Out And About: “The Outsiders” Brings a Vibrant Retelling of the Classic Story to the Dr. Phillips Center This Week

- Michelle Snow

The Outsiders

Last night CitySurfing Orlando attended the opening night of “The Outsiders” a musical that is part of the 25/26 AdventHealth Broadway In Orlando season, and it was an amazing show.

I was in high school when my English teacher made S.E. Hinton’s classic novel “The Outsiders” required reading for the year. Shortly after, Francis Ford Coppola released his iconic film based on the story, which featured some of the brightest young actors of the decade such as Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio, and Patrick Swayze.

The story has been a favorite of mine for decades, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from a musical version. Turns out they did the story justice, and the cast of this touring production brought the story and music to life in a powerful way.

The Outsiders

A standout was Nolan White, who played the lead character of Ponyboy Curtis, who also serves as the narrator of the story. His acting pulled me into the story and his singing voice was strong and expressive.

Last night Bonale Fambrini who plays Ponyboy’s friend Johnny Cade was not in the show and the role was played by understudy Christian Arredondo. He was magnificent in the role, and also had a strong singing voice.

I also have to give kudos to the choreographer for the inventive staging of the show’s final fight scene between Ponyboy’s Greasers and their rivals the Socials.

The Outsiders

“The Outsiders” takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1967, a time before cellphones and computers, but tells a universal story of friendship, love, loss, and finding your identity in a world that repeatedly tells you that you don’t belong.

Whether you love the book, the movie, or just love a good musical, you won’t want to miss this great show while it’s at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando.

Dr. Phillips Center
Photo by Matthew Murphy

Tickets are on sale at DrPhillipsCenter.org for shows through December 23, 2025.

Be sure to arrive early to check out the Frontyard Holiday Festival outside. It’s free to attend, and so much fun!

Disclosure: CitySurfing Orlando was invited as media for purposes of this review. As always, my opinions are my own.

About Michelle Snow

Michelle is the owner and editor of CitySurfing Orlando. She also owns Zengrrl.com, is a freelance writer specializing in travel and entertainment, has authored/co-authored four guidebooks on Orlando and Florida, and was head editor/writer at TheDisneyBlog.com for 10 years. She's lived in Orlando near Walt Disney World since 1995, and still finds there's so much fun to be had in Central Florida.
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