On March 27, the Maryvale senior class got to watch The Outsiders on Broadway in New York City. Many members of the class spoke very highly of the production, commenting on how well done everything was. The Outsiders is originally a book written by S.E. Hinton in 1967 about a group of teenagers finding their way in the world. The novel emphasizes the class conflicts between the two main social groups called the “Greasers” and the “Socs.” The book was adapted to a play on March 4, 2023 and the show had its opening day April 11, 2024. The show has an immensely talented cast featuring main characters played by; Brody Grant, Sky Lakota-Lynch, Brent Comer, Jason Schmidt, Emma Pittman, Joshua Boone, and many others.
Brody Grant played the main character “Ponyboy” and his voice left the crowd speechless. His stage presence was breathtaking and his part was definitely one of the most memorable parts of the performance. His character encompassed the theme “stay golden” which means that even if someone’s environment is negative they should maintain virtuous and keep pushing forward until they become successful. The set was also incredibly well done, and towards the end of the play during the fight scene, rain poured on the stage and as the characters rolled around in mud immersed in the brawl, the audience felt as though it were real life. Lighting and sound effects also aided in creating a connection with the audience. In one scene when Ponyboy gets knocked out, a ringing noise flooded the auditorium and the lights flashed off and on as he moved in slow motion. This made the audience feel like they were Ponybody and further exemplified the authentic feel the production had.
The Outsiders is a beautiful production that not only narrated important messages of the significance of compassion and love, but also kept the audience’s attention for the entirety of the theatrical performance. The cast was flawless in their acting and they truly embodied the characters just how the original book wrote them. Everyone should watch The Outsiders on Broadway and experience the magic of the show for themselves.