A living embodiment of young, scrappy live arts 💪 ‘The Outsiders’ playing at The Athenaeum is a quaint little production showcasing the city’s young theatre talent. Playing in a small side room of the Athenaeum (not the main auditorium): the sets are minimal, the artists are green, and the audience is sitting in the action - the strong story and cast’s passion to tell it shines through, creating a unique experience not frequently seen in the Windy City. Plot: Set in an undefined 1960s American Midwest small town where two rival gangs (the working class ‘Greasers’ and the wealthy ‘Socs’) are in the midst of a turf war. The audience is taken along through the perspective of an orphaned 14-year-old greaser, who leans on his fellow gang members and brothers for familial support. While being the most booksmart of the crew, one night he finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and his life is changed forever. Stand outs from the performance include a beautifully choreographed fight scene in the middle of the first act as well as performances by @oliviakayedasilva @josh_dijon_mustard and @austinkinser I would not recommend taking children or inexperienced theatergoers as the raw emotions of the story paired with the lower resourced production requires some effort from the audience to stay engaged… its a real treat for intellectuals and theatre lovers thirsty for a thought provoking night supporting young artists. Tags:
#chicagotheatrereview #theoutsiders #broadway #theatre #chicago @theoutsiderschi @wearethehome @theathenaeum_chicago @jjhorn16