Casting Teens and Adults 

[PONYBOY] Ponyboy, Male, Lead, to play 14-16: The novel’s fourteen-year-old narrator and protagonist, and the youngest of the greasers. Ponyboy’s literary interests and academic accomplishments set him apart from the rest of his gang. Because his parents have died in a car accident, Ponyboy lives with his brothers Darry and Sodapop. Darry repeatedly accuses Ponyboy of lacking common sense, but Ponyboy is a reliable and observant narrator. Ponyboy struggles with class division, violence, innocence, and familial love. He matures, eventually realizing the importance of strength in the face of class bias.

[JOHNNY CADE] Johnny Cade, Male, Lead, to play 15-18: Physically, small for his age; A sixteen-year-old greaser. Though Johnny does not succeed in school, he approaches intellectual matters with steady concentration. The child of alcoholic, abusive parents, he is nervous and sensitive. Since his parents do not care for him, Johnny sees the greasers as his true family. In turn, the older boys, particularly Dally, are protective of him.

[DALLAS (DALLY) WINSTON] Dallas (Dally) Winston, Male, Supporting, to play 16-18: The toughest hood in Ponyboy’s group of greasers. Dallas, known as “Dally,” is a hardened teen who used to run with gangs in New York. Unlike his friends, does not put grease in his white-blond hair. Dally’s violent tendencies make him more dangerous than the other greasers, and he takes pride in his criminal record. Dally feels protective of Johnny Cade.

[TWO-BIT] Two-Bit, Male, Supporting, to play 17-19: The joker of Ponyboy’s group. Two-Bit, whose real name is Keith, is a wisecracking greaser who regularly shoplifts. He prizes his sleek black-handled switchblade. He instigates the hostilities between the Socs and the greasers by flirting with Marcia, the girlfriend of a Soc.

[DARRY] Darry, Supporting, To play 20-22: Ponyboy’s oldest brother. Darrel, known as “Darry,” is a twenty-year-old greaser who is raising Ponyboy because their parents have died in a car crash. Strong, athletic, and intelligent, Darry has quit school. He works two jobs to hold the family together. The unofficial leader of the greasers, he becomes an authority figure for Ponyboy. He also makes good chocolate cake, which he and his brothers eat every day for breakfast. The other greasers call him “Superman.”

[SODAPOP] Sodapop, Male, Lead, 16-18: Ponyboy’s brother. He is a high school dropout and works at the local gas station. He is “movie-star” handsome. Ponyboy envies Sodapop’s good looks and charm. Sodapop plans to marry Sandy, a greaser girl.

[SANDY] Sandy, Female, Supporting, to play 15-17: Sodapop’s girlfriend. Sandy is pregnant and moves to Florida to live with her grandmother.

[BOB SHELDON] Bob Sheldon, Male, Supporting, to play 18-20: The Soc who attacks both Johnny and Pony in the park. He is killed by Johnny. Cherry’s boyfriend. Bob is the dark-haired Soc who beats up Johnny before the story begins. Bob has a set of three heavy rings, which he wears when he fights greasers. Bob’s indulgent parents have never disciplined him.

[RANDY] Randy, Male, Supporting, to play 18-20: Marcia’s boyfriend and Bob’s best friend. Randy is a handsome Soc who eventually sees the futility of fighting. Along with Cherry, Randy humanizes the Socs by showing that some of them have redeeming qualities. Randy helps Ponyboy realize that Socs are as susceptible to pain as anyone else. Randy tries to make peace with Ponyboy after Ponyboy saves the children from the fire, and he refuses to fight in the Soc-greaser rumble.

[SHERRI (CHERRY) VALANCE] Sherri (Cherry) Valance, Female, Supporting, to play 16-18: Bob’s girlfriend, she is a Soc cheerleader whom Ponyboy meets at the movies. Cherry’s real name is Sherri, but people call her Cherry because of her red hair. Ponyboy and Cherry have a great deal in common, and Ponyboy feels comfortable talking to her. Cherry is both offended and intrigued by her encounter with Dally Winston at the drive-in. Cherry admires Dally’s individuality and tells Ponyboy that she could fall in love with Dally. In the days preceding the rumble, Cherry becomes a spy for the greasers.

[MARCIA] Marcia, Female, Ensemble, to play 16-18: Cherry’s friend and Randy’s girlfriend. Marcia is a pretty, dark-haired Soc who befriends Two-Bit at the drive-in. Marcia and Two-Bit share a sense of humor and a taste for nonsensical musings.

[PAUL] Paul, Male, Ensemble, to play 20-25: The husky blond Soc who steps forward to challenge Darry when the rumble begins. Paul and Darry were friends and football teammates in high school.

[M. O’BRIANT] M. O’Briant, Male or Female, Ensemble 35-50: A parent at the scene of a fire, concerned for the safety of the missing children.

[JERRY] Jerry, Male or Female, Ensemble, 35-50: The teacher who accompanies Ponyboy to the hospital after Ponyboy saves the children from the fire. Though an adult and a member of mainstream society, Jerry judges the greasers on their merits instead of automatically branding them juvenile delinquents.

[M. SYME] M. Syme, Male or Female, Ensemble, 30-60: Ponyboy’s English teacher. M. Syme expresses concern over Ponyboy’s falling grades. He offers to raise Ponyboy’s grade if he turns in a well-written autobiographical theme.

[DOCTOR] Doctor, Male or Female, Ensemble, 30-60

[NURSE] Nurse, Male or Female, Ensemble, 30-60

[GREASERS AND SOC MEMBERS] Also casting an ensemble of assorted Greasers and Soc members. No speaking lines, but will be used throughout the show.