“BORN TO RUN”
Ladies and gents,
If there was any debate about the current hottest ticket on Broadway, The Boss has officially ended it. Springsteen on Broadway dominated this week’s business news with an average ticket price of nearly $500 and more than $2 million at the box office over just five performances. Look, I like his greatest hits as much as the next non-Jersey resident, but what is all this pandemonium about? Well, I scored a coveted ticket to Thursday night’s opening and I’ve been converted into a superfan!
As you, dear reader, are a cultured sort, I know you’ve already poured over the raves that peppered the morning papers, so let me just add that in addition to being a top-to-bottom brilliant piece of theater delivered by the most charismatic showman ever to pick up a microphone, it’s also one of the most unexpectedly and poignantly political evenings I’ve experienced since Trump’s election. It turns out Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuce (as his fans like to intone throughout the show) is a whole lot more than a rocker. He’s a poet, a philosopher, and as producer Jordan Roth put it, a prophet. (He’s also, as previously discussed, a profit!)
But enough about the substance, let’s get to the style. The opening was what I might call “low key” on turbo boost. They did away with red carpet (a new tradition that I’m, personally, thrilled is catching on), and instead just delivered pure energy and star wattage. Among those in attendance: David Geffen, Ralph Lauren, Ed Burns and Christy Turlington, Nathan Lane (who is readying to return to Broadway in the Roth-produced revival of Angels in America), Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jon Stewart, Tina Fey, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, Trudie Styler, Bryan Adams, Max Weinberg, Steven van Zandt, Tom Hanks, Jimmy Iovine, Tommy Mottola (cleverly posing in front of signage for his musical, A Bronx Tale) and Thalia, Laura Linney, and just about every billionaire this side of Silicon Valley. Some dressed up, some dressed down. Roth stole the show in headto- toe McQueen.
After the performance, Bruce and his wife, Patti Scialfa (who makes a couple sweet cameos in the show), departed from the stage door, with throngs of fans and well-wishers lined up as deep as the Hudson. (For the record, Mr. Riedel, Raquel Welch’s Woman of the Year stage door clamor never came close to this; what’s happening at the Kerr is more akin to the level of excitement outside of Richard Burton’s Hamlet.) The First Family of Rock headed straight to the (where else?) Hard Rock Café for the official after party, where Bruce spent way longer than necessary chatting with guests (including some well-heeled “townspeople” who had purchased tickets as part of a Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS fundraiser). I had such a grand time, I might have to start looking at property in New Jersey!
Tidbits from around summer towns…
Spotted Laura Prepon dining with friends at Ducked Up on the top floor of Ludlow House.
Caught New York Post editor Barbara Hoffman chatting up American Theatre Wing president Heather Hitchens at Joe Allen.
Overheard author and design guru Frances Schultz raving to Marshall Heyman at The Polo Bar about Tiny Beautiful Things, the Public Theater’s hit tearjerker he co-conceived.
As always, a toast of something sparkling to you and yours!
Kisses,
Scoop V.
