The Outsiders Trip

The Outsiders Trip

Renee Klicpera, Kyra Henriquez, and Sophia Zhu

May. 14 2026

On April 14th, 2026, the high school chorus class, along with some orchestra and band kids, ventured into the city to see The Outsiders on Broadway. There were some challenges leading up to this day. Originally, the trip was scheduled for another date, but was cancelled just 5 minutes before due to the snow. Eventually, it worked out in the end, and the trip was rescheduled, though the intended workshop was cancelled, and students were not refunded for this portion of the outing. For a few kids, it was their first real Broadway experience; for others, it was another notch on their belt. Students could either walk to the school with teachers or get dropped off at the Carle Place Train Station by 3:10 to take a 3:47 train into Penn Station. Before going to see the show, the group enjoyed pre-ordered dinners at the Gossip Bar. Meal choices included a hamburger, chicken Caesar salad, grilled chicken sandwich, penne pasta with tomato sauce and garlic bread, and vegetable linguini alfredo, all of which were accompanied by drinks. This break provided a chance to relax and socialize, and concluded with delicious Oreo and fudge-topped sundaes. Throughout the afternoon and evening, students glimpsed city life while walking through the lively and exhilarating streets. Finally, the group settled into their seats, and the show commenced. Many students in our school have read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, the novel that the musical is based on, so most were no strangers to the plot of the show or the basic idea behind it. The story follows a young boy named Ponyboy who lives in the town of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a gang-riddled and heavily class-divided town, in the late 60s. As he navigates through tensions with the West Side “Soc”s (Socialites or the rich kids), living in poverty, and residing in a home that lacks parental guidance, things go horribly awry. A violent encounter with the Socs leads Ponyboy and his best friend Johnny down a dark path. The novel and the musical explore the themes of growing up, love and loss, and wealth disparity, all while highlighting the message of “staying gold” in the face of adversity. This message was ingrained in the students as they left the theater, tired but happy with the evening experience. Ending the trip, the group took the 10:20 train home, and the students were picked up at the train station around 11.

PS: When returning to Carle Place, we thought we got on the wrong train, but fortunately, it was the right one. It was quite the humorous experience!

Thank you to Mr. Foraker, Mr. Limone, Mrs. Younker, the other chaperones, and all those who made this amazing trip possible!