[4] The musical, told from the perspective of 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, is set in Tulsa, Oklahoma during the 1960s and follows the conflict between two rival gangs divided by their socioeconomic status: the working-class "Greasers" and the upper-middle-class "Socs" (pronounced /ˈsoʊʃɪz/ SOH-shiz—short for Socials).
[6] Ponyboy Curtis, aged 14, is writing in a notebook, when he begins to introduce the world of the show — Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1967.
He introduces the Greasers, the more gritty, grounded counterparts to the upper-class Socs who "live like socialites."
He specifically points out his best friend, Greaser Johnny Cade, who was recently jumped by Socs ("Tulsa, '67").
Darrel is at home folding laundry, reflecting on his role as a pseudo-father to his younger brothers after their parents recently died in a car accident, as the rest of the gang make themselves comfortable in the Curtis house ("Runs in the Family").
Darrel agrees, as long as Ponyboy stays careful and isn't late for curfew, though he's still wary of Dally.
Ponyboy and Sodapop reflect on the similarities they each see in the characters in the book "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens.
Meanwhile, Dally finds Johnny outside his house, with sounds of intense arguing from inside.
After it becomes clear this has happened before, Johnny tells Dally that he stays at home because he's scared his father will kill his mother.
Ponyboy and Johnny run to Buck Merril's Bar searching for Dallas, who gives them money and directions to an abandoned church where they can hide for the time being.
Darrel and Sodapop are interrogated about what they know or who they know that might know more, with the police singling out Dally as a specific person of interest, though they receive no information from him.
Paul and the Socs then declare war on the Greasers, beating up Two-Bit as a "message", and plan a fight for next Saturday night at the same park where Bob was killed.
Ponyboy recites a poem ("Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost) to Johnny, as they watch the sunrise.
Dally is adamant that this is a bad idea, telling the boys that it's always better to run away from trouble like he has.
Ponyboy ends up not badly injured, but a beam falls on Johnny's back, and he can no longer feel his legs.
Cherry comes to the hospital room and tells Ponyboy that she cleared him and Johnny of all murder charges by giving a statement to the police.
A stunned and enraged Ponyboy pins Darrel to the ground, but Sodapop tearfully stops them, fed up with the constant fighting, reminding them that they only have each other and have to look out for each other.
Eventually, Darrel and Soda read it out loud, revealing it to be the opening narration to "The Outsiders" novel (Finale ("Tulsa '67")).
The musical was originally announced in 2019 and was set to premiere at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago directed by Liesl Tommy with a performance run scheduled from June 20, 2020, until August 2, 2020, that was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
[8] The musical premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse on February 19, 2023, and closed April 9, 2023, after extending a week due to high ticket sales.
The show began previews on March 16, 2024, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre and opened on April 11, 2024.
[11] Among the show's producers are actresses LaChanze and Angelina Jolie, as well as The Araca Group, Francis Ford Coppola under his American Zoetrope banner, and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.
[12] Other producers include Betsy Dollinger, Cristina Marie Vivenzio, The Shubert Organization, Marylee Fairbanks, Debra Martin Chase and others.
Before moving to Broadway, the cast traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma to see the real-life places and inspiration behind the original story.
[14] Opening night reviews were mixed-to-positive, mostly praising the script, score, choreography and Brody Grant's performance.