From Oct. 14 through the 19, “The Outsiders Musical” premiered at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. The show is a musical rendition of S. E. Hinton’s novel of the same name, featuring a main cast of seven actors and set design by AMP Scenography. With the success of the book and movie, “The Outsiders Musical” was able to gain fame quickly on its North American tour. 

The creative team for the musical and director Danya Taymor met with author S. E. Hinton in Tulsa for a blessing for the official creation of the play. Hinton happily gave them her blessing, even encouraging the team to create their own version of the story.

Even though there is a movie adaptation of the novel, the musical takes inspiration from the “Rumble Fish” movie, another adaptation of an S. E. Hinton novel. The music is a blend of Americana, folk rock, and Broadway sounds. 

At the show presented on the 19th, Ponyboy Curtis was played by Jordan Deandre Williams. His performance was phenomenal, allowing the audience to feel as if they were really in the story. With the duo Ponyboy Curtis and Johnny Cade, played by Bonale Fambrini, emotions were high throughout the play. During certain scenes, there was not a single person in Andrew Jackson Hall who did not shed a tear.

To continue the 2025-2026 season, TPAC will present Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” “Back to the Future,” “Suffs,” “Water for Elephants,” and “Hamilton.”
This play, “The Outsiders,” shows that no matter how many times a story is recreated, there is always more to give the fans.