La Jolla Playhouse gets shout out at Tony Awards in acceptance speech for Best Musical ‘The Outsiders’

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — During an awards show full of entertainment and emotional acceptance speeches, a local theatre got a shout out during an acceptance speech for one of the big winners of the night.

During producer Matthew Rego’s acceptance speech at the 2024 Tony Awards for Best Musical “The Outsiders,” he gave a shout out to the La Jolla Playhouse.

“On behalf of my partners at the Araca Group, my brother Michael Rego, and Hank Unger, my producing partners Zoetrope, Olympus Theatricals, In Fine Company and Angelina Jolie, as well as La Jolla Playhouse, and all of our co-producers, we thank you for this great honor…” Rego said in part during his acceptance speech.

The musical’s world premiere took place in 2023 at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego.

‘The Outsiders’ wins best musical and ‘Stereophonic’ best play as women make strides at Tony Awards

“The Outsiders” is a musical adaptation based on the S. E. Hinton coming-of-age novel, which was adapted in 1983 by award winning director Francis Ford Coppola, about rival gangs, their fight for survival and quest for purpose in 1960s Oklahoma.

The Associated Press reports the win also means Angelina Jolie, a producer, has landed her first Tony as well.

Entertainment Tonight reports Angelina, who was reportedly instrumental in bringing “The Outsiders” to Broadway as a producer, was first announced last year to be participating in bringing the show to Broadway after she saw the production alongside Vivienne at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2023.

Entertainment Tonight went on to report Vivienne Jolie-Pitt was seen crying in the audience as director Danya Taymor became the sixth woman to win the Tony Award for Best Director for “The Outsiders.”

The Broadway musical was nominated for a total of 12 Tony Awards. It was also one of several performances of the night, complete with dancing, singing, rain and some fighting choreography, to name a few highlights.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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