New York City is reopening and concerts are slowly coming back, but it's still going to take a few more months before most Broadway shows are ready to open their doors. However, there's one person who is always ready to tuck a flannel shirt into his crisp blue jeans, strap on a guitar and harmonica, and get up on stage: Bruce Springsteen.
Springsteen On Broadway, his celebrated autobiographical show featuring songs and stories from throughout his life, will return to the St. James Theatre on June 26th with a string of performances through September 4th. This will be the first show to reopen on Broadway since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, when theaters went dark.
Audience members will have to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination to attend, though children under 16 can attend accompanied by an adult and with proof of a recent negative COVID test. (You can get more details about the theater's safety info here.)
“I loved doing Springsteen on Broadway and I’m thrilled to have been asked to reprise the show as part of the reopening of Broadway," Springsteen said in a statement.
Proceeds from the show will be donated to a few local New York and New Jersey charities, including: the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Food Bank for New York City, Fulfill (Monmouth & Ocean Counties Foodbank), Long Island Cares, NJ Pandemic Relief Fund and The Actor’s Fund.
Springsteen On Broadway previously ran for 236 performances over the course of 2017 and 2018; according to the Times, it made $113 million in tickets and played to a total of 223,585 fans; it also resulted in a Netflix special with the same title.
Previously, Springsteen explained that the idea behind the show was to create something as personal and as intimate as possible in bringing his autobiography Born To Run to life on stage. The show, which we reviewed back in 2017, is as melancholic as it is hilarious. Much of it deals with him excavating his public persona, processing his memories for meaning, and paying tribute to friends and bandmates who died before him—and the whole thing is brought to life via stripped down versions of some of his most beloved songs.
Tickets will go on sale starting Thursday, June 10th at noon—go here for all ticketing info.
