Our 33rd Season Continues with a Literary and Cinema Classic
The Cumberland Theatre continues its 33rd Season this weekend with The Outsiders, a play based on the book and film of the same name. Written by S.E. Hinton, when she was just sixteen years old, the story has become a staple in high school reading programs and remains one of the most popular contemporary classics of the 20th century. In 1983, it was made into a feature film directed by Francis Ford Coppola with an all-star cast that included Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe and Ralph Macchio.
Set in 1965, the story focuses on fourteen-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, the youngest of three orphaned brothers who live on the "wrong side" of the tracks. He knows that he can count on his brothers, Darry and Sodapop. And he knows that he can count on his friends—true friends who would do anything for him. But not on much else besides trouble with the Socs, a gang of rich kids whose idea of a good time is beating up on “greasers” like Ponyboy. An incident occurs one night when someone takes things too far causing lives being threatened and forever changed. The Greasers and the Socs agree to a rumble to settle things once and for all. The show’s themes include loyalty, enduring friendship, bullying, and overcoming stereotypes.
Appearing in the role of Ponyboy will be local actor Jace Courrier who was last seen on the CT stage as the Mayor of the Munchkin City in the 2016 production of The Wizard of Oz. He is a tenth grader at Keyser High School. Starring as the other two Curtis brothers and making their first appearances at CT will be Reed Lancaster as Darry and Sky Nelson as Sodapop. Lancaster is a graduate of Northwestern University and currently resides in New York City. Recent credits include the Raven Theatre’s Chicago premiere of Yen (Hench) and The Tank Theatre’s production of The Prisoners of Qua Dong (Cowley). Nelson also resides in New York and is a graduate of the University of Portland. He has been seen most recently in November Theatre's North American premier of Pancake Day (Matty), in Charlie Manoukian's award-winning short comedy Walk (Skid), and in Peter Chapman's film A Kept Boy (Jason).
Dante Santos will be portray Dallas Winston. Santos is a native of Las Vegas where he attended the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts. Other members of the Greasers will be acted by Donny Ness (Johnny), Hayden Shoemaker-Davis (Steve) and Jacob Hale (Two-Bit). Ness is a local actor who has been seen in community theatre productions The Addams Family, Willy Wonka and Oliver! in which he played the titular role. Shoemaker-Davis is currently a theatre student at Frostburg State University and has appeared recently at the Indie on Main and Embassy Theatre. Hale has recently appeared at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre and, recently, at Toby’s Dinner Theatre as Flounder in Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
Featured in supporting roles are local actors Emily Snyder as Cherry Valance, Bredon Eric McCabe as Randy, Connor McCabe as Bob Sheldon, Ava Breighner as Marcia, and Madilyn McManaway as Sandy. Snyder, McCabe and McCabe were last seen in CT Stars of Tomorrow Youth Productions. Snyder as Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and the McCabes as Toad and Frog in A Year with Frog and Toad. Breighner last appeared as Karen in Night of the Living Dead and McManaway is making her CT debut.
The cast also includes Tim Bambara, Emily Haworth, Ebony Gennes, Brian Records, John McConnell, Brett Reel, Sawyer Jenkins, Justice Courrier, and Trevor McCabe.
The Outsiders is being directed by Seth Thompson with set, light and sound design by Rhett Wolford, fight direction by Darrell Rushton and costume design by Jennifer Clark. Kimberli Rowley is serving as the stage manager with assistance from Ebony Gennes.
The show is being sponsored in part by Chessie Federal Credit Union and performed, in cooperation with Dramatic Publishing, September 2nd – 12th with Thursday – Saturday performances at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Group rates are available by emailing kim@cumberlandtheatre.com. The show runs approximately two hours and includes mild language and violence. Parental discretion is encouraged.
Masks will be required for all audience members during the show and while moving throughout the building. Tickets are available by call the theatre at 301.759.4990 or online at www.cumberlandtheatre.com. The VIP Star Box, which includes balcony seating, food and beverages for eight people is also available to book online.