Leroy Barker and the theater department have started rehearsal for their production of The Outsiders. The show will be running from November 2 – November 5.
Tickets will be available for purchase presale and at the door. According to Nico Jenkins (12), a student very involved in Fair Grove’s Theater Program, tickets will be $5 for bleacher seating or $20 for floor seating with dinner included.
Rehearsal for The Outsiders started on September 1st. Lucas Engel (11) who is playing Dallas Winston in the upcoming production, announced, “We had our first read through September 1st and 2nd and have had a few rehearsals since then but really started this week [September 18]. Rehearsals are going well so far, it is still very early so it’ll pick up the pace here soon.”
Jenkins, who is playing Ponyboy, explained, “The Outsiders is a play based on S.E. Hinton’s book The Outsiders that is read by all Fair Grove freshmen. The story follows Ponyboy (Nico Jenkins), Johnny (Cheyenne Todd), Dallas (Luke Engel), and their friends as they try to survive in their hometown, and make up for their mistakes.”
The stage manager, Aydan McClinton (9), expanded, “The play is about two different social groups: Socs and greasers. The two are very different and often get into fights. In the story, two socs and a few greasers become friends, something extremely looked down upon.”
McClinton continued, “The story progresses as violence between the two groups gets worse and worse until someone is killed. The friends eventually try to get away, bringing to light the upsetting and terrible past of the characters. The group of friends become closer, but soon must part ways.”
This year the play will be a split cast meaning the cast will be different depending on the day spectators go to see the production, Jenkins explained, “A few of the characters in the show are double cast, with a Soc Cast and a Greaser Cast. We will be doing 4 shows November 2nd-5th and each cast will have two performances.”
Jenkins went in-depth, “Most of the major roles are not double cast, but several smaller roles are so the directors could include as many actors as possible. Additionally, the double casting allows us to make each show a dinner theater with the off-stage cast serving food for the audience.”
Engel talked about what he thinks high schoolers will enjoy about The Outsiders, “I think high schoolers will like this play for a few reasons. All the characters are about high school age so it makes them very relatable.”
Engel continued, “It is also a book all FG high schoolers read in Mr. Florez’s English one class so they are already familiar with the story and most students seem to like it every year.”
The theater department is excited to perform The Outsiders, and the cast is having a blast in rehearsal learning their lines and fight choreography, according to Engel.
