Prime Stage Theatre and Riverstone Books present a discussion of the book & live performances of scenes from Christopher Sergel’s adaptaion of the play, which Prime Stage will present on stage in March at the New Hazlett Theater on the North Side.

The Outsiders was written in 1967 by S.E. Hinton when she was just 16 and a junior in high school and adapted for film a by Francis Ford Coppola. This novel has remained in print and is on virtually every high school summer reading list due to its powerful and still relevant story.

The story depicts teenagers growing up in Oklahoma during the 60's, where two rival groups, the lower-class Greasers and the well-to-do Socs, lived different lives, those who belonged and those who didn’t. Ponyboy, a 14-year-old Greaser, dreams of a life where he can have a sense of belonging without sacrificing his sense of self. He may see a kindred spirit in new friend Cherry (a Soc no less), but a tragic fight forces him on the run. Through loss of life, friends and his innocence, Ponyboy struggles to bridge the gap between where he lives and what he wants.

Ultimately, this is a story about friendship, getting to know people before you judge them, finding similarities rather than differences, and realizing that we’re all the same, regardless of our backgrounds. Although the characters experience sadness at times, they also realize that change is a part of life, and that there’s always hope.