By The Keystone Newspaper Performances run Thursday, April 17 to Saturday, April 19, with tickets available through KU Presents
By Lynda Feustel
Actors Creating Theatre (ACT) is currently in the home stretch of their spring semester, working to bring “The Outsiders” to the Little Theatre stage Thursday, April 17 to Saturday, April 19. Performances on Thursday and Friday are at 7 p.m., and there are two Saturday performances at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 for KU students, $15 for adults, $9 for seniors, and $10 for students under 18 and in college. Tickets can be purchased through KU Presents.
Photo Credit: Marquett Ferrell
The play is an adaptation, written by Christopher Sergel in 1990, of the iconic novel by S. E. Hinton, first published in 1967 when Hinton was 16. The creative team for ACT’s production includes directors Emily Novak and Marquett Ferrell, dramaturg Lynda Feustel, and fight choreographer Parker Winters.
Photo Credit: Emily Novak
“The Outsiders” is “a story not only about the everlasting bond of brotherhood, whether that is biological or nonbiological, but also a story about youth and growth,” Novak said. “The story of ‘The Outsiders’ is something that anyone can relate to, whether it’s because they relate to the messages on the impact of family, or just the underlying feeling of being different. It’s about feeling out of place, something that happens to everyone, regardless of the exterior that surrounds them. It’s a narrative about identity and belonging, something we all find ourselves battling one time or another.”
Photo Credit: Marquett Ferrell
The cast features Avi Lovitt, Zack Ismael, Jalal Muhammad, Mason Snyder, Adam Steppke, Joseph Martin, Angel Mincey, Avianna Fetrow, Sara Hughes, Aidan Sawyer, William McMahon, Katie Moreno, Noah Jaskulski, Max McHugh, Trevor Gorman, and Nick Martinez.
“Getting to bond with this amazing cast and creative team has been wonderful,” said Lovitt, who plays Ponyboy Curtis. “Working with everyone has really made me rise to this opportunity to play my first lead, and everyone has been so supportive and amazing.”
Photo Credit: Marquett Ferrell
“Being part of ‘The Outsiders’ has been a terrific experience from start to finish,” said Martin, who plays Two-Bit Matthews. “It’s been a blast taking such a well-known character from the book and movie and honoring that while also making him mine and putting my own spin on it.”
“This show has been so fulfilling to direct, and it’s a story that leaves the audience feeling the same,” Novak said.
Photo Credit: Emily Novak
ACT will also be performing “Carrie: The Musical” in Little Theatre on Thursday, April 24 and Friday, April 25 at 7 p.m., as well as on Saturday, April 26 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through KU Presents.
Previously this year, ACT put on “Bull in a China Shop,” “Waystation,” and most recently “Grease.” For more information about future productions, ACT can be found on Instagram @act_ku.