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Tony Award for best musical goes to show that started in San Diego

"The Outsiders" debuted in the La Jolla Playhouse's 2022-23 season before heading to Broadway. It scored four Tony Awards this season.

SAN DIEGO — The 2024 Tony Award for Best Musical went to a show that got its start in San Diego. 

"The Outsiders" premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse in February 2023 and moved to the Jacobs Theatre on Broadway just a year later, in April 2024. It is one of 36 La Jolla Playhouse productions that have gone on to Broadway runs.

In a statement shared with CBS 8, La Jolla Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley congratulated The Outsiders' cast and creative team, saying it was an "absolute thrill" to see the production's four Tony wins.

"This deeply moving and visceral new piece took its first steps here at La Jolla Playhouse during our 2022/23 season, and we are incredibly proud to see that work go on to receive such wonderful recognition on Broadway," Ashley said. 

We couldn’t be more thrilled and excited for the cast, crew and artistic teams of @outsidersmusical!!! A huge...

Posted by La Jolla Playhouse on Sunday, June 16, 2024

About 'The Outsiders' musical

The musical is based on the classic novel by S.E. Hinton and the movie by Francis Ford Coppola. Hinton attended the opening night of the show's global premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse, Ashley previously told CBS 8.

The show features a book by Adam Rapp; music and lyrics by Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance); book, music and lyrics, and orchestration and arrangements by Justin Levine; and choreography by Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman. It was directed by Danya Taymor, who won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical.

The show received 12 Tony nominations this season and won awards for: 

  • Best Musical
  • Best Direction of a Musical (Danya Taymor)
  • Best Lighting Design of a Musical
  • Best Sound Design of a Musical

Much of the cast on the Broadway production performed at the La Jolla Playhouse run. Producer Matthew Rego even gave a shoutout to the La Jolla Playhouse in his acceptance speech for the Best Musical award.

The Company performed two of the show's songs during the awards show: "Tulsa '67" and "Got a Hold." The performance ended with a section of the show's distinctive rumble scene, a three minute wordless fight sequence in the rain that has received wide praise.

Credit: Matthew Murphy
Pictured: The Cast of the Outsiders

More San Diego connections to the 2024 Tony Awards

The La Jolla Playhouse has a strong track record of producing shows that go on to become Broadway hits. These include "Come From Away," "Jersey Boys," "Memphis" and many other household theater names.

The 36 shows that have moved to Broadway have received a total of 42 Tony Awards, a La Jolla Playhouse spokesperson told CBS 8. 

"The Outsiders" wasn't the only San Diego connection to this year's awards show.

"Lempicka," another musical from the Playhouse's 2022-23 season, received three Tony nominations.

David Reynoso, who serves on the theater's Board of Trustees, was nominated for Best Costume Design of a Musical for "Water for Elephants," the Playhouse spokesperson said. Robert Brill was nominated for Best Scenic Design of a Musical for "Hell's Kitchen," which features songs by Alicia Keys. Brill is a UC San Diego Theater Faculty member and has designed dozens of shows at the Playhouse.

RELATED: La Jolla Playhouse’s ‘Diana the Musical’ headed to Netflix and Broadway this fall

   

WATCH RELATED: La Jolla Playhouse: The Outsiders through April 9th & WOW Festival

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