Seventh and Eighth Graders Experience Broadway’s The Outsiders
Seventh and eighth grade students had the opportunity to attend a special matinee performance of the critically acclaimed Broadway musical, The Outsiders, in the city on January 15.
The show, adapted from S.E. Hinton’s classic novel, brought the timeless story of friendship, identity, and resilience to life in a powerful and dynamic way.
The Outsiders—winner of four Tony Awards®—reimagines Hinton’s novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic film with a groundbreaking approach. The production offers a fresh and emotionally charged perspective on the story of the Greasers and the Socs in 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The novel The Outsiders is part of the seventh-grade curriculum at NCCS, so the performance offered students the chance to see the themes they’ve studied in class—identity, belonging, and resilience—portrayed on stage in a way that was both familiar and new. Featuring a captivating original score and stunning choreography, the musical deepened their understanding of the story’s central message: even in a divided world, there is still “lots of good.”
After the performance, students had the unique opportunity to participate in a 30-minute Talkback with members of the cast and crew. About 10 performers and 2–3 crew members shared their experiences, answered questions, and discussed the creative process behind the production. This behind-the-scenes look provided students with an even greater appreciation for the teamwork, dedication, and artistry involved in bringing The Outsiders to life on stage.
For many students, seeing Ponyboy Curtis, Johnny Cade, and their Greaser family come to life on stage made a lasting impression. “It was the best experience of my life,” said seventh-grader Emery O’Keefe. “It was a very touching story that made me be much more aware of what’s going on with other people’s lives, and that it’s not all butterflies and rainbows.”
Teachers accompanying the group noted how the live performance encouraged students to think critically about the characters and the challenges they face. “I’ve taught this book for 25 years because it always resonates in a deep and emotional way with students, in every type of population,” explained Grade 7 Teacher Danielle Service. “There’s something universal about the teenage struggle in The Outsiders, and it was such an honor to see it come to life on Broadway.”
Experiences like this are part of NCCS’s commitment to engaging students with literature, the arts, and the broader world. By bringing classroom studies to life in meaningful ways, the school helps students connect with what they are learning on a deeper level.
As students returned to campus, the conversations about The Outsiders continued. They discussed the characters, the music, and how the themes of the story still resonate today. For these seventh and eighth graders, the day was not just about attending a Broadway show—it was about stepping into a story, learning something new, and sharing the experience as a community.
New Canaan Country School
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.
