The Outsiders earns its Tony in one sequence: a gang fight staged in actual falling rain, lit in strobe and slowed to half-speed so every blow registers. Around it sits a folk-rock score and a story most American adults last met in a middle-school classroom, which makes it unusually easy to bring a teenager to. If you want a Broadway musical that hits like a rock concert rather than a pageant, this is the one.
What to expect
Two acts on a mostly bare, dirt-toned stage, with movement-driven staging rather than scenery doing the work. The rumble sequence uses live water and strobe effects. Expect a younger-skewing audience, a loud band, and a quiet, tearful final scene after all the noise.
Good to know
- The Jacobs is at 242 West 45th; take any train to Times Sq-42 St and walk north
- There are strobe effects and staged violence, including a scene using live water
- Front mezzanine reads the choreographed fight patterns better than the orchestra does
- A strong pick for teenagers who read the novel at school
- Some scenes are genuinely upsetting; it is not a light night out
- Wheelchair seating and assistive listening devices are available
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Common questions
Do I need to have read the book?
No, though readers catch more of the Ponyboy framing device. The plot is fully explained on stage.
Is the rain real?
Yes. The rumble sequence is staged in live falling water, which is part of why it is the show's signature scene.
Is it suitable for children?
It is generally pitched at roughly twelve and up, given the violence and the deaths in the story.
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