La Jolla Playhouse's world premiere of The Outsiders, the new musical adapted from S.E. Hinton’s novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s film of the same name, officially opens in California March 4. Directed by Obie winner Danya Taymor, the production began previews February 19.
The cast features Brody Grant as Ponyboy, Sky Lakota-Lynch as Johnny, Daniel Marconi as Randy, Kevin William Paul as Bob, Brent Comer as Paul, Ryan Vasquez as Darrel, Da'Von T. Moody as Dallas, Jason Schmidt as Sodapop, Trevor McGhie as Two-Bit, Piper Patterson as Cherry, and Kiki Lemieux as Marcia.
The ensemble includes Annelise Baker, Barton Cowperthwaite, Tilly Evans-Krueger, Sean H. Jones, L’ogan J’ones, Renni Magee, Melody Rose, and Daryl Tofa plus swings Jordan Chin, Milena J. Comeau, and Tristan McIntyre and understudies Spencer McCabe Hunsicker, Junior Nyong’o, and Trevor Wayne.
Featuring a book by Pulitzer Prize finalist Adam Rapp, music and lyrics by Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Tony winner Justin Levine, the production also has music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Levine and choreography by Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman.
The Outsiders is set in 1967 Tulsa, Oklahoma, as Ponyboy Curtis, Johnny Cade, and their chosen family of "outsiders" are in a fight for survival and a quest for purpose in a world that may never accept them.
The creative team also includes scenic designer AMP featuring Tatiana Kahvegian, costume designer Sarafina Bush, lighting designer Isabella Byrd, sound designer Justin Ellington, projection designer Tal Yarden and Taylor Edelle Stuart, special effects designer Jeremy Chernick, wig designer Nicholas Parrish, and makeup designer Tishonna Ferguson.
Also on the production team are music director Matt Hinkley, music producer Matt Stine, sensitivity specialist Ann James, voice and dialect coach Gigi Buffington, vocal supervisor Liz Caplan, stage manager Kristin Newhouse, and assistant stage managers Jenn Elyse Jacobs, Kelly Martindale, Dean Remington, and Emily Searles. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting's Xavier Rubiano and Jacole Kitchen.
Performances continue through April 1.
Visit LaJollaPlayhouse.org.
