Drama students put on a show, present ‘The Outsiders’

S.E. Hinton’s coming-of-age novel “The Outsiders” was brought to life this past week by the Spencer County Theatre Department.

Michelle Hughes

Austin Martin, Cody Rowe and Hunter Bruce act out a scene during a Spencer County High and Middle school performance of ‘The Oustiders.’

The story, written in the 1960s, tells of the “Greasers” and the “Socials”, or Soc’s, who are notorious rivals.
Hunter Bruce played Ponyboy, a teenage orphan living with his two older brothers Sodapop (played by Austin Martin) and Darry (played by Cody Rowe).  Add in Johnny (Brandon Waldridge), Dallas (Skylar Vest) and Two-bit (Kristin Freeman), and you have the Greasers.  The Greasers were outfitted with worn out jeans, leather jackets, greased back hair and fake cigarettes by student costumers.
The female lead, Halee Hood, played the role of Cherry. She, along with Marcia (Emily Skibinksi), Bob (Dylan Brooks), and Randy (Robert Shaw), made up the elite group, the Soc’s.
Through fights, fire, love and murder, the cast and crew breathed life into this tragic story.  Produced by drama teacher Shelby Steege, the play was mainly a student-run production. High school senior Ben Hesse directed the play.  Scenery, props, costumes, and lighting were all done by students.  
When asked about his job as stage manager, freshman Wyatt Oliver commented, “I get to tell people what to do.”
Set director Shelby West organized and designed the set.
Auditions were held in August and students have been rehearsing their lines for the past two months.
Hood said that performing makes her feel amazing.
“It makes me happy to know that my friends and I can put on a show to entertain people,” she said.