The Outsiders: A New Musical, also known as The Outsiders, is a 2023 coming-of-age 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. 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. It is the second stage adaptation of Hinton's novel, following the 1990 play by Christopher Sergel.
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 SOH-shiz—short for Socialites).
The musical received twelve nominations at the 77th Tony Awards and won four awards, including Best Musical. Additionally, the musical's cast album was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
Contents
Plot
Act I
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. When the Socs attempt to cut Ponyboy's hair to make him look like a Soc, Ponyboy bites Bob, and then gets knocked 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, as the rest of the gang make themselves comfortable in the Curtis house ("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, though he's still wary of Dally. 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 his switchblade, which he teaches Johnny how to use.
Act II
In Tulsa, the Socs and police are searching for Ponyboy and Johnny, who the Socs told the police were responsible for Bob's death. 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, though they receive no information from him. At the abandoned church, Ponyboy and Johnny see their photographs in the newspaper and decide that Ponyboy needs to cut and bleach his hair to make him less recognizable. Cherry struggles with the death of her boyfriend while acknowledging that he was not a good person. Paul mourns with Cherry before accusing her of antagonizing Bob into fighting Ponyboy. Paul and the Socs then declare war on the Greasers, beating up Two-Bit as a "message", and plan a fight for next Saturday night at the same park where Bob was killed. ("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 does. 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 about how the house isn't complete without Ponyboy. Darrel is seen on stage, representing his concern and love for Ponyboy as well. ("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 has. 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 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. But before they can leave, the church catches on fire from the cigarette Ponyboy threw away. Ponyboy and Johnny run into the flames 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 falls 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 cleared him and Johnny of all murder charges by giving a statement to the police. She begs Ponyboy to not fight in the upcoming rumble ("Hopeless War").
Production history
San Diego (2023)
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. A prior workshop was held in 2022 with Casey Likes as Ponyboy. 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. The principal cast included Brody Grant as Ponyboy Curtis, Sky Lakota-Lynch as Johnny Cade, Da'Von T. Moody as Dallas Winston, Ryan Vasquez as Darrel Curtis, and Jason Schmidt as Sodapop Curtis.
Broadway (2024-present)
The production transferred to Broadway with the same creative team. The show began previews on March 16, 2024, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre and opened on April 11, 2024. 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. Other producers include Betsy Dollinger, Cristina Marie Vivenzio, The Shubert Organization, Marylee Fairbanks, Debra Martin Chase and others. The show was directed by Danya Taymor, niece of The Lion King director Julie Taymor. Choreography was by brothers Rick and Jeff Kuperman. Scenography was by AMP featuring Tatiana Kahvegian. Costumes were by Sarafina Bush with music direction and orchestrations by Matt Hinkely. Jack Viertel served as creative director for the project. Tilly Evans-Krueger was 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. Opening night reviews were mixed-to-positive, mostly praising the script, score, choreography and Brody Grant's performance. The original Broadway cast recording was released digitally by Masterworks Broadway/Sony Masterworks on May 22, 2024, followed by physical CD and Vinyl releases on June 28 and August 9 respectively. The album ranked number 1 on the Billboard Cast Albums chart for the week of July 27, 2024. On March 7, 2025, Alex Joseph Grayson took over the principal role of Dallas Winston. On September 21, 2025, Brody Grant played his final performance as Ponyboy, having understudy Trevor Wayne go into the role permanently. On March 15, 2026, original principal cast members Trevor Wayne, Sky Lakota-Lynch, Alex Joseph Grayson, Brent Comer, Jason Schmidt, Kevin William Paul, Renni Anthony Magee, and SarahGrace Mariani departed the show.
North American Tour (2025-present)
On May 29, 2024, it was announced that the show would embark on a North American Tour beginning in fall 2025 at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center following previews at Shea's Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, New York. Performances began September 17, 2025. In May 2026, it was announced that touring production of The Outsiders has recouped it's $11 million capitalization costs after just 29 weeks on the road.