As vaccinated attendees lined up for the reopening of “Springsteen on Broadway” tonight, an uninvited crowd of anti-vaxxers filled the street outside the theater to protest.
The show reopened Saturday at the St. James Theater, and attendees were required to show proof they were fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO approved vaccine.
The small group of protesters shouted outside theater, holding signs that said “unmasked, unvaxxed, unafraid,” “no vax passports,” and “Bruce Springsteen is for segregation on Broadway.”
Jujamcyn, the company that operates the theater, did not respond to a request for comment, nor did Springsteen’s public relations firm.
The only vaccination exception made was for guests under 16, or “those who need reasonable accommodations due to a disability or sincerely held religious belief,” who then had to show proof of a negative COVID test and wear a mask. Vaccinated attendees were not required to wear masks.
The show will have a limited run with performances taking place through September 4. It is based on Springsteen’s autobiography “Born to Run,” and features Springsteen on guitar and piano.
The show’s original run included 236 sold-out performances from Oct. 2017 to Dec. 2018. Springsteen earned a Special Tony Award for the performances, which were also adapted into a film and a soundtrack album.
“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 press release announcing the reopening.
Proceeds from opening night will be donated to a group of local New York and New Jersey charities.
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Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com.