Opening night is getting closer for the cast and crew of “The Outsiders,” an adaptation of S. E. Hinton’s often-read novel that was also turned into a movie starring
The cast list for the play was released Friday, Aug. 16. Due to the number of students who auditioned, the show will use different casts for each weekend of the showcase. This accomodation has had surprising consequences for the play’s director, Eileen Poole.
“It has allowed me to talk about interpreting the text and how each actor brings their own experience to a character,” said Poole. “While Sodapop is Sodapop, he is a little different depending on who is playing him.”
The list includes Julia Rindt as Ponyboy; Khloe Olson as Johnny; Dain Johnson and Azriel R Feulner as Bob; Riley Bandy and Dakoda Catlin as Randy; Bekah Dickey as Dallas; Brooklyn Gillson and Venice Ruprecht as Two-Bit; Murolo Patchin and Salem Edwards as Darry; Amalie Gilham and Olive Patterson as Sodapop; Liliana Padilla and Tristyn Odom as Sandy; Genevieve Welsh as Cherry; Jocelyn Siebert and Julien Gibson as Marcia; Maria Lopez as Mrs. O’Briant; Talen Houck as Jerry; Axel Dack as Doctor; Arianna Olivas as Nurse; Averi King as Mrs. Syme; and DJ Coleman as Paul.
Leena Faulkinberry will serve as the show’s understudy and Irma Lopez will be Costume Manager.
“The Outsiders” is a thriller set in the 1960s. It follows the story of two friends, Johnny Cade and Ponyboy Curtis, who grew up in the working class and are categorized as “greasers.” They get in trouble with a rival gang of upper-middleclass “Socs.”
The cast is excited about getting together and creating a fun and entertaining experience for everyone to see. The costumes and script are enough to excite Julia Rindt, Rebekah Dickey, and Khloe Olson, who are all eagerly waiting for their opening night.
“I am feeling pretty good about it,” Rindt said. “I feel very prepared and I want people to be able to watch, enjoy our storytelling, and be glad that they decided to come and see it.”
The cast is working very hard on their performance to ensure a wonderful viewing experience.
“One of my goals this year was to be mindful of how my character Dally would react and feel in certain scenes,” said Dickey. “I am proud of how I’ve developed my line delivery and expression.”
Staging production involves countless hours, from running lines and blocking to working tech and making costumes. Spending that much time together builds a community, and the cast and crew labelled this one as fun, positive, entertaining and — most importantly — welcoming.
“My favorite part about this production has been learning to work with people and getting to know the cast and crew,” Olson said.
The play will hit the Parker Performing Arts Center for two weekends, Oct. 25-26 and Nov. 1-2.
