During rehearsals is when Hughes’ directing skills shine. If you are lucky to see a rehearsal, you will see him walking about and tweaking maybe a scene or an actor’s stage presence. He makes sure his actors are in comfortable places while fully preparing them for their roles.

His process is by design.

Hughes said he is like a coach and he will take the actor’s level of experience into consideration when getting the actor where he or she is supposed to be. Experienced actors, he said, know how to get from point A to point B.

“Some actors maybe are younger or don’t have as much experience and then you have to kind of coach them into certain ways to relate to the material to bring out the performance that you want,” Hughes said.

From left, Travis Horvath , Jackie Bielata, Justine “Danger” Russ, and Ayri Brady rehearse their lines in a scene from “The Outsiders.” P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

The theater’s website, lbltj.com, said “The Outsiders” is a searing story of real kids in real situations with real consequences seen through the eyes of young Ponyboy. Territorial battles between the have-it-made rich kids — the Socs — and Ponyboy’s tough, underprivileged “greaser” family and friends are just a part of life. But even in the midst of urban gang warfare, somehow Ponyboy can’t forget a short poem, “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” that speaks to their fragile young lives. This heroic story of belonging, friendship, and maintaining hope in the face of struggle is a powerful reminder of what young people encounter every day.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

– Robert Frost

poem courtesy of poets.org

Justine “Danger” Russ was cast as Pony Bony and she totally relates to her part.

“I am a little emo kid at heart — not necessarily as troubled of a background as him, but just like, the kind of feeling alone and feeling a little different,” “Danger” said.

According to meriam-webster.com, emo is a style of rock music influenced by punk rock and featuring introspective and emotionally fraught lyrics.

And Hughes can’t bring the production to life without a team.

“I love being able to read a script, imagine it, and then bring a team of people together around me of actors and set constructors, and prop makers and build a great team to realize that vision from page to stage, from what I’m thinking in my mind,” Hughes said.

The rest of the cast includes Travis Horvath as Johnny, Zander Chase as Bob, Austin Lindell as Randy, Michael Horvath as Dallas, Michael Correy as Two-Bit, Caleb Foley as Sodapop, Nathan Meleen as Darry, Jackie Bielata as Cherry, Alexa Holmes as Sandy, Ayri Brady as Marcia, Lynn Schaffer as Mrs. Obriant, Martin Swalboski as Jerry, Emric Taylor as Doctor, Betsy Trusel as Nurse, Skip Anderson as Mr. Syme, and Josh Monroe as Paul. Soc extras are Jacob Meleen, Hailey Melquist, and Xavier Champagne.

Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., Feb. 9 at 7 p.m., Feb. 10 at 7 p.m., and Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. at the theater 18 E. Second St., Jamestown.

Upcoming LBLTJ performances are “Emma” in March, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” in May, “Rock of Ages” in September, “Dracula The Musical” in October, and “The Wizard of Oz” in December. For more information about tickets, email boxoffice@lbtlj.com or visit the website.