Some will remember the film that starred Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, C.
Thomas Howell and Diane Lane, but many will also remember reading the book either in school or for pleasure at the library. The author is a 16 year old girl from Tulsa, Oklahoma who writes about the way life was in her teen years during the 1960s. Teenage gang warfare between the "haves and have nots" is nothing new, but what is fascinating is the story line of both sides fighting not to be victims and struggling to find a place in the world. At the end, staying "gold" is what matters.
Director and producer, Lee Colee' took a full six months to carefully cast the show and as a street fight consultant she brought on professional martial artist, Sarah Geenberg, who is also an instructor in Wimberley.
The cast is made up of all ages and come from all over the Hill Country. Wimberley's own professional film/stage actor Dylan Blunk, 17 plays Ponyboy Curtis, a sensitive writer and poet and one of the "Greasers." The play rests on Dylan's shoulders as the story is told through his eyes and narrating his memories of events.
One of his fellow Greasers and the meanest and most experienced of the gang is Wimberley's Jason Foreman in the role of Dallas. An ex con who still has some humanity left despite a deep rage, Dallas is the leader of the Greasers.
Professional actors Bob Elliott and Carla Daws, along with Marvin Carson are also from Wimberley and play the few adult roles in the play. Other Wimberley actors are 17 year old Isabelle Hodge, a multi award winner for her student films and also an actor, singer and dancer. She plays Marcia, one of the "Soshes," and a girlfriend of Randy, a popular jock who regularly torments the Greasers. Ian Crain 14, plays Randy who looks to his leader, fellow jock, Bob played by 18 year old Josh Gillis of Austin. A Greaser girlfriend, Sandy is played by Sydney Merriwether 19, also from Austin with numerous theatre and dance credits.
Performers from San Marcos and New Braunsfel include Tyler Laue, 16 who plays the very challenging role of Johnny, a Greaser whose father beats him regularly at home while he fends off the "Soches" on the street.
Sam Heaton, 21 a promising operatic bass vocalist is Darry, Ponyboy's oldest brother who has his life turned upside down when their parents die and it is up to him to hold the family of three brothers together. Ron Steel and Terry Irwin, MD play the intense doctor and nurse.
From Lockhart is Zachary Moreland, 13, as Two Bit who provides comic relief but is a fierce fighter for the Greasers.
From Dripping Springs are two talented performers. Fourteen year old Cassie Martin is Cherry Valance who is torn between both the Soshes and her boyfriend Bob and the Greasers' Dallas and Ponyboy. Cassie already has a lengthy resume' of leading roles. Aaron Van Nostrand, 18, as Sodapop, the middle brother in the Curtis household is a strong music theatre performer and actor with credits in Austin and Dripping Springs. Chris Martin will be playing the police officer.
Young actors playing the children in a burning church include Molly Massey, 8, and Carleigh Lewis, 9, from Wimberley, Ryan and Nicholas Odom from Kyle, Truett Martin from Lockhart, Ashton, 9, and Alyceia,13, Evans from Seguin and Camerin and Addison Salazar of San Marcos.
Some of the crew are also very young. Bethany Abney, 14, of San Marcos will be running the spotlights and Summer Myles, 14, of Wimberley will create the stage makeup for bruises, soot stained faces and manage the props.
"The Outsiders" opens on Friday, November 6 with performances following on November 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 at the Price Center in San Marcos, located at 222 West San Antonio.
Tickets are $18 each and can be purchased online at blackdiamondshows.com, or please call the box office at 512-847-7934.
