A middle school English class mainstay has evolved over decades to become a Tony-winning stage production. S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders is the coming-of-age story that began as a novel in 1967 before it was the 1983 film with an all-star cast of young actors. Then in 2024, The Outsiders: A New Musical debuted on Broadway, going on to win the Tony Award for Best Musical. Now the touring show lands in Dallas next week.
Making his national tour debut is Luke Sabracos (he/him) who plays Trip in The Outsiders. And, Sabracos said, starring in this particular show has been an unexpected dream come true. Most young actors may have their hearts set on shows like Wicked or Hamilton, but the 25-year-old found himself in a show with sentimental meaning.
"My first exposure to this story wasn't the book. My mom watched it on repeat and because she loved it, it took on a lot of meaning for me, so I loved the movie," Sabracos explained. "Plus, as soon as I heard the music, I wanted to do it, and I'd been trying to get in the room for it. When I got this part, my mom was thrilled, and it's all been a wonderful experience."
The Outsiders runs Nov. 4-16 at the Music Hall at Fair Park.
Sabracos went to an all-boys school but, ironically, never studied the seminal book about boyhood, although his sister, who went to an all-girls school, did. Still his school experience growing up would unknowingly be an early life rehearsal for The Outsiders.
Told mostly through the character of Ponyboy, the musical, set in Tulsa, Okla., in the 1960s, tells the story of the Greasers, a working-class gang, and the Socs (short for socialites), an upper-middle-class gang, and their conflict due to their differing socioeconomic statuses.
"I can relate to my character in some sense. I mean, even the uniform I wore onstage was practically my school uniform. In my first fitting, I sent a pic to my mom, and she said it looked just like I was back in my dormitory."
But that's about it as far as the similarities go, he added. Trip isn't someone Sabracos would find all that awesome to be around.
"I don't like the person he is, or his morals or choices, but I love playing him," he said. "I love how he gets to goof around with friends. And while some of the violence is cool to bring to life, it also feels realistic, which can be a tough mental challenge. But, ultimately, he is a fun challenge to dive into."
From a gay perspective, a story about a bunch of young men could resonate differently. No queer coding has been confirmed by the author, but that doesn't mean it can't be found. Sabracos would say anything queer about the show may be more relative.
"In creating Trip, our director created a space for us to explore everything, so I searched for ways Trip might be gay. Nothing says he is, but I don't think it has to be out of his mind," he said. "Onstage, I get to live in my queerness and allow that thought to go from there."
The actor continued, "The Socs have an aggression that could be rooted in some kind of oppression, which is certainly an experience of those in the closet. Suppressed emotions can turn ugly but hint at something else deeper. We know that."
If Sabracos relates to any character, it's Ponyboy. In that main character, Sabracos finds a tender story.
"There's no queer coding there either, I'd say. But he feels like an outsider, and, growing up, I often felt like I didn't belong. He's smart and creative but also not a Soc. It's like he doesn't belong in either world.
"But there is a moment that reminds me of coming out where he tells his friends -- young men -- that he loves them. And so he bares his soul the way we do when we come out, and it's a beautiful moment."