Oscar winner Angelina Jolie (Girl, Interrupted) will be a lead producer of the Broadway-aimed new musical The Outsiders, Playbill reported. Based on the classic novel by S.E. Hinton as well as Francis Ford Coppola's movie, the stage adaptation features a book by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine and music and lyrics by Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Levine. It had its world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse earlier this year.
"I feel very fortunate to be a part of this special production," said Jolie, who joins a producing team that also includes the Araca Group, American Zoetrope, Olympus Theatricals, and Sue Gilad, and Larry Rogowsky. "I studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute where I realized my first love, as a performer, was the theatre. I had not found a way back until now. I hope to be able to contribute while continuing to learn from this amazing team, who I have been working with since my daughter brought me to see the show at La Jolla Playhouse."
The Araca Group's Matthew Rego added, "We are so thrilled Angelina has joined us as a lead producer on this journey to bring The Outsiders to Broadway. Her remarkable career as a storyteller makes her a perfect partner for this project. We are so grateful for the invaluable insight, experience, and commitment that Angelina brings to the development of this new musical."