The Outsiders
Overall Grade: A
Seldom does a musical adaptation rise so far above expectations that it not only honors its source material but carves out its own place in the canon. The Outsiders does exactly that—and then some.
Based on the 1967 novel by S. E. Hinton and the 1983 Francis Ford Coppola film, the musical adaptation features music and lyrics by Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance of folk-rock band Jamestown Revival, with additional material by Justin Levine and a book by Levine and Adam Rapp. It opened on Broadway in 2024 following a premiere at La Jolla Playhouse, and raked in 12 Tony nominations, winning 4, including Best Musical.
A Transportive Experience
The show opens with the haunting and evocative “Tulsa ’67,” immediately placing the audience in a gritty, divided world. The stage, layered with real sand, evokes the physical and emotional weight of the Oklahoma setting. Greasers vs. Socs. Rich vs. Poor. Heart vs. Hollow.
We meet Ponyboy Curtis (Brody Grant)—wide-eyed and hopeful—as he's inducted into the Greasers. His brothers, played by Brent Comer (Darrel) and Jason Schmidt (Sodapop), bring voice, muscle, and heartbreak to the family dynamic. “Runs in the Family” introduces us to their rough-around-the-edges household, while “Great Expectations” becomes Ponyboy’s soaring anthem—a song that, frankly, deserves a Grammy of its own.
At the drive-in, Ponyboy meets Cherry, the Soc girl with Sandy-from-Grease energy and emotional intelligence to match. Tensions rise. The gangs clash. And then comes the moment that sends shockwaves: the park fight, where Johnny stabs a Soc to save Ponyboy from drowning. The staging—strobe-lit, stylized, and brutal—is jaw-dropping.
Songs That Stay With You
“Run Run Brother” (Joshua Boone’s Dally): Equal parts urgent and soulful, a rallying cry echoing Urinetown’s “Run Freedom Run.”
“Throwing in the Towel” (Brent Comer): A gut-punch of male vulnerability.
“Soda’s Letter” (Jason Schmidt): Pure-hearted and devastating in its simplicity.
“Stay Gold” (Sky Lakota-Lynch): A tearjerker ballad that echoes long after the curtain falls.
The school fire scene—where Ponyboy and Johnny risk their lives—is cinematic in its intensity. Then comes the climactic rumble. Rain pours. Fists fly. It’s West Side Story meets Gladiator, choreographed chaos that lands with operatic beauty.
But it's not just about violence. It's about what remains after the fight. About brothers. About grief. About the impossible task of growing up too soon.
Final Thoughts
Yes, it’s a classic story. Yes, it could’ve felt dusty. But The Outsiders musical reimagines it with breathtaking theatricality, unforgettable music, and a sincerity that cuts straight through. The cast delivers across the board. The staging is rich with texture and emotion. And the themes—loyalty, loss, identity—land with a force only live theater can deliver.
This is one of the best musicals I’ve seen in years. Gritty, graceful, and gold. Stay gold.