PHOTOS AND VIDEOS: Anti-vaccine protesters protest as Bruce Springsteen triumphantly returns to Broadway

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Bruce Springsteen returned to Broadway on Saturday, as Springsteen On Broadway became the first show to reopen on The Great White Way since the pandemic began in March 2020, when theaters turned dark.

Many fans said they were so excited to see their first live music performances in over 15 months that they bought tickets for multiple performances of the show this summer.

“I’m happy to be here to support him, but more than that, it’s still about supporting Broadway and being here for the premiere at the opening,” said Mark Keeler, who traveled from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, to the show.

27-year-old Giancarlo DiMacio said Springsteen was the “soundtrack of my life.” “There’s always a song that says if you’re up or down, and there’s nothing better than being in the hole on a hot summer’s night like at MetLife Stadium with Bruce, but tonight must be pretty cool.”

Dimacchio said he felt comfortable being in a crowd again knowing everyone had been vaccinated, adding, “This is a great return to normalcy for being here tonight.”

Of course, now that a pandemic of this magnitude has passed, there is a new normal to get used to. On Saturday, it came in the form of a group of anti-vaccination protesters protesting St James’s Theater policy requiring everyone to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination to attend.

This included people holding incendiary banners (“Bruce Springsteen with racial segregation on Broadway”), chanting “Shame on Bruce,” and a hilarious and shameful attempt to sing “Born Not To Vaccinate” in the style of “Born In The USA.”

Less amusingly, there were silly and offensive speeches and chants comparing coronavirus vaccination cards to Nazi policies (including the yellow stars). Some protesters can be heard shouting “in front of the gas chambers” and “Nazi Germany, get your papers out,” as you can see in the video below.

As for the actual show, Springsteen stuck to the basic structure of 236 shows over 2017 and 2018. There were some nods to the present moment: At one point, Springsteen talked about everything he did during the pandemic, including making the new album Letter To You, a podcast With Barack Obama, his radio show, the arrest of DWI. (These charges have since been dropped.)

According to Rolling Stone, Springsteen said, “I didn’t get up one morning, get on my motorbike and say, ‘I think I’m going to jail.'” Then I had to go to Zoom Court! My case was USA v. Bruce Springsteen. It’s always comforting to hear that the whole nation is against you.” You managed to engage in a very heinous act You offended the whole damn United States! You rebel, my lawbreaker, my bridge and tunnel friend have drunk two shots of New Jersey tequila, they love me there !”

There will be more Springsteen On Broadway shows through September 4.

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