James Theatre on Saturday night is little more a one-off than the rebirth of New York’s most crucial cultural industry, a $1.8 billion sector closed since March of 2020 to the profound regret of every store, restaurant, hotel and watering hole in Midtown.
In fact, “Springsteen on Broadway” is hanging out its shingle virtually alone this sweaty summer on the storied streets west of Times Square.
There’s just one Broadway opening, Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu’s gripping drama “Pass Over,” scheduled for August.
New shows are yet further away, but coming down the pike nonetheless.
For now, though, there is no need to ask if Springsteen is born to run again.
The show has an elegiac quality, too, which is likely to fit the mood of anyone wandering into the St.
But on Saturday night, a big star comes back to Broadway and a crucial New York asset returns.