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I\u2019ve somehow gone all my life without reading or watching \u201cThe Outsiders,\u201d the classic coming-of-age story about Ponyboy and his crew of Greasers, so I had zero expectations when it came to seeing the Tony winning stage musical, and man was I impressed. <\/p>\n
Aside from having an incredible story, the musical version of \u201cThe Outsiders\u201d has incredible songs, lighting, staging and a cast of actors with voices that are out of this world. <\/p>\n
The story takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma during the mid-1960s, and it kind of has a \u201cRomeo and Juliet\u201d vibe to the plot. Two gangs of teens with socioeconomic differences are fighting on the streets for territory and pride. We see it all from the perspective of Ponyboy, a young teen who wants to fit in, but feels like there is more to life than Tulsa. <\/p>\n
Director Dayna Taymor does the absolute most to adapt this beloved story into a stage musical. Every lighting cue, sound cue and movement on the stage was intentional. I could hear people sitting around me (myself included) gasping at different parts of the show, or letting out a soft whispered \u201cwow.\u201d The entire production was a reminder of why I love theater. <\/p>\n
The show reaches an incredible high during the fight scene towards the end of act two. The choreography, lights and sounds all made it seem like you were watching it in slow motion, and the rain that was being dumped on the actors on the stage made it all the more real. I sat there with my mouth wide open and in complete awe of what I was seeing on stage. By the end of the production, you could hear sniffles from across the audience. There wasn\u2019t a dry eye in the house. <\/p>\n
University of Michigan student Nolan White was an amazing Ponyboy, and Emma Hearn played Cherry with incredible ease. Their chemistry was off the charts, and their voices blended together seamlessly. Other standouts were Bonale Fambrini, Tyler Jordan Wesley and Corbin Drew Ross. It\u2019s hard to step into characters that were once played by Rob Lowe, Diane Lane, Patrick Swayze and other actors who went on to stardom, but this cast of up and coming theater actors did a fantastic job. <\/p>\n