The Gryphon Gazette

By Kate P.B. ‘26

New York City, New York – The buzz of the new season on Broadway has been about The Outsiders, the stage adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s 1967 novel that sparked interest among millions of teenagers when the book launched. Almost all Crystal students read this novel in seventh-grade English class at the Middle School. The musical, as staged by Danya Taymor and scored by Justin Tranter, delves into the gritty life of Ponyboy Curtis and his crew, the Greasers, in Oklahoma in the early sixties. It highlights the class war between the Greasers and the Socs, a clash steeped in violence, poverty, and the desperate yearning for connection. This production offers high-energy choreography, a set that immerses viewers into the rough streets of Tulsa, and music with a rock-folk absorption, both nostalgic and urgent. The question is, does this musical live up to the on-screen legacy of one of the most influential books taken to heart by many? The adaptation has been applauded as an extremely faithful, raw approach to young lives on the wrong side of the tracks; yet, opinions vary about the musical and storytelling approach taken. 

The musical bursts open with the Greasers, headed by Ponyboy Curtis  played by Brody Grant) along with his brothers and crew.. It doesn’t take the audience very long to grasp the friction between the Greasers and their wealthier rivals, the Socs. The opening number surges with angst and defiance. One of the most pivotal early scenes dramatizes Ponyboy’s confrontation with Soc member Bob Sheldon. The show uses intense, cinematic choreography to release the real sense of danger and violence always lying in wait in the boys’ lives. 

The drive-in movie scene, one of the iconic moments of the novel and the movie, takes new life as a musical. Ponyboy meets Cherry Valance, a Soc with whom he forms a surprising bond. Their longing-for duet, with hints of rebellion in the tone, so skillfully expresses the tension that tugs at each other’s world. Here, Cherry and Ponyboy are on common ground beyond class, and the background nods to a pivotal concept in “Stay Gold” and the discovery of innocence within turmoil. 

One of the most memorable and fan-favorite scenes would have to be the climactic rumble, adored for its overly stylized and powerful choreography. The Greasers and Socs go head-to-head in a down-and-out, rain-soaked abandoned lot, which ends up in a brutal, almost dance-like battle that’s as visually striking as it is intense. Since this fight scene has combined aggressive choreography with somber music, it has left audiences clapping and cheering with emotion. As The Wrap noted, the choreography of the production in this scene makes the moment “cinematic” and “almost poetic” as it draws the audience into the story.

The Musical’s Score

In “Stay Gold,” Brody Grant as Ponyboy brings one of the single standout numbers in his solo performance that hangs between fragile hope and a balance of weight from experiences. Directly taking its inspiration from Robert Frost’s poem in the novel and the movie, this song represents a desire to hold on to something pure amidst the violence that surrounds Ponyboy. “Stay Gold” was reported to be one of the most touching moments in the show by several fans, with some on Show-Score calling Grant’s voice “haunting” and “emotion-etched”​. This song is equally impactful and addresses Ponyboy’s desires to rise above it all in “Great Expectations.”. This aspirational song, joined by a choral ensemble of hope, reverberates with the audience in a haunting reminder of how smart and sensitive Ponyboy truly is. Fans online reported that this was a song that “stuck with them” after the curtain closed; some even said it recalled the best of West Side Story in its blend of emotion and grit​. 

Critics’ Opinions

While The Outsiders has been credited with great emotional depth, the music itself has divided viewers. Where rock-tinged songs like “Stay Gold” have been more universally enjoyed, other songs have felt too explanatory to some viewers. Several commenters felt that while the music “fit the vibe,” several numbers felt repetitive and dragged down the pacing of Act Two​. 

Yet despite all this, both fans and critics have also reported the musical’s willingness to embrace the macabre in Hinton’s story. The musical indeed doesn’t pull any punches regarding the grim realities meted out to the Greasers-tread through scenes of violence, trauma, and loss with an emotional charge. Notably, it’s the tragic arc of Johnny Cade, played by Sky Lakota-Lynch, which is brought forth with a haunting vulnerability that many of the audience members wept over. The musicall The Outsiders provides a new powerful reinterpretation of a story about friendship, loyalty, and growing up when the very survival for teenagers seems to be impossible.

The spirit of this novel is well delivered in this Broadway production, though some viewers were divided in their opinions regarding its musical adaptation. With powerhouse performances, especially by Brody Grant as Ponyboy, this musical will surely please those who want to experience the world of the Greasers live in a new and captivating way. As the curtain descends and the last words of Ponyboy echo through the theater, it drives home the relevant themes of resilience and innocence in the story. This staging dares you to look beyond the words “Greaser” and “Soc” to find humanity in every person. The Outsiders on Broadway seems to come out as a thought-provoking and emotional ride that is worth taking only to understand why this novel still matters, half a century later.