Springsteen on Broadway

I'm gonna keep this short! I'm 24 years old and I have seen springsteen three Times in my life on the stage. He has hade a big influence on me, and saved me many Times! It's because of him I sing and play guitar and write songs.

And this show, was simple amazing! Wish I could have been there live, but I live in Sweden and have no money so... But I laught and cried, and never have 2 hours and 30 minutes gone by so fast. If you're a fan or not SEE IT!! How one man can have so mutch in him...

Thank you Bruce for everything! For making me belive that I could be more than what I am and that I could make my dreams come true...even though the probably never will...

Springsteen On Broadway is two and a half hours of just Bruce (his wife, Patti Scialfa, makes a brief appearance) telling stories and playing music. It is NOT a concert and he plays only a few of his many 'hits.' Instead, Springsteen On Broadway is the story of a man who made his living performing the magic act of making spellbinding, story-based music. He uses the usual microphones you see at a musical performance instead of those used in the theatre and this establishes, immediately, that he is not an 'actor' but rather a performer who tells stories. In fact, he ignores the mics and often walks away from them so that his voice has no amplification and this makes his performance even more 'real.' Director Thom Zimny has done a masterful job of keeping the show moving, having unobtrusive stage hands bring out to Bruce various guitars and an harmonica.

I am NOT a Springsteen fan. Never cared much for his radio hits and never bought an album. This performance made me laugh, cry, and everything in-between. Made me feel nostalgic for my childhood. Made me reflect on my love for my dad and the moment when, near death from cancer, he expressed his apology for not having been a better dad. The talent and storytelling gifts manifested here were not at all what I expected. If you appreciate a true artist expressing from the heart, love live, raw music, piano, acoustic guitar, and harmonica intertwined with vivid storytelling that cuts to the heart, this show is for you. I won't soon forget this experience.

A brilliant and intimate portrait of an essential American voice. The songs, the stories are all great and Springsteen inhabits the screen with such charisma and personality, that the show seems much too short. Tremendously moving and inspiring.

Well I am a fan and I've just read the autobiography so I was interested to see this. When I had 2.5 hours to spare.

It's not just singing, he's also a bit of a raconteur. The stories will be familiar to anyone who's read the book.

He does state right at the start that he'd never worked in a factory and done five days a week ('until now. I hate it'). It's surprising to me that one reviewer is disappointed in this. Somehow hearing that someone is making it all up (writing that is) means they're a fraud. As if a writer cannot use their imagination! And for Springsteen it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to imagine what his life would've been like if he hadn't got the rock 'n' roll bug. Because that was his family background, so yeah why wouldn't he sing about blue-collar working people? Now if he was from a well-to-do professional family that would be different (though surely even the middle classes might be allowed to use their imagination too?).

Recommended especially for fans.