OPEN AUDITIONS: The Outsiders

The Outsiders

Adapted by Christopher Sergel

From the book by S.E. Hinton

Directed by Jax Kalberer

Open Auditions: November 10-11; Callbacks November 12

Rehearsal Timeframe: November 17th-January 22nd

Evening Performances (7:30pm): January 23, 24, 30, 31

Matinee Performances (2:30pm): January 25, Feb 1

Content Label: PG-13; violence, profanity, depictions of underage drinking and smoking

The Majestic Theatre (a division of the City of Corvallis Parks and Recreation department) is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion and to creating a safe place for actors of all backgrounds to explore their craft. We are particularly eager to work with artists of color and other artists from marginalized communities. All auditions are free and open to the public. This audition is for an amateur, volunteer production. The Majestic Theatre staff and volunteers do not discriminate on the basis of age, national origin, race, gender, ethnic background, ability, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or any protected class.

Auditions will be held in person at the Majestic Theatre.

SHOW SYNOPSIS

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1967, Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny and their makeshift family of underprivileged ‘Greasers’ are in a fight for survival amidst ongoing territorial battles with their rivals, the upper-class gang of ‘Socs’, who seem to have it all. When a fight goes too far, Ponyboy and Johnny are forced to run away and confront the realities of the violence they grew up in and find hope and acceptance in a world that seems like it has abandoned them.

FROM THE DIRECTOR Jax Kalberer

The Outsiders is a story of family and belonging.

It is also a story of violence, trauma, grief, and fractured identity told through the autobiographical perspective of a 14-year-old in the midst of a socioeconomic warzone between two rival gangs.

While embracing the toughness and grit that we all know and love from the original novel and film, this adaptation aims to ask bigger questions about the effects of violence on young people and the ways in which we cope and live in the aftermath.

I’m looking for actors ready to work hard, have fun, and make art.

PREPARATION NOTES

You do NOT need to prepare a monologue or piece. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes; be ready to move to the best of your ability. Auditions will consist of group warmups, theater games, and cold reads from the script.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

All characters do not have a specific race or ethnic background; we're excited to see a diverse pool of actors audition for all roles. Ages listed are the ages of the characters themselves. ‘Desired Actor Age’ is an approximate range of what age we would like that character to present as that accounts for content and relation to others—we invite actors aged 12+ to audition for any role.

IMPORTANT NOTE ON ABILITY/MOVEMENT/INTIMACY: All characters may be asked to participate in major fight sequences and large group scenes, as themselves or doubled as an extra Greaser/Soc. All characters may be asked to move or pick up set pieces throughout the show. We welcome actors of any and all abilities to audition and will adapt blocking and choreography to suit comfortability.

IMPORTANT NOTE ON VIOLENCE AND PROP WEAPONS: This production deals with heavy themes including child death, murder, gang violence, underage drinking and smoking, simulated usage of weapons, and mentions of suicide. Prop knives will be used throughout the show by several characters. The character of Dallas may handle and carry a prop gun, and a gunshot may be heard towards the end of Act 2. Please keep all of this in mind when considering auditioning. The usage of these prop weapons is integral to the story and cannot be changed. Safety and actor comfortability is our top priority and we will handle these themes and actions with the utmost care through the entire production process.

The Greasers

Ponyboy Curtis

Character Age: 14

Desired Actor Age: 13-17

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Male

Desired Actor Gender: Male-presenting

Line Burden: Heavy

Ability/movement/intimacy: Does not leave the stage except for intermission. Must be comfortable crawling on the ground, running, picking up/moving/pushing set pieces around the stage, and climbing over objects. Will have intensive fight choreography including being grabbed and pushed to the ground. Is simulated to be held down in a fountain by Bob and Randy. Hugs Darry and Soda. May simulate smoking a prop cigarette.

Character Description:

The narrator of the story and the youngest of the Greasers. Ponyboy lives with his brothers Sodapop and Darry after their parents were killed in an automobile accident. His literary and academic interests set him apart from the rest of the gang and he struggles with a fractured sense of identity and feeling like an outsider to the others. He’s sensitive, contemplative and loyal, especially to Johnny.

Johnny Cade

Character Age: 16

Desired Actor Age: 13-17

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Male

Desired Actor Gender: Male-presenting

Line Burden: Heavy

Ability/movement/intimacy: Runs and climbs over objects. Will have intense fight choreography including being grabbed by the arms or shoulders. Carries and handles a prop knife. Simulates stabbing Bob with the prop knife. May simulate smoking a prop cigarette. Discusses suicidal ideation and death.

Character Description: Ponyboy’s best friend, fondly described as the gang's ‘pet’. Between previous traumatic encounters with the Socs and an abusive home life, Johnny is skittish and keeps to himself if he’s not with Ponyboy or Dallas. However, he is fiercely loyal to the Greasers and would do anything to protect his friends.

Dallas “Dally” Winston

Character Age: 17

Desired Actor Age: 16-20

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Male

Desired Actor Gender: Male-presenting

Line Burden: Heavy

Ability/movement/intimacy: May be asked to run, climb over objects, and push set pieces around. Will have some light fight choreography. Must be comfortable handling and carrying a prop knife and prop gun. Must be comfortable simulating firing a prop gun.

Character Description: A tough and hardened Greaser with a tendency to go looking for fights. Despite his independence and fierceness, Dally is also a compassionate and loyal friend and is particularly protective of Johnny.

Darrel “Darry” Curtis

Character Age: 20

Desired Actor Age: 17-25

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Male

Desired Actor Gender: Male-presenting

Line Burden: Medium

Ability/movement/intimacy: Simulates hitting Ponyboy. Hugs Ponyboy and Soda. Will have intense fight choreography and movement.

Character Description: The oldest of the Curtis brothers and the ‘dad friend’ within the gang. Darrel gave up his football scholarship and his dreams beyond Tulsa to look after Ponyboy and Sodapop when their parents passed away. He feels the weight of the world on his shoulders and is doing his best to keep their family together despite it all.

Sodapop “Soda” Curtis

Character Age: 16

Desired Actor Age: 15-20

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Male

Desired Actor Gender: Male-presenting

Line Burden: Medium

Ability/movement/intimacy: Hugs Darrel and Ponyboy. May be asked to hold hands or hug Sandy. Will have intense fight choreography and movement.

Character Description: The middle child and a high school dropout. Soda is fun-loving and supportive and cares deeply about his friends and his girlfriend, Sandy. He loves his brothers but often gets caught between Ponyboy and Darrel’s incessant arguing.

Two-Bit Mathews

Character Age: 18

Desired Actor Age: 15-25

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Male

Desired Actor Gender: Male-presenting

Line Burden: Medium

Ability/movement/intimacy: Will have intense fight choreography and movement.

Character Description: One of the oldest Greasers. Two-Bit is quick witted, earnest, and likes to talk. Sometimes he takes the joke too far but he always means well. He’s a good friend to Johnny and Ponyboy. May simulate smoking a prop cigarette.

Sandy

Character Age: 16

Desired Actor Age: 15-20

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Female

Desired Actor Gender: Female-presenting

Line Burden: Light

Ability/movement/intimacy: May be asked to hold hands or hug Sodapop.

Character Description: Soda’s girlfriend that breaks his heart when she moves away to live with her grandmother. May be doubled as an extra in fight sequences and large group scenes.

The Socs (short for Socials not Socks)

Cherry Valance

Character Age: 16

Desired Actor Age: 14-18

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Female

Desired Actor Gender: Female-presenting

Line Burden: Heavy

Ability/movement/intimacy: Any. Is catcalled by Dallas.

Character Description: Cherry is open-minded, courageous, and steadfast on her values even in the face of her rowdy and violent boyfriend Bob. She befriends Ponyboy and offers him a new perspective on the lives of the Socs.

Bob Sheldon

Character Age: 18

Desired Actor Age: 14-18

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Male

Desired Actor Gender: Male-presenting

Line Burden: Medium

Ability/movement/intimacy: Appears intoxicated after offstage drinking. Must be comfortable with fight choreography. Threatens Ponyboy with a prop knife. Simulates trying to drown Ponyboy by holding him down in a fountain. Must be comfortable lying on the ground.

Character Description: The intimidating leader of the Socs and Cherry’s boyfriend. Is seen as violent and quick to anger due to an absence of guidance from the adults in his life. Cherry describes him as ‘something special when he isn’t trying to destroy himself.’

Randy Adderson

Character Age: 18

Desired Actor Age: 14-18

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Male

Desired Actor Gender: Male-presenting

Line Burden: Medium

Ability/movement/intimacy: Appears intoxicated after offstage drinking. Must be comfortable with fight choreography. Simulates trying to drown Ponyboy by holding him down in a fountain.

Character Description: Bob’s best friend and Marcia’s boyfriend. Goes along with Bob’s antics but tries to reflect and turn his life around later in the story. May be doubled as an extra in fight sequences and large group scenes.

Marcia

Character Age: 16

Desired Actor Age: 14-18

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Female

Desired Actor Gender: Female-presenting

Line Burden: Light

Ability/movement/intimacy: Any. Is catcalled by Dallas.

Character Description: Cherry’s friend and Randy’s girlfriend. Marcia is witty and unshakable when talking to the Greasers. May be doubled as an extra in fight sequences and large group scenes.

Supporting Roles

Note: Light line burdens. Will ALL be doubled as an extra in fight sequences and large group scenes. Must be comfortable with fast costume changes, moving/picking up/pushing set pieces.

Mrs. O’Briant

Character Age: 20-35

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Female

Desired Actor Gender: Female-presenting

Character Description: A school teacher whose students were saved by Ponyboy and Johnny from a fire.

Jerry

Character Age: 20-35

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Male

Desired Actor Gender: Any

Character Description: A school teacher whose students were saved by Ponyboy and Johnny from a fire. Praises Ponyboy for his heroism.

Paul

Character Age: 18-25

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Male

Desired Actor Gender: Male-presenting

Character Description: Darrel’s friend from high school that went to college. Fights him at the Rumble.

Doctor

Character Age: 20-35

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Male

Desired Actor Gender: Male-presenting

Character Description: The doctor that treats Johnny and Dallas in the hospital after the fire.

Nurse

Character Age: 20-35

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Female

Desired Actor Gender: Female-presenting

Character Description: Takes care of Johnny in the hospital.

Mr. Syme

Character Age: 20-35

Character Race: Any

Character Ethnicity: Any

Character Gender: Male

Desired Actor Gender: Any

Character Description: Ponyboy’s English teacher that assigns him the essay in which Ponyboy is writing the story for.