jtrent238 test blog: Theater Update: ‘The Outsiders’ heads to Broadway

August 23, 2023

Dear Theater Fans,

We've reached that quieter time of the summer, when theaters prepare for their fall seasons. Which means it's a good time for me to take a vacation! I may be away, but there's still plenty to highlight this week, including a whip-smart discussion about feminist musicals with a pop soundtrack on Broadway; insightful interviews with Lily Allen and Jennifer Simard; and news that "The Outsiders," which Alexis Soloski reviewed in San Diego, is Broadway bound.

Please reach out to me at theaterfeedback@nytimes.com with suggestions for stories or to offer your thoughts on what you've read. And urge your friends to subscribe to this newsletter by clicking here.

Have a wonderful week,

Nicole Herrington

Theater Editor

(@nikkih04)

NEWS AND FEATURES

Seven cast members, dressed in jeans and white T-shirts, hang from a jungle gym with a large tire in front of it.

Rich Soublet II

'The Outsiders' Heads to Broadway, With Angelina Jolie as a Producer

A new musical adaptation of a popular novel by S.E. Hinton will begin performances in March.

By Sarah Bahr

A woman onstage with wide eyes and her left hand extended. Near her stand several men holding up papers with a picture and Arabic printed on them.

Chicago the Musical

An Arabic Adaptation of 'Chicago' Razzle Dazzles Lebanon

Reimagining the Broadway musical for audiences near Beirut meant new character names, choreography and lyrics.

By Sara Aridi

Lily Allen stands with her arms folded, looking at the camera with an open expression on her face.

Ellie Smith for The New York Times

Lily Allen's Second Act

The British singer, now sober, has a new life in New York, and a new string to her bow: acting.

By Desiree Ibekwe

A pixelated image of Lea Salonga with a yellow circle in the background

Cj Rivera/Invision, via Associated Press

my ten

PlayStation and BTS Help Lea Salonga Clear Her Head

The "Here Lies Love" actress finds inspiration in Alex Newell's "Shucked" performance and a good night's sleep in the sounds of "Forensic Files."

By Sarah Bahr

A portrait of a woman, who is wearing a pink sequined top and standing in front of a floral pink backdrop.

Jamie Pearl

This Evil Stepmother Has Perfect Comedic Timing

In "Once Upon a One More Time," Jennifer Simard finds value in seeing "how small you can make something and achieve a big result."

By Juan A. Ramírez

BROADWAY GUIDE

Golden Cosmos

What to See on Broadway in August

From a Jason Alexander-directed farce to a musical adaptation of "Back to the Future," a rundown of everything you need to know.

By Laura Collins-Hughes

Continue reading the main story

FROM THE CRITICS

A grid of four photographs show scenes from four different musicals. In the top left image, two women have serious looks on their faces; one is holding a book and the other is holding a wand. In the top right image, a woman in a short pink poufy dress and white sneakers is dancing at the front of a group of dancers dressed in white. In the bottom right image, a woman in a green leather jacket is standing next to a woman in a flamboyant pink and aqua gown; and on the bottom left, two women are talking in the center of the stage as four women look on from behind them.

Photographs by Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

Feminist Stories Are Being Set to a Pop Beat. But Are They Empowering?

Our critics debate how well shows like "Six," "& Juliet" and "Once Upon a One More Time" engage with the inner worlds of women onstage.

By Alexis Soloski

A man in jeans and a tank top plays the guitar and a woman wearing a blue checkered dress shirt watches him.

David Dashiell

Critic's Notebook

Two Musicals, One Lonesome World

"Here You Come Again" and "On Cedar Street" are very different new musicals about people who are unmoored and seek companionship to make it through.

By Laura Collins-Hughes

Two regally dressed Black actors performing

Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

Nonfiction

Giving Shakespeare the Tough Love He Deserves

In "The Great White Bard," Farah Karim-Cooper maintains that close attention to race, and racism, will only deepen engagement with the playwright's canon.

By John Douglas Thompson

On a dark stage, two puppeteers manipulate a life-size puppet of a man carrying three small children.

Fiona MacPherson

Critic's Notebook

At Edinburgh Fringe, Small Shows With Big Ambitions

This year, the stronger productions in the open-to-all event were on a par with many in the more prestigious, curated Edinburgh International Festival.

By Houman Barekat

Continue reading the main story

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