Whatever Wednesday - The Outsiders

Treated myself to a Sunday matinee at the Music Hall at Fair Park, Dallas.  Nosebleed seat  - could see and hear great.  S.E. Hinton wrote The Outsiders in 1967.  This was a teenager (age 18) writing about teens in Tulsa, OK.   It struck a nerve.  

  It did become a movie in 1983 with a cast of young up and comers - C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise, and Diane Lane.  Wow - quite the lineup of future success stories. 

 Now The Outsiders - a musical won the 2024 Tony Award and is touring the country. It is a stunning production and I highly recommend it.  Basically it is a bit of a West Side story tale - only in Oklahoma. The Greasers vs. The Socs.  Nolan White as Ponyboy Curtis had a gorgeous plaintive voice. He's a kid who likes to read, enjoys a sunset, and feels sad for his brothers, his friends - all poor, all struggling. It's a tough world, especially being bullied by the rich kids.  This is a musical about justice, understanding, communication, hope, and respect - all from a teen perspective. 

Great songs, voices, and the choreography was innovative and fabulous. Quite the production. 

Support the Arts!

Whatever Wednesday - & Juliet

Treated myself to another excellent  Broadway touring production - & Juliet at Dallas' Fair Park Music Hall.  I had an orchestra seat with a grand view of the stage. 

Big twist on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet with current pop tunes to  help the tale.  Basically Anne is not happy with the ending to her husband Will's  latest play. Options  and rewrites are explored. 

Rachel Simone Webb (Juliet) was  stunning - gorgeous young  lady with a fabulous voice.  The whole cast was tremendous.  The  songs (example - Larger Than Life, Show Me  the  Meaning of  Being  Lonely,  Oops...I  Did It  Again, and so many more) applied well to the situations that Juliet  explored.

Just a clever take on an old love tragedy.  The audience left the theater smiling.  Sunday matinees are THE best.