An insider’s view of “The Outsiders”

I recently had the opportunity to see “The Outsiders” on Broadway. As a Film Media Theater major and a huge Broadway fan, this was an incredible, memorable experience for me. Over the summer, I worked as a film distribution intern with filmmaker Viviane Silvera in New York City. I spent my free time in the city entering lotteries to see as many Broadway shows as possible. Unfortunately, I never won tickets for “The Outsiders,” so I jumped at the chance to see it when Mount Holyoke College alum Debra Martin Chase ’77, one of the producers of the Broadway adaptation, made this amazing opportunity possible by inviting alums and current students to attend the show.

The College provided transportation to the city, and I spent the three-hour ride reading a novel. We arrived in New York early, which gave us a chance to explore the city before the show. My friend Maria and I grabbed burgers and cheese fries at Shake Shack and took fun pictures in Times Square to share with our parents. Afterward, we decided to find a bakery amid the bustling city streets and stumbled upon Angelina Bakery, where I had the best Nutella bombolone I’ve ever tried. Rushing to the theater, we ran into Mount Holyoke President Danielle R. Holley on the way to our seats. I even managed to get a picture with her before the show began.

I went into the show with very little knowledge of the production, except that it won a Tony Award for Best Musical this year. I knew it would be enjoyable, but I wasn’t prepared for the emotional journey it would take me on. The story is set in the 1960s and follows Ponyboy Curtis, a 14-year-old from Tulsa who belongs to a gang called the Greasers. The play explores the conflict between the Greasers and their rivals, the Socs, a gang of wealthy kids.

The country-inspired songs suited the musical’s vibe perfectly. I was blown away by the use of lighting and sound, which made the violence in the story more impactful and intense for the audience. The choreography was equally mesmerizing — especially during the final fight scene between the Greasers and the Socs. The combination of choreography, lighting and sound created an incredibly raw, tense moment that gave me chills. I fell in love with every technical aspect of the show, and my favorite song was “Great Expectations.”

After the show, we moved to the front rows for a post-show discussion featuring President Holley, producers Martin Chase ’77 and Matthew Rego, choreographers Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman, and actor Emma Pittman, who plays Cherry in the musical. They answered questions from the audience about adapting the novel into a musical, using choreography to create family dynamics and fostering a sense of community through their work.

At one point during the talk, President Holley made an exciting announcement to the College community and introduced a surprise guest, Mount Holyoke alum Suzan-Lori Parks ’85. Parks talked about her friendship with Martin Chase and the sense of community she has with other alums. Then, they announced that there will be two new endowed faculty chairs, the Debra Martin Chase ’77 Chair in Film Media Theater and the Suzan-Lori Parks ’85 Chair in Creative Writing, thanks to a $6 million gift from an anonymous donor.

Another of my favorite moments was when Pittman discussed her experience playing a role in a story centered around boyhood. She reflected that “The Outsiders” captures universal dynamics that anyone can relate to, even though it was written by a woman, S.E. Hinton. She also talked about her character, Cherry, who has a relatively small role in the book but plays an essential part in the musical. The producers added her to scenes where she wasn’t originally present, and Emma expressed her gratitude for working with such a thoughtful team.

After the talk, we headed back to the bus, and I slept all the way back to campus. This was a wonderful experience that entertained me and gave me a deeper appreciation for the extensive production process behind the musical.