When S.E. Hinton wrote The Outsiders in 1967, she was just sixteen years old. At the time, she was barely older than the characters she created and around the age of the actors on this stage. That authenticity is what continues to make this story resonate today and was one of the many reasons I wanted to dive into the play this fall. It’s a raw, honest look at growing up in a world that doesn’t always feel fair and where the lines between good and bad are drawn by circumstance more than by choice.
These students read the novel, The Outsiders, in middle school when its themes of friendship, identity, and belonging felt immediate and familiar. At that age, we connect with the characters’ struggles on a surface level – particularly the feeling of being misunderstood. But returning to the story as high schoolers invites a deeper understanding where we can begin to see the social structures and class divides that shape these young lives.
The goal of this production was to remind our audience that the experiences that shaped us when we were younger still hold meaning and that the lessons we learn about empathy and resilience are worth rediscovering. I chose to stage The Outsiders in the round to bring the audience directly into the world of the play: to make them feel as though they’re standing next to Ponyboy, Johnny, Cherry Valance, Dallas, and the rest of the gang in the moment. This play thrives on intimacy and immediacy. By surrounding the action with the audience, every moment becomes personal. You can feel the tension in a rumble, the quiet ache of a conversation under the stars or at the movie theatre, and the closeness of a found family fighting to survive. There’s nowhere to hide; not for the actors and not for you, the audience. It invites everyone watching to share in the experience and to see the story from all sides – evoking that younger experience in reading the novel of empathy and resilience.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Mr. Jon Trapani for working with me in every capacity to bring this space to fruition. Thank you for taking a chance on this production. Thank you to Felicya for all of the work you put into our playbills. Thank you to Doug for allowing us to hear this world and Juliette for allowing us to see it. Thank you to Erik and Brendan for designing Tulsa, Oklahoma within the confines and parameters given in the round. Thank you to Danielle for finding the perfect balance of being the voice of reason with the push for boundary and for being a collaborator – the definition of “found family.”
To the cast – you all trusted me when I said ‘let’s try something new’ on that first day of rehearsal. Thank you for a fabulous first HHH Fall Play experience. Your commitment to this play and the High School East Theatre program is unmatched. You lead with kindness, humor, and talent. I’m really, honestly in awe of you all. A special shoutout to our student director, Sophie Wolfman, who was at every rehearsal taking detailed notes and making sure every actor knew their roles. She also took every headshot for the playbill – that’s talent!
I hope this production immerses you into the story. Welcome to this world.
Stay Gold.
Chris Brick
Director
