Bruce Springsteen performs on the Tony Awards (Photo via YouTube)
One of the indisputable highlights of the 72nd Tony Awards, which aired last night (June 10), was Bruce Springsteen’s appearance on the show. The Boss was there to receive a special award in honor of his marathon one-man show (with a little help from wife Patti Scialfa), Bruce Springsteen on Broadway. The show premiered last October at the Walter Kerr Theatre and is expected to conclude this December, by which time Springsteen will have given 236 performances.
It doesn’t happen to him often, but Springsteen’s own appearance on the Tonys was nearly overshadowed by that of his presenter, actor Robert De Niro, who unleashed an epithet toward President Trump that caused the CBS censors to quickly hit the bleep button (apparently it aired as is in some other countries) and set the social media world afire. De Niro also noted the difficulty of obtaining tickets for Springsteen’s shows and proclaimed that the singer-songwriter’s perspective is especially needed “in these perilous times.”
Following De Niro, Billy Joel, who called Springsteen an old friend, introduced the honoree. “It’s all about the man and his music, not to mention the heartfelt stories behind 40 years of incredible songs,” said Joel, who credited Springsteen for bringing many new theatergoers into the Broadway fold.
Springsteen arrived onstage at Radio City Music Hall solo and sat at his piano, where for several minutes he played a repeated figure while reciting the monologue from the show wherein he tells the backstory of his growing up in Freehold, N.J., near a Catholic church that served as the heart of the neighborhood.
Related: 10 reasons why Springsteen was born to run forever
“This is deeply appreciated and thank you for making me feel so welcome on your block,” Springsteen said. “Being a part of the Broadway community…it’s been one of the most exciting things I’ve ever experienced.” He thanked family members and the crew that works his intimate show and then sang an abbreviated version of his 1984 song “My Hometown.”
Watch Bruce Springsteen’s monologue and performance of “My Hometown” on the 2018 Tony Awards
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