Bruce Springsteen’s one man show “Springsteen on Broadway” at the Walter Kerr Theatre in New York City will conclude on Dec. 15 after a little over a year run.
This concert residency by Springsteen is another testament to the Jersey Shore rock star’s high energy and commitment. Springsteen performed five shows a week, Tues. through Sat.
From Oct. 3, 2017 to Dec. 15, 2018, The Boss played a total of 236 performances.
When the curtain closes, Springsteen will have raked in around $74.3 million for essentially playing a solo gig five days a week.
On Sept. 19, 2017, Springsteen performed an invitation only rehearsal show at the University before beginning his time on Broadway.
At the University, The Boss had an opportunity to see if his show would be well received, and it has been.
On June 18, Springsteen was awarded a special Tony Award for his compelling production.
His Tony Award for “Springsteen on Broadway” is another triumph for The Boss to add to his long list of awards.
Along with his Tony, Springsteen has sold more than 135 million records worldwide, and has been the recipient of 20 Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, and an Academy Award.
But the true achievement Springsteen captures in “Springsteen on Broadway” is the bridge he so successfully builds between the concert scene and the traditional theatre scene.
It is this double accessibility that seems to make his show successful. The show appeals to his music fans who may have seen him in concert, along with theatre fans who may be drawn to an intimate connection between the act and audience.
Alumni Alyssa Kelly has seen The Boss both in concert and on Broadway.
When asked how she would compare seeing Springsteen express himself in one form on stage versus the other, she said, “The Broadway show was chill and laid back, being that The E Street Band wasn’t there.”
“It was a whole different experience,” Kelly continued, “It was a lot more intimate. His concerts are just a wild ride for four hours. In the theater you get to see Bruce as a totally different musician, a great story teller.”
“It’s something you wouldn’t get to see in concert. You get to learn a lot about his childhood and life,” Kelly concluded.
Dennis Breslin, President of the Players Club, added insight into the advantages of putting a show on Broadway.
“My favorite thing about Broadway is that you can see any show and love the topic,” Breslin said.
“Feeling the live orchestra blasting through the theatre walls and the harmonies of performers with some of the most amazing compositions, mixed with the life like relatable characters make for an excellent show,” he concluded.
This sounds exactly like the contents of a Springsteen song: the music blasting through your walls, the harmonies of his voice with his instruments, and of course the poetic lyrics and real life like relatable characters caught within the composition.
It’s clear why Broadway is where The Boss belongs. If you can’t make it or afford to spend the $508 average ticket price to see the show, it will be available on Netflix to stream or CD/vinyl for listening.
Netflix will stream the final show on Dec. 15. On the other hand, you can purchase the CD and vinyl of the show on Dec. 14.
If you don’t want to shell out for a Netflix subscription or a CD, The Bruce Springsteen Special Collection at the University’s Guggenheim Memorial Library could be another alternative.
The Bruce Springsteen Special Collection is comprised of, “nearly 35,000 items that range from books and concert memorabilia to articles and promotional materials. Eileen Chapman, curator of The Bruce Springsteen Special Collection, had the opportunity to see The Boss both at his invitation only performance here on campus as well as the formal show on Broadway.
“Bruce’s Broadway show is extremely compelling, sometimes humorous and very emotional,” Chapman said.
“When the show was over so many people were in tears. I stood in the lobby of the theatre and watched as people left the show, and what I saw were looks of amazement and words of reverence for what they had just witnessed.”
“Bruce on Broadway is heartfelt, authentic and powerful and I hope you have the opportunity to see it,” she concluded.
Although the final curtain call awaits The Boss next month, the muscian’s next chapter is on the horizon.
PHOTO COURTESY of NPR
