The Outsiders sparkles not just as a smart adaptation of the beloved S.E. Hinton novel (and Francis Ford Coppola movie) but a genuinely great American musical. The songs here, by the indie folk duo Jamestown Revival (with Justin Levine) don’t feel like pro forma music breaks but organic engines driving a tragic story of class conflict and brotherly love to onstage moments with real heft. Plus, the score boasts a country-inflected energy and lyrics that match the plainspoken poetry of Robert Frost. Who says that nothing gold can stay?
You can read my full review in the June/July issue of Musicals magazine.
THE OUTSIDERS
Jacobs Theatre, Broadway
Running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes (with 1 intermission)
Tickets on sale through January 2, 2026
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