“The Outsiders,” the musical that made its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse in March, will open on Broadway next spring.
The producers of the novel-based musical announced Monday morning that the production will begin previews on March 16, 2024, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in Manhattan. Opening night will be April 11.
The musical — by bookwriters Adam Rapp and Justin Levine and composers Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Levine — is based on S.E. Hinton’s seminal 1967 young adult novel “The Outsiders.” The coming-of-age story is about 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, a smart but directionless orphan in Tulsa, Okla., fighting to survive and find purpose and connection in a harsh world of poverty, class division, gangs, guns and pocket knives.
The musical was a smash at the Playhouse last spring and its creators’ quest to take the show to Broadway got a major push last month when film star Angelina Jolie joined the list of producers, which includes the Araca Group, American Zoetrope, Olympus Theatricals, Sue Gilad and Larry Rogowsky.
Many musicals go through several out-of-town tryout productions and many rounds of fundraising before their producers can afford to mount a Broadway production. But “The Outsiders’” rapturous reception in the spring and Jolie’s high-profile support have made its transition to Broadway particularly speedy.
People magazine reported over the weekend that it was Jolie’s 15-year-old daughter, Vivienne, who convinced her to join the musical’s production team, and Vivienne will serve as Jolie’s volunteer assistant on the project.
“Viv reminds me of my mother in that she isn’t focused on being the center of attention but in being a support to other creatives,” according to a statement by Jolie obtained by People. “She’s very thoughtful and serious about theater and working hard to best understand how to contribute.”
Ticket sales for the Broadway production will go on sale Nov. 1. To follow the progress of “The Outsiders” musical, visit outsidersmusical.com.
“The Outsiders” is the second La Jolla Playhouse-born show that will be making its Broadway debut this season. The other is Barry Manilow’s “Harmony,” which made its world premiere at the Playhouse in 1997.
Ryan Vasquez as Darrel, left, Brody Grant as Ponyboy and Jason Schmidt as Sodapop in “The Outsiders,” a world premiere musical at La Jolla Playhouse.
(Rich Soublet II)