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Welcome to West Bloomfield High School’s production of The Outsiders!

It has been an absolute joy to work with the talented students of the High School theatre program. Reaching performance week after just six weeks of rehearsal has required tremendous focus and stamina from our cast and crew—and they have truly risen to the challenge.

The Outsiders is an American classic, studied and loved by generations. Bringing such an iconic story to life on stage is a rare and rewarding experience. Our cast along with our fantastic student director, Salisse Jones, has worked tirelessly to capture the heart and emotion of this powerful tale, and they should be incredibly proud of what they have accomplished. I certainly am.

Behind the scenes, our backstage team and technical crews and costume team led by Jordyn Law, have been indispensable. Their commitment, creativity, and attention to detail have brought the production to life in ways that often go unseen but are absolutely vital. They are, quite simply, fantastic.

Although stepping into the role of director for the High School production was both unexpected and brief, it has been a privilege to glimpse the wonderful program here at WBHS. This experience has been a meaningful opportunity to strengthen the connection between our middle school and high school theatre communities.

Thank you for welcoming me—and please, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

Sarah Emerson, Director

Thank you for coming to see our show! The Outsiders is a story that touches on the topic of individualism and hope. This show has been a major highlight of my senior year. Working on this production has reminded me that empathy, loyalty and courage can come from the most unexpected places. Working with this cast has been an amazing experience and watching them grow into their characters, and excel in their acting skills, has been inspiring. 

I believe that our goal for this show was to highlight vulnerability and humanity through these characters. The Outsiders is a story about loyalty, loss and finding your identity in a world that constantly tries to define you. Every rehearsal revealed a deeper understanding of the bond that the Greasers hold together. Through this process, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of what it means to lead and collaborate, while staying true to myself and guiding others through storytelling. Directing this show has strengthened my love for directing, teaching me empathy and patience along the way. 

I am so grateful to have such a supportive and creative community to add to that. The actors are truly so talented and are amazing at connecting their performances to the heart of the novel. I wish them all the best of luck in their future endeavors. To our crew, thank you for your dedication; your creativity truly brings this show to life. And to our audience, thank you for supporting West Bloomfield Theatre and being part of our journey. I am so grateful for the opportunity to help bring this story to the stage. 

Salisse Jones, Student Director