Overview

On Thursday, September 25, 2025, the North Platte High School Theatre Department debuted their fall production of The Outsiders by S.E Hinton. After two months of late night rehearsals, hard work, and endless dedication of the directors, Brittany McDaniel, and Nicole Cepel, and the cast and crew, they created a wonderful show that was full of emotion and power. 

Ms. Misty’s Review of the show

North Platte High School’s theatre department brought S.E. Hinton’s classic novel The Outsiders to life in an insanely powerful stage production that left the audience deeply moved. The performance, held in the school’s Performing Arts Center, was attended by students, parents, and staff, all eager to see how the cast would interpret this much-loved story.

The play followed the struggles between the Greasers and the Socs, marking themes of friendship, loyalty, and the divisions created by social class. The actors embraced their roles with energy and conviction. What I found most intriguing were the performances of the lead actors playing Ponyboy (Pluto Axthelm) and Johnny (Brett Pfiefer), who captured both the vulnerability of their characters with emotional depth.

What stood out most to me, however, was the way the cast worked together to bring out the central message of the story: that despite differences in background, people share common struggles and emotions. Many people I had talked to commented afterward that the play felt both moving and relevant, with its themes still resonating strongly today.

Overall

Overall, the production of The Outsiders was a huge success. It showcased the talent, hard work, and dedication of the students and staff involved, leaving the audience with both admiration for the performers and a reminder of the story’s message to “stay gold.”

Written by Misty Harder on September 26th, 2025.