Rick and Jeff Kuperman. Before the Broadway opening, the cast visited Tulsa, Oklahoma. They wanted to see the real places that inspired the story.

Main Characters and Actors

Here are some of the main characters in The Outsiders musical and the actors who played them in the first shows.

Musical Songs

The musical has many songs that help tell the story. Here are the songs from each act:

Awards and Nominations

The Outsiders musical has received many awards and nominations. Here are some of the most important ones from the 2024 Broadway production: