Bay Area & S. Florida WanderLusts: Local Adventures & Beyond

Christopher Sergel’s play is a faithful adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s coming-of-age-novel about rival teenage gangs in 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Greasers come from troubled working-class backgrounds, contrasted with the Socials, whose members are from upper-middle-class families. Like the novel, the play centers on 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, a member of the Greasers gang, as he recounts the violent aftermath after his friend Johnny fatally stabbed Socials member Bob. This adaptation places much of the violence off-stage and minimizes the strong language and mature content of the novel and movie, making it a fitting choice for high school productions. The characters are crafted with compassion and nuance, offering opportunities for rich character study and conversations about violence and social status.

You may not realize it, but part of the reason "The Outsiders" feels so authentic is because the novel it's based on was, in turn, based on real-world events. S.E. Hinton started writing the book when she was just 15 years old, seeing it published just a few years later. Given that knowledge, it's hardly surprising that the youthful exuberance is so damned believable in both the novel and the film. As for the relentless tension between the "Socs" and "Greasers," Hinton took her inspiration from watching interactions between rival teen gangs in her own town whose hatred for one another was so combustible they entered the school building by separate entrances to avoid daily tussles (via MentalFloss).

Though Hinton's novel wisely refrains from outright demonizing either gang, "The Outsiders" is told from the point-of-view of a "Greaser," leading one to naturally align with that particular faction. Seems that choice was very much by design as the author revealed in an interview published by The Outsiders Fan Club she mostly hung out with the "Greasers" in her high school days, "Ponyboy's gang was inspired by a true-life gang, the members of which were very dear to me." In turn, Hinton's affection for those living life on the wrong side of the economic divide not only helped inform one of the best-loved young adult novels in history, but a true classic of '80s cinema to boot.

FYI - In our season kick off, they always offer us a group dinner, plus they give us a swag bag with memorabilia from some of the shows. In this swag bag, we received the book, THE OUTSIDERS. I am not a big reader, unless it is an audio book, but i will read this book. I started it this morning and I am on about page 5, it gripped me. If you are a reader and are going to this show, i will pass this book on to someone, i will have a drawing, so if you want to be included in this drawing, send me a text (8133809233) or an email (sbbroadway@aol.com) - i also received a journal from Hell's Kitchen - I will put anything related to the 25/26 season in that journal, i do not have the photogenetic brain some people think i have. Other items in that swag bag - THE WIZ pins (4 of them), Kimberly Akimbo magnet, stereophonic pin (perfect for me cause it is an S, an elephant keychain, and a notebook keychain (the key to my heart) and i especially love my AND JULIET TOTEBAG, and a water canister from HELLS KITCHEN.

So don't hold back on this show. It is very rare a book will grab me on page 5, considering i like to use my ears for reading a book and not my eyes.

https://youtu.be/ViqjwH99OgQ?si=I5s91jVtQKkHtchC

Colorful Cuba
January 14th - January 22nd, 2026

Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club (https://www.photoflytravel.com/) are going back to Cuba. This small group tour is the ideal way to get up close and personal with this colorful country's people, food, culture, and incredible scenery. From the rural Viñales Valley with its gorgeous landscapes and friendly locals, to the romantic sea wall in Cienfuegos, to Trinidad with its colorful buildings and cobblestone streets, we're just scratching the surface of these unforgettable experiences that await us. Learn about Cuba’s proud and patriotic culture, its tumultuous history, its thriving arts scene, and its burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit.

It is an excellent program full of surprises, fun, and off the beaten path sights - and it is 100% legal! Take this once in a lifetime trip to this undisturbed Caribbean gem!

• 8N/9D throughout the best of Cuba with amazing off the path experiences!
• One-of-a-kind "casa particulares" (small converted homes & guesthouses!)
• Privately guided adventures and local experts throughout
• Breakfast every day
• 4 Dinners, 6 Lunches INCLUDED
• Legal, licensed & permitted program with all USA compliance requirements met under the SCP Program

Join Here: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/cuba-small-group-tours/
Email us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Havana

• Old Havana: Privately guided walking tour including many of the historical sites
• Fusterlandia & Jaimanitas Fishing Village: Colorful fishing village made famous by local artist, Jose Fuster, outside Havana

Soroa

• UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
• Callejon de Hamel: Street art project where resident Salvador Gonzáles Escalona has decorated and painted in vibrant colors a pedestrian alleyway with scrap objects
• Las Terrazas: Mountain community was built as a reforestation project in the 1960s and is now part of the same UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
• Orchid Garden: Specialized botanical garden, with a collection of 20,000 specimens and more than 350 species of orchids

Viñales

• Sustainable Farm Discovery: Cuban farmer and his family who'll show us around their organic farm and explain the methods they use to grow their produce without pesticides or artificial fertilizers
• Valley Walking Tour & Tobacco Plantation: A beautiful walk through the valley to a local tobacco farm to learn about the making of Cuba’s famous cigars
• Cuban Cooking Class: Learn to cook Cuban-style with a cooking demonstration of 'platos tipicos'.

Cienfuegos

• Bay of Pigs: Scenic drive along the site where the Bay of Pigs occurred in 1961.
• Sinkhole or Ocean Snorkel: Stop for a swim and snorkel in the ocean or by a sinkhole which resembles a huge natural tropical fish tank.
• Guided Orientation Walk & Palacio de Valle : A short walk to see and learn the local landmarks followed by a visit to the Palacio de Valle, an "Arabian Nights" like aspiring restaurant with a fantastic terrace bar.

Trinidad

• Guided Trinidad Walk: Cultural tour of numerous churches, museums, and many colonial buildings
• Learn to Bartend: Bartending demonstration and discussion of the history behind Cuba’s most popular cocktails.
• Salsa Lesson: Visit a local dance school for a demonstration and lesson in the dances of Cuba
• Salto de Javira Waterfall: An easy hike to this beautiful waterfall, perfect for photos and a dip to cool off.
• Dinner on the Beach: Weather permitting, we'll celebrate this amazing journey together with a feast on the beach!

Email us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Price: $2,549
Single Supplement: $795

Check out our club's official trip page: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/cuba-small-group-tours/