April 16, 2026, Seward Folly Staff

Three years ago, Meegan Miller and Joel Williams founded the Seward Theatre Collective, and, in doing so, reshaped the lives of local students. Their latest production, a student-led staging of S.E. Hinton’s “The Outsiders,” stands as a testament to the transformative power of the arts in a small community.

Director and high school senior Evie Bukac believes deeply in the mission.

“The arts are something we need to fight for as a community; they inspire us to use not only our freedom of speech but also our ability to critically engage with difficult issues,” Bukac says.

For Seward’s youth, the theater has become a rare outlet for self-discovery and self-expression: “Teenagers especially need outlets by which to explore themselves and who they want to be, to talk about the things that are important to them in a space with peers to listen. That’s what the theatre gives to Seward’s youth.”

The production, almost entirely student-driven and adapted from Hinton’s classic novel, follows Ponyboy Curtis, a bright but troubled Greaser growing up in 1960s Oklahoma. Onstage, Ashton Nichols handles the demanding lead role with confidence, flanked by Elijah Fisher as SodaPop and Kameron Smith as Darry — two brothers struggling to raise Ponyboy after the death of their parents.

The plot is driven by two sources of conflict: the constant tension between the working-class Greasers and their affluent rivals, the Socs, and the brothers’ own struggle to protect Ponyboy’s gifts and innocence. Ridge Conant and AJ Groom turn in memorable performances as Bob and Randy, the Socs’ leaders — Conant with slick cruelty, Groom peeling back the character’s defenses to reveal a more thoughtful side.

Among the Greasers, several performances stand out. Lukas Scott, an 11th-grader, throws himself into the role of Two Bit, the wisecracking instigator.

“It feels like my whole life has always revolved around this play,” Scott reflects. “When I read about Two Bit, people said he was an instigator like me. But now, I am Two Bit. I will call myself Two Bit for the rest of my life.”

Scott’s energy and humor add much-needed levity to the show.

Aksel Unrein, a senior, brings Dallas Winston to life with just the right blend of toughness and charisma.

“I remember reading ‘The Outsiders’ back in middle school, and I just adored it,” Unrein said. “Dallas was my favorite. I always related to him — in good ways, not the assault and harassing women part.”

Unrein credits Evie Bukac for fostering a collaborative, passionate environment: “Evie, our talented director and great actor in their own right, really gave people their own places to shine and was so receptive to new things and changes.”

The Soc girls, Sandy (Amara Ransom), Marcia (Ava Gunter), and Cherry (Ruby Boyle), round out the cast. Boyle’s Cherry is especially compelling, her clipped delivery masking an underlying empathy for the Greasers.

“She quietly shows her admiration and understanding of the Greasers’ difficult life, while also pointing out that Socs have their problems too,” observed one audience member after the show.

The production makes the most of its minimal staging. A red car in the driving scene and a simple church on the hill where Ponyboy and Johnny hide out serve as memorable highlights. Lighting is used to strong effect, especially during the emotional monologues that punctuate the story, reminding the audience of the divided world these characters have inherited.

Fight scenes are tightly choreographed, more dance than brawl, and the ensemble’s energy is palpable throughout. The real heart of the show, though, lies in its quieter moments: Ponyboy’s struggle to “stay gold” in the face of loss and violence, and the cast’s commitment to bringing Hinton’s timeless themes to life.

For many students, “The Outsiders” proved to be much more than a school play.

“I have enjoyed everything about this project,” Scott says. “I feel like I’m a part of something bigger, and my day-to-day existence has more meaning. I love acting and expressing myself in a way through a silly character. I am also aiming to become the new director next year for the theater.”

Senior Elijah Fisher, who played SodaPop, echoed the sentiment: “What I’ve enjoyed about being a part of the production is coming together as a community and doing something we all enjoy.”

Amara Ransom, an 11th-grader with three plays under her belt, relished the challenge of bringing the beloved book to life: “I love giving people a show and allowing them to see how books come to life. I have made so many new friends, and having Evie as my director has been a blast.”

By the final scene, when Ponyboy repeats Johnny’s dying wish to “Stay Gold,” the production has earned its emotional payoff. The message resonates as strongly today as it did fifty years ago: every person matters, and kindness can still be found on both sides of the tracks. With its genuine performances and clear sense of purpose, the Seward Theatre Collective’s “The Outsiders” is more than a school play — it’s a reflection of the power of youth, community, creativity, and the enduring relevance of Hinton’s story.