Review of The Outsiders

by Katie Beltramo

The Outsiders national tour begins at Proctors in Schenectady and continues through many of KidsOutAndAbout's regions. This young adult classic book and movie comes alive on stage with music and plenty of dancing. This classic coming-of-age tale set in 1967 Tulsa has a great deal to say about chosen family, finding yourself, and persevering against the odds. Anyone familiar with the story knows that the violence between the "greasers" and the "socs" (pronounced to rhyme gauche, short for socialites) is integral to the plot, so sensitive viewers might be troubled by the portrayals of violence, domestic abuse, and suicide. If you have a student who has read this book as a school assignment, this is a great opportunity to see the same story in a new light. 

The scenery is spare but creative, with multi-fuctional basic pieces. like a car that doubles as a bed or wooden boards manipulated by supporting cast members to represent the landscape, a train, or a hospital bed. It's ingenious.

There's gorgeous choreography, including both dancing scenes and fighting scenes. It's all energetic and fun to watch.

At the heart of the show is Ponyboy and his relationships: with his best friend Johnny Cade, his older brothers Darrel and Sodapop, and the leader of the Greasers, Dallas. This is a world almost without grown-ups, with the exception of a cop or two passing through. The characters struggle with and for each other are at their most emotionally resonant when they sing in harmony in songs like "Soda's Letter" and "Stay Gold." The song lyrics are simple and easy to follow, although they seem almost too basic. But the sincerity shines through and, Tyler Jordan Wesley, playing Dallas is a particular powerhouse. The plot's tension becomes heightened with a budding romance between Ponyboy and one of the socs, Cherry Valence.

What follows is a lot of drama that feels more powerful on stage than it may in a book or onscreen. There is fighting, and beyond the choreographed fisticuffs that are sometimes shown as dramatic flashes, much of the violence occurs on stage, including a near-drowning, a stabbing, and a character burning someone's face with a cigarette. It could be too much for some viewers.

True to the book, there's also a dramatic fire that's pivotal to the plot, and it's amazing to see on stage. But like the rumble in a rainstorm, the staging is massively impressive, but could also be too realistic for some young theater-goers.

Things to know and/or talk about before seeing the show:

• I would not recommend this for elementary school aged kids or younger. 
• Content that might be too scary or upsetting for some includes violence, domestic abuse, suicide, parents who have died in a car accident. If you have someone frightened of trains, fire, or bright flashing lights, those are all part of the show.
• Reading the novel by S.E. Hinton ahead of time is great. You can also stream the movie - a 1980s classic! - on Amazon.

 Questions to spark discussion with tweens and teens after the show:

• The novel The Outsiders was written by a 15-year-old, and when it was first published in 1967, it was extremely controversial. How do you think YA literature has changed since then? What about YA literature is still the same?
• Cherry is surprised when she learns that Ponyboy has been reading Great Expectations. Why was she so surprised? Have you ever learned something new about something that defied your expectations? Are there things that would instantly impress you if you learned someone was a fan? For example, if someone's reading a certain book or listening to certain music, does it give you a new perspective on what kind of person they are?
• What do you think about the relationship between the three Curtis brothers?
• Why do you think that Ponyboy and Johnny look up to Dallas so much? Do you agree with Darrell Curtis that Dallas was a bad influence?
• What would you have done if you were Ponyboy and Johnny right after the stabbing?
• What does this story say about how individuals can make a difference?
• Read Robert Frost's poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay." What do you think it means? What does the poem mean to Johnny? What does Johnny mean when he tells Ponyboy to "stay gold"?
• If you could continue the story, what do you think happens with Ponyboy? Is what you hope and what you think the same?

The Outsiders is a great new perspective on a classic story of the American teen experience.

The Outsiders North American tour is playing at Proctors, Schenectady, through May 24, 2026, then continuing to several other KidsOutAndAbout regions including Philadelphia, Toronto, Denver, LA, Salt Lake City, Portland, Seattle, and more.

For schedule and ticket information, visit outsidersmusical.com.

© 2026 Katie Beltramo.
Katie Beltramo, a mom of two, is communications director of Kids Out and About. She also blogs at Capital District Fun.

Photos by Matthew Murphy, provided by Proctors.