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The Outsiders

The Outsiders

Adapted by Christopher Sergel. From the book by S.E. Hinton.

Product Code: O41000

  • Full-length Play
  • Drama
  • Cast size: 10m., 8w., extras as desired.

    Limited Livestream Rights Available

    Contact our customer service department to order or for more information.

Rights and availability
This title can be licensed and sold throughout the World.

* Please note the royalty rate listed is the minimum royalty rate per performance. The actual royalty rate will be determined upon completion of a royalty application.

$11.95 /script

Min. Royalty Rate: $110/perf

In stock

Synopsis

S.E. Hinton, who wrote this modern classic when she was 16 years old, comments: "The Outsiders, like most things I write, is written from a boy's point of view. That's why I'm listed as S.E. Hinton rather than Susan. (I figured most boys would look at the book and think 'What can a chick know about stuff like that!') None of the events are taken from life, but the rest—how kids think and live and feel—is for real. The characters—Dallas, who wasn't tough enough; Sodapop, the happy-go-lucky dropout; Bob, the rich kid whose arrogance cost him his life; Ponyboy, the sensitive, green-eyed Greaser who didn't want to be a hood—they're all real to me. Many of my friends are Greasers, but I'm not. I have friends who are rich, too, but nobody will ever call me a Soc—I've seen what money and too much idle time and parental approval can do to people. Cool people mean nothing to me—they're living behind masks and I'm always wondering "Is there a real person underneath?" This entirely practical stage adaptation deals with real people, seen through the eyes of young Ponyboy, a Greaser on the wrong side of life, caught up in territorial battles between the have-it-made rich kids—the Socs—and his tough, underprivileged "greaser" family and friends. In the midst of urban warfare, somehow Ponyboy can't forget a short poem that speaks of their fragile young lives:

Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief,
so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.

"Robert Frost wrote it," Ponyboy tells Johnny. "I always remembered it because I never quite got what he meant by it." Cherry, a beautiful Soc, comes to share a special sensitivity with Ponyboy as she discovers that he remembers poems and needs to watch sunsets. At the same time, Cherry's attracted to the older, tougher Dallas, and in a sense she's caught in the violent space between the Greasers and the Socs. While the Socs appear to have everything, the only thing a Greaser has is his friends. As these young people try to find themselves and each other, as the sadness of sophistication begins to reach them and their battles and relationships reach a resolution, Ponyboy's dying friend, Johnny, sends him a last message … I've been thinking about the poem that guy wrote. He meant you're gold when you're a kid, like green. When you're a kid everything's new, dawn. It's just when you get used to everything that it's day. Like the way you dig sunsets, Pony. That's gold. Keep it that way. It's a good way to be. This is a play about young people who are not yet hopeless about latent decency in the midst of struggle.

Notes

Limited Livestream Rights Available

Contact our customer service department for more information.

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Details

  • Status

    In stock

  • Type of Show Full-length Play
  • Product Code O41000
  • Cast Size 18
  • Min. Royalty Rate $110/perf
  • Cost $11.95
  • Approx. Run Time 120 min

Categories

  • Target Audience Middle School | High School | College and Adult
  • Performing Group Middle School | High School | College Theatre | Community Theatre | Professional Theatre | TYA
  • Genre Drama
  • ISBN(13) 9780871292773
* Please note the royalty rate listed is the minimum royalty rate per performance. The actual royalty rate will be determined upon completion of a royalty application.

Customer Reviews

"This was definitely the best show I've ever worked on. The story brings the best out of every actor, director, and crew member. With a workable script to make it anything you want there is nothing short of greatness in this script!"
Review by RJ Palhegyi, Bravo Boro, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
"This staged version of THE OUTSIDERS is outstanding! The adaptation perfectly captures the personalities and events of Hinton's novel. My students and our audiences were moved to tears by the characters and their stories as they were portrayed on stage."
Review by Makala Witten, Christianburg High School, Christianburg, Va.
"From read-through we fell in love with this script. We decided to tell the story through lighting and acting and keep the set minimalistic!! Best decision ever!!!"
Review by Christa Roberts, New Philadelphia HS, New Philadelphia, Ohio
"The play, Outsiders, is a great adaptation of the book. The characters are strong and play well by high school aged students. My students loved bringing one of their beloved novels to the stage."
Review by Melissa Gallip, Massac County High School, Metropolis, Ill.
"The Outsiders was a versatile and well-written script for my students to perform. They had not performed a stage play in years at my school, and these students were able to learn so much of the basic acting skills from the versatility of the script."
Review by Alissa Vogelgesang, Carroll County High School, Carrollton, Ky.
"This piece was beautiful -- in the last days of production and the first time I read it, it brought tears to my eyes. The students enjoyed a story with which they were familiar and a script to which they could truly connect."
Review by Shannon Mallrich, Triad High School, Troy, IL
"It went over very well. The drama played well to a wide age range and we had many positive comments. This adaptation represented Hinton's work very well and the action moved quickly."
Review by Greg Holt, Black Hawk Children's Theatre, Waterloo, IA
"A beautiful coming of age story that any generation can relate to."
Review by Laura LaChappelle, Bradshaw Mountain High School, Humboldt, Ariz.
"I saw the play performed years ago in Texas and knew I'd like to direct it someday. It is faithful to the novel and was written for high school students to be performed in a high school setting. Our school had never done a drama beforeÑour audiences loved it!"
Review by Jamie Miller, Byng Schools, Ada, Okla.
"The Outsiders is a great adaptation of S. E. Hinton's novel. It is told through the eyes of Ponyboy, who moves the story along at a good pace. The show moves quickly and is very easy to stage. It is a great show for your young men with a variety of experience!"
Review by Chris Murphy, Concordia Lutheran High School, Fort Wayne, Ind.
"Big hit. Our middle school enjoyed it as they were studying the novel. Great opportunity for getting boys interested in theatre."
Review by Susan Kahn, Norwell High School, Ossian, Ind.
"Well written and relatable to students. My students loved these roles and were very sad when the production closed. The audience reaction was amazing! A standing ovation at each performance."
Review by Vance Hays, Pike Central High School, Petersburg, Ind.
"Excellent choice for middle-school audiences; great show to feature talented young performers, particularly males. Material is easy to relate to and show is relatively easy to produce."
Review by Wayne Marek, Eau Claire Children's Theatre, Eau Claire, Wis.
"The Outsiders is a classic yet contemporary story. This adaptation allows for a simple set and can accommodate a large cast. Audiences love the characters and so did the actors! I felt the cast really understood the message and brought it to life in this play."
Review by Rebecca Coons, Dallas Center-Grimes High School, Grimes, Iowa
"This is a very powerful and timely piece. The characters are clear and believable. The use of memory adds an interesting element to the production. Many of our audience were in tears at the end. It contains a message that is important for our times."
Review by Rebecca Sartor, Rutland High School, Rutland, Vt.
"The script is smart, fast-paced and faithful to the original novel. What a wonderful way to introduce a timeless piece of Americana to a new generation."
Review by Debbie Ragonese, The SEEALL Academy, Brooklyn, N.Y.
"The Outsiders is very well written and young people just love it ... both those in the cast and those in the audience. Many good roles to create an excellent ensemble."
Review by Lorna Stratton, ICHTYHYS, Brantford, Ontario, Canada
"This is an extremely popular novel studied in many English classes, so performing the play at our school was a great experience for the cast and student audience. It was perfect for schoolwide observance of "Bullying Prevention Week" November 15-19."
Review by Margo Benedetto, Centralia High School, Centralia, Wash.
"The Outsiders powerfully presents the problems and issues faced by young people. Kaukauna High School's production with simple area staging and stark lighting focused on the feelings and emotions of the characters."
Review by Brenda Hostettler, Kaukauna High School, Kaukauna, Wis.
"The Outsiders is a great play for middle school or high-school students to perform. The kids really care about the characters and the situations in the show."
Review by Ava Grimm, Molina High School, Dallas, Texas

Hints, Tips, and Tricks

"This show really works well in a thrust/blackbox theatre. Get the audience up close and personal to the action!"
Tip by Jonathan Collura, Bishop Hartley High School, Columbus, Ohio
"A minimum of scenery and props are needed as the characters carry the story so well."
Tip by Melissa Gallip, Massac County High School, Metropolis, Ill.
"We were able to use a very basic stage set & only 2 spot lights with this show easily. Considering that is all we have in this program, we were very thankful."
Tip by Alissa Vogelgesang, Carroll County High School, Carrollton, Ky.
"Creative lighting is a godsend for this show, making scenes that challenge "realistic" staging into something artful and riveting."
Tip by Joshua Kauffman, Winfield City High School, Winfield, Ala.
"Use a real fence to crawl under for the drive-in. Also, when Ponyboy goes into soliloquy, we recorded those at a studio and played them as voice overs."
Tip by Jamie Miller, Byng Schools, Ada, Okla.
"Keep the set as simple as possible. Lighting makes this show... use "specials" to focus on the different areas of action."
Tip by Mike Chappell, Huntsville High School, Huntsville, Ala.
"It takes imagination and work, but adapt the staging for surround-theatre. Seat the audience facing a wide centre aisle and stage the rumble right there. Wow! Create a "cheer" for Greasers and Socs and get the audience to participate."
Tip by Lorna Stratton, ICHTHYS Theatre Productions, Brantford, Ontario, Canada
"For the fire scene, you can accomplish a lot with very little. Blackout completely with the exception of red, yellow and orange lights filtering offstage. Add a fog machine and a few crackling sound effects and you are in great shape!"
Tip by Crystal Braeuner, Gibbs High School, Corryton, Tenn.
"Everyone on stage froze while Pony was speaking."
Tip by Rebecca Sartor, Rutland High School, Rutland, Vt.

Productions

Location City State Opens Closes
Muskogee Little Theatre, Inc. Muskogee Oklahoma 10/4/2024 10/12/2024
Will Rogers College High School Tulsa Oklahoma 3/27/2025 3/30/2025
Muskogee Little Theatre, Inc. Muskogee Oklahoma 10/4/2024 10/12/2024
Cypress Moon Productions Sheffield Alabama 2/20/2025 2/23/2025
Williams Field High School Higley Arizona 10/24/2024 10/26/2024
Jasper High School Jasper Indiana 4/13/2025 4/13/2025
Gloucester City Jr. Sr. High School Gloucester City New Jersey 11/21/2024 11/23/2024
BlackBox Foundation Casa Grande Arizona 9/7/2024 9/15/2024
Cultural Arts Center Dothan Alabama 10/24/2024 10/26/2024
Wyoming Valley West Shs Plymouth Pennsylvania 11/15/2024 11/17/2024
North Eugene High School Eugene Oregon 11/14/2024 11/23/2024
Hallsville high theatre department Hallsville Texas 9/27/2024 9/29/2024
The Building Block School for the Arts Columbia Tennessee 3/7/2025 3/9/2025
Villanova University Villanova Pennsylvania 11/14/2024 11/24/2024
Port Of Los Angeles High San Pedro California 12/4/2024 12/13/2024
Seven Oaks Performing Arts Center Winnipeg Manitoba 2/11/2025 2/11/2025
Noble High School Noble Oklahoma 11/14/2024 11/17/2024
Los Alamitos High Los Alamitos California 1/23/2025 1/25/2025
Blue Valley North High Overland Park Kansas 10/18/2024 10/19/2024
Higley High School Gilbert Arizona 9/17/2024 9/19/2024
Massaponax High School FREDERICKSBURG Virginia 4/10/2025 4/12/2025
John Legend Theater Springfield Ohio 10/4/2024 10/6/2024
Flowing Wells High School Tucson Arizona 10/24/2024 10/25/2024
Saint Ignatius High School Breen Center Cleveland Ohio 11/15/2024 11/17/2024
Paul J Holzworth Performing Arts Center Davenport Iowa 10/18/2024 10/20/2024
The Sauk Jonesville Michigan 5/8/2025 5/18/2025
Spring Hill High School Spring Hill Kansas 3/6/2025 3/8/2025
Lake Zurich Middle - N Campus Hawthorn Woods Illinois 4/10/2025 4/11/2025
Orion High School Orion Illinois 11/8/2024 11/10/2024
Spring Mills High School Martinsburg West Virginia 11/8/2024 11/10/2024
Creaghan Performing Arts Center Towson Maryland 10/17/2024 10/20/2024
Archbishop Moeller High School Cincinnati Ohio 12/12/2024 12/14/2024
Owen J Roberts High School Pottstown Pennsylvania 11/22/2024 11/24/2024
Olentangy Orange High School Theatre Lewis Center Ohio 9/19/2024 9/22/2024
Gloria Robinson Auditorium @ Ronald Reagan High School San Antonio Texas 9/19/2024 9/21/2024
Eagle Rock High Los Angeles California 12/6/2024 12/7/2024
Melrose Middle Melrose Massachusetts 2/26/2025 3/29/2025
Woodrow Wilson Middle School Glendale California 11/21/2024 11/22/2024
Springville High School SPRINGVILLE Utah 4/25/2025 5/3/2025
Burroughs High School Ridgecrest California 10/25/2024 11/2/2024
The Varsity Center Carbondale Illinois 7/11/2025 7/20/2025
Milton Area High School Milton Pennsylvania 11/15/2024 11/17/2024
North Montgomery High School Crawfordsville Indiana 11/1/2024 11/2/2024
Ernest Righetti High Black Box Theatre Santa Maria California 10/24/2024 10/26/2024
New Haven Academy New Haven Connecticut 10/17/2024 10/19/2024
Lewis Central Senior High School Council Bluffs Iowa 11/9/2024 11/10/2024
New Bern High New Bern North Carolina 11/1/2024 11/3/2024
Bainbridge High School Bainbridge Island Washington 11/8/2024 11/16/2024
Wakefield High Arlington Virginia 11/8/2024 11/16/2024
The Hill Arts Portland Maine 11/8/2024 11/10/2024
Santa Monica High School Santa Monica California 11/8/2024 11/17/2024
Franklin High School Franklin Massachusetts 11/1/2024 11/3/2024
Theatre in the Park at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site Petersburg Illinois 8/21/2025 8/24/2025
Gonzaga College High School Washington District of Columbia 11/14/2024 11/17/2024
Natrona County High School Casper Wyoming 11/14/2024 11/16/2024
Lighthouse Church Panama City Florida 5/22/2025 5/24/2025
Isidore Newman School New Orleans Louisiana 11/1/2024 11/3/2024
Oviedo High School Oviedo Florida 11/7/2024 11/9/2024
Eastside High School Covington Georgia 4/24/2025 4/26/2025
The JAC Theatre San Diego California 3/14/2025 3/16/2025
Williams Fine Arts Center Norcross Georgia 10/10/2024 10/10/2024
Plymouth Place Auditorium- LATTE Theater La Grange Park Illinois 11/15/2024 11/17/2024
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture Chicago Illinois 9/12/2024 10/13/2024
Honeoye Falls-lima Senior High School Honeoye Falls New York 11/22/2024 11/23/2024
Theatre In The Park Petersburg Illinois 8/21/2025 8/24/2025
Salado High School Salado Texas 11/14/2024 11/14/2024
Seeger Memorial Jr. / Sr. High School West Lebanon Indiana 11/1/2024 11/3/2024
Jena High School Auditorium Jena Louisiana 3/14/2025 3/16/2025
Florence High School Florence Alabama 11/14/2024 11/17/2024
York Acadmey Regional Charter Scchool - Upper School York Pennsylvania 10/15/2024 10/15/2024
Unadilla Valley Central School New Berlin New York 12/6/2024 12/7/2024
Fontbonne Academy Milton Massachusetts 11/22/2024 11/24/2024
Midtown West Middle School New York New York 12/13/2024 12/13/2024
Granite City High School Granite City Illinois 3/14/2025 3/16/2025
University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Iowa 11/15/2024 11/15/2024
University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Iowa 11/15/2024 11/15/2024
Encinal High Alameda California 11/15/2024 11/22/2024
Pact Charter School Ramsey Minnesota 11/14/2024 11/17/2024
Swartz Creek High School Swartz Creek Michigan 1/17/2025 1/19/2025
Great Oak High Temecula California 11/14/2024 11/16/2024
Caroline High School Milford Virginia 12/13/2024 12/15/2024
Clearwater High School Clearwater Florida 11/13/2024 11/16/2024
El Dorado Springs High El Dorado Springs Missouri 3/14/2025 3/16/2025
Herman E Utley Middle Rockwall Texas 10/3/2024 10/5/2024
Greenfield Central Junior High Sch Greenfield Indiana 4/24/2025 4/25/2025
Selwyn House School Westmount Quebec 4/2/2025 4/5/2025
Titusville Senior High School Titusville Pennsylvania 11/4/2024 11/5/2024
Spotlight Studios Lac la Biche Alberta 12/11/2024 12/13/2024
North Iowa High School Buffalo Center Iowa 11/15/2024 11/16/2024
School 7-oceanside Senior High School Oceanside New York 11/22/2024 11/23/2024
North Carolina School of Science and Math - Morganton Morganton North Carolina 11/15/2024 11/17/2024
Parkrose High School Theater Portland Oregon 11/21/2024 11/24/2024
North High School (Davenport) Davenport Iowa 10/17/2024 10/17/2024
East View High School Georgetown Texas 11/16/2024 11/16/2024
Theatre Glendon Toronto Ontario 1/23/2025 1/25/2025

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