Changing Gears

It’s hard to find a rock star who speaks more directly to the Midwest than Bruce Springsteen. Over the years, his gritty, blue-collar themed music has highlighted the struggles of the working class in songs like “Youngstown” and “We Take Care Of Our Own” from his newest album, Wrecking Ball.

Bruce Springsteen, 2007, The Palace of Auburn Hills/photo by Micki Maynard

Now, The Boss’ 1982 album Nebraska, considered by critics to be one of his best, has inspired a theater group in Chicago.

Next month, the Tympanic Theater Company debuts Deliver Us From Nowhere: Tales From Nebraska. It’s an evening of 10 short plays from 11 different playwrights and 10 different directors, each inspired by a song from the album. The show runs April 26 to May 20.

Here’s how the company describes it: “The evening is filled with lost souls and terrifying characters such as specters, murderers, and supernatural dogs, as well as an ensemble of musicians performing original music based on the plays themselves, with a different musician playing every weekend of the run.”

Sound like something you’d want to see? You can find more information here.

Meanwhile, do you have a favorite from Nebraska — or a favorite Springsteen song?