Bruce Springsteen Returns To The 'Streets Of Philadelphia' In A Must-See Exhibition At The National Constitution Center
The Only Venue In The Nation To Host The Exhibition From The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum
PHILADELPHIA, PA (October 27, 2011) – Today - on the anniversary of the date Bruce Springsteen appeared on the covers of both TIME and Newsweek in 1975 - the National Constitution Center announced that it will be the only venue to host the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's must-see exhibition, From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen. The first major exhibition about the American songwriter will run at the Center from February 17 to September 3, 2012.
"It is fitting that the Center – the only museum dedicated to America's constitutional freedoms – is the first and only venue in the nation to host this exhibition from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum," said National Constitution Center President and CEO David Eisner. "We are certain that our visitors, from the most devoted Springsteen fans to those experiencing his music for the first time, will be inspired by his commitment to illuminating the struggles and triumphs of 'We the People.'"
"I worked very closely with Bruce and his organization to put this exhibit together," said Jim Henke, vice president of exhibitions and chief curator at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. "It's a comprehensive look at Bruce's entire career and contains numerous items that have never been seen by the public. The exhibit was a huge hit when it was at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and I am very happy that even more people will be able to see it now that it's at the National Constitution Center."
From Asbury Park to the Promised Land takes a comprehensive look at Springsteen's career and catalog, from such early bands as Child, the Castiles and Steel Mill through his work with the E Street Band and as a solo artist. Throughout the 5,000-square-foot exhibition, visitors will have the rare opportunity to view more than 150 items, including:
• Family photos of Springsteen's childhood in Asbury Park, N.J.
• Scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings, photos and handbills from Springsteen's early music endeavors
• Handwritten lyrics from all phases of Springsteen's career
• Saxophone used by the late Clarence Clemons to play the solo in "Jungleland" from Born to Run
• Springsteen's 1960 Chevrolet Corvette
• Springsteen's Fender Esquire from the cover of Born to Run
• The outfit Springsteen wore on the cover of Born in the U.S.A.
• Springsteen's 1993 Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Streets of Philadelphia"
The exhibition also features several listening stations where visitors can hear never-before-released songs by the Castiles; Springsteen's successful 1972 audition for Columbia Records; and interviews with Springsteen on topics such as his songwriting process, his first recording session, and some of his best known albums. Video footage throughout the exhibition includes archival performances, an edited version of Wings for Wheels: The Making of Born to Run, and clips of Springsteen's appearance on MTV Unplugged in 1992.
To complement the exhibition, the Center's public programming staff is developing a variety of interactive programs and activities for students, teachers and families about the importance of free expression. The Center also is planning a series of special events celebrating the music of Bruce Springsteen.
Admission to From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen is $24.50 for adults, $23 for seniors and students and $12 for children ages 4-12. Group rates also are available. Admission to the Center's main exhibition, The Story of We the People, including the award-winning theater production Freedom Rising, is included. For ticket information, call 215.409.6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.
CBS 3 and The CW Philly are the local media partners for the exhibition. CBS 3 (KYW-TV) and The CW Philly 57 (WPSG-TV) are part of CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corporation.
Located on Independence Mall in Historic Philadelphia, the National Constitution Center is America's first and only nonprofit, nonpartisan institution devoted to the U.S. Constitution. As a cutting-edge museum, national town hall and educational facility, the Center illuminates constitutional ideals and inspires acts of citizenship through must-see multimedia exhibitions, live performances, timely public programs and dynamic educational resources. The museum dramatically tells the story of "We the People" through more than 100 interactive exhibits, films, photographs and rare artifacts; the stirring theatrical performance Freedom Rising; and the iconic attraction Signers' Hall, featuring 42 life-sized bronze statues of the Founding Fathers. As America's town hall for constitutional dialogue, the Center regularly engages political leaders, scholars, pundits and journalists of diverse viewpoints. The Center also houses the Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach, which serves as the hub for national constitutional education and provides exceptional civic learning resources both onsite and online. For more information, call 215.409.6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.
