The Outsiders: Inside Scoop

During the second weekend of November (November 7-9th), the Kenmore West Theatre Department put on a production of The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton, and adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel. The Outsiders is a touching story that follows Ponyboy Curtis and his struggles with being a Greaser. The Greasers are faced with poverty, rough home lives, and are constantly being jumped by the West Side Socs (the “rich and elite” characters in the play). The setting is in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the mid-sixties, and Pony finds himself on the rough side of town. Throughout the play, Pony discovers who he is, how to deal with grief, and the struggles put upon him. In our production, the casting was gender-blind. This means that when our director, Ms. Gruninger, was casting, she did not decide who was cast depending on the character’s gender. She simply cast whoever she saw fit for the role without worrying about the original gender of the character. 

This production is easily my favorite show that I have been a part of here at Kenmore West. Many students got to read the novel in 7th grade, including myself, so being able to put on this show was so special. In addition to my reading the book in 7th grade, the 7th graders this year are currently reading it. On Wednesday the 6th of November, we got to perform for them. They did not finish the book, so hearing their reactions while on stage and in the wings to the rest of the story was very amusing and sweet. Everyone involved truly felt like family, as there was a different type of connection that I had never felt before in a show. Those involved in the cast, crew, and production team were so invested, and there was a level of commitment and excitement like I had never seen before. I think that because this story is so beloved, everyone just wanted to do good by it and really relay the message of the story, the message that everyone has troubles in life and how friends can be your chosen family. Every rehearsal everyone came in ready to work, with good mindsets and positive attitudes, just wanting to be there. Usually during tech week (the week before the performances when we add the technical aspects, such as lights and sound, into the show), everyone is stressed and tense. For this production, it was different, where the atmosphere was more casual and it felt very productive. 

During this show, I got to work on the costumes alongside Milo Dettbarn. Since this show revolves around teenagers, instead of ordering costumes like we do for almost every production, we reached out to the cast to bring in their own clothes and had some assistance from wonderful moms who went thrifting for things we didn't have. We had to put together costumes for almost every cast member and approve the costume pieces everyone brought in. This required making sure we returned the clothes we borrowed to their rightful owners and kept the stuff we bought thrifting, which involved lots and lots of spreadsheets. Although this process was long and stressful at times, it was so worth it and a great experience.

Getting to play my dream role, Two-Bit Mathews, was truly an experience I will never forget. Having my best friends alongside me on stage was remarkable and really helped bring the characters' relationships to life on stage. I have always felt a special connection to this story since reading it in 7th grade, and I know most of the cast and crew agree with me on this. Being able to play characters our age added a level of understanding and characterization to them. It allowed us to pull from the same emotions and feelings of teenage experiences, and give the characters a natural and raw feeling. I am so grateful for this show and all the things being a part of it has taught me. Being able to be a part of this beautiful production was truly an unforgettable experience, and it will stick with me for the rest of my life.