Chrome-plated, fuel-injected, Springsteen at Kelly Writers House

Show a little faith, there will be magic in the night when Kelly Writers House highlights “The Boss” in its singer-songwriter symposium. On Thursday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m., the New Jersey rocker’s music will headline at the Writers House Bruce “Springsteen Fest.”

Following the informal, communal style of all Writers House events, nine scholars and artists have been selected to share their thoughts about the musician’s songs, says Al Filreis, faculty director of Writers House.

Greg Djanikian, director of Penn’s Creative Writing Program, will kick off the session by talking about Springsteen’s rock anthem, “Born in the USA.” Irwyn Applebaum, C’75, the president of Bantam Dell Publishing, will discuss “Highway Patrolman.”

Other speakers include Nate Chinen, C’98, who writes about jazz and pop music for The New York Times, and Philadelphia artist and photographer Zoe Strauss.

Filreis will talk about Springsteen’s “Land of Hopes and Dreams.” 

The singer/songwriter series began last year, when Writers House featured discussions about Bob Dylan’s music in honor of his 70th birthday.

“Most people think of Writers House as a venue for visiting writers,” says Filreis. “But, the heart of the program is that Writers House people create projects, programs, presentations.”

The Springsteen Fest is free and open to the public. For more information about this and other Kelly Writers House events, visit the Writers House website.

Bruce