Lauren Smith as Johnny and Max Taylor as Ponyboy in “The Outsiders” opening at 7 p.m. Friday at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players Theatre on Putnam Street in Marietta. (Photo Provided)

MARIETTA – “The Outsiders,” a story of social conflict and friendship, will be presented this weekend by the Youth Players at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players Theatre in Marietta.

Adapted from the S.E. Hinton novel of the same name, “The Outsiders” is set in 1960s Oklahoma and follows Ponyboy Curtis and his friends, the Greasers, and the tensions they face against their rivals, the high-class rich Socs. When a fight between the two groups turns violent, Ponyboy and his friend Johnny go on the run.

A 1983 film based on the novel featured a young all-star cast.

“Ponyboy is the outsider of ‘The Outsiders,'” said Max Taylor, who plays the lead role of Ponyboy in the Youth Players production. “He likes to read and is just different from the others. Ponyboy lives with his brothers Darry and Sodapop.”

Taylor read the novel last summer and it is his favorite. Ponyboy is his first lead role in the eight productions he has been in with the Youth Players.

Max Taylor as Ponyboy and Sophie Yoke as Cherry in the next production by the Youth Players at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players in Marietta. The show opens at 7 p.m. Friday with a three day run including 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. (Photo Provided)

“I saw auditions for the show and wanted to be Ponyboy,” he said.

Joining Taylor is Payton Johnson, who plays Darry.

“Darry is the older brother of Sodapop and Ponyboy,” Johnson said. “They are Greasers and all Darry cares about is taking care of Ponyboy after their parents die in a car crash.”

Johnson counts the big fight scene as a favorite and is excited for people to see the show.

“I’m looking forward to people seeing the emotional depth of the show and how people can portray their characters,” he said.

From left, Max Taylor as Ponyboy, Lauren Smith as Johnny and Miles McGregor as Dallas in a scene at the Dairy Queen in “The Outsiders.” The show opens at 7 p.m. Friday and will be presented at 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players Theatre at 229 Putnam St., Marietta. Tickets are $10. (Photo Provided)

Playing the part of a Soc is Caleb McClung in the role of Randy Anderson.

“This is the first dramatic role that I’ve done. All the things I’ve done previously are musicals or comedies,” McClung said. “It’s interesting to have this new acting muscle to work on.”

McClung encourages people to see the show and support the cast.

“I just love the story and all our actors. There’s been so much work put into the show and so many moments where I’ve been amazed by the depth we have put into it,” he said. “And I’m really excited for everyone who is seeing the show to experience that.”

Lead director is J.R. Wells.

From left, Ace Crock as Two Bit and Max Taylor as Ponyboy rehearse a scene in “The Outsiders” that opens at 7 p.m. Friday at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players Theatre in Marietta. Tickets to the Youth Players production are $10. (Photo Provided)

“It’s a book I taught in my classroom for many many years and it means something to me so I thought it would be a good one for the kids to do,” Wells said.

The story has something for everyone, he said.

“From laughter to crying it’s all in the show,” Wells said “This is an amazing show done by amazing youth actors.”

The Youth Players are made up of young actors in sixth through 12th grades.

“The Outsiders” runs 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m Sunday. Tickets are $10 and are available at midohiovalleyplayers.com in advance or at the box office at 229 Putnam St. beginning two hours before each performance.

The show is sponsored by The Original Pizza Place and supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the state of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts. “The Outsiders” is produced by special arrangement with the Dramatic Publishing Co. of Woodstock, Ill.

Members of the cast are:

* Max Taylor – Ponyboy

* Lucas Harris – Jon

* Henry Nicely – Bob

* Caleb McClung – Randy

* Lauren Smith – Johnny

* Miles McGregor – Dallas

* Ace Crock – Two Bit

* Payton Johnson – Darry

* Marco Orozco – Sodapop

* Dorothy E. Clark – Sandy

* Sophie Yoke – Cherry

* Addison Parks – Marcia

* Lena Smith – Jerry

* Regan Walker – Jerry’s Child 1

* Violet Miller – Jerry’s Child 2/Greaser Girl 3

* Arrianna VanWey – Mrs. O’Briant

* Allie Tamm – Hospital Desk Clerk/Soc

* Isabelle Harris – Doctor

* Aurora Barton – Nurse

* Ellie Phillips – Hospital Worker 1

* Addison Spurgeon – Hospital Worker 2/Soc Girl 4

* Willow Piersol – Johnny’s mother

* Emma Akers – Paul

* Wyatt Harris – Mrs. Syme

* Lydia Washko – Greaser Girl 1

* Taliyah Jackson – Greaser Girl 2

* Abbie Holliday – Soc Girl 1

* Kiley Holland – Soc Girl 2

* Savannah Smith – Soc Girl 3

Crew: Jaiden George and Ella Wells are on the crew and the stage manager is Jules Stephens. Directors are Wells and Becca Jackson. Assistant director is Amber Smrek-Kinker.