"The Outsiders"

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 @ 10:00am

Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ 07065

Seniors ages 55+ are invited to are invited to join area teachers and their students for a free morning screening of “The Outsiders”, a 1983 coming-of-age drama directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on S.E. Hinton’s beloved novel.

Set in 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma, it follows Ponyboy Curtis and his tight-knit group of friends—working-class “Greasers”—as they navigate friendship, loyalty, and the bitter rivalry with the wealthy “Socs” (short for Socials). When a confrontation spirals into violence, Ponyboy and his friend Johnny are forced into hiding, setting off a chain of events that changes all of their lives forever.

With themes of identity, class conflict, and the struggle to “stay gold,” the film is both raw and heartfelt, featuring an all-star cast before they became Hollywood legends, including C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dylan, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise. and Diane Lane. The cast also features 70s teen idol Leif Garrett, singer/songwriter Tom Waits, and novelist S.E. Hinton herself, who has a cameo as a nurse.

This screening is a digital presentation of the UCPAC Legacy Arts Club.

Reserve your free tickets today!