LONG BRANCH, N.J. — The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music at Monmouth University will host a special screening of The Making of Sun City, followed by a conversation with musician, activist, and TeachRock Founder Stevie Van Zandt and Center Founding Executive Director Bob Santelli, at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at the Center’s Powell Soundstage.
This inaugural event in the new Music + Film Series will explore the remarkable story behind Sun City, the landmark 1985 anti-apartheid project spearheaded by Van Zandt. Following the film screening, Van Zandt and Santelli will discuss the origins and impact of the project, the role musicians can play in movements for social change, and the enduring relationship between music and activism.
That history is currently explored at the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music in Chimes of Freedom: Protest, Patriotism, and the Power of Song, the Center’s inaugural temporary exhibition. The September 1 program will extend that story from the gallery to the stage.
The Powell Soundstage was designed by COOKFOX Architects and features striking floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking out toward the campus. It serves as both a best-in-class, 240-seat screening room and performance space, featuring state-of-the-art DCI 4K laser projection and Dolby Atmos Feature-Certified immersive audio. For live production and stage events, the Powell Soundstage features a Clair Global integrated Meyer Sound system.
“We’re excited to launch this new Series, where we bring together music, film, and the stories behind the artists and movements that shape American culture”, said Eileen Chapman, Director of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music. “The program also reflects the Center’s commitment to connecting music history with education. TeachRock, the free educational initiative founded by Van Zandt, offers classroom resources and lesson plans centered on Sun City and the history of apartheid.”
“Sun City was always about more than making a record. It was about using music to educate people, bring attention to injustice, and inspire people to do something about it,” said Stevie Van Zandt. “That same idea is at the heart of TeachRock. We use music to help young people understand history and give them the context to better understand the world around them. I’m looking forward to sharing the story behind Sun City to kick off the Center’s new film series and talking about why those lessons still matter today.”
Tickets for The Making of Sun City are $50 and will go on sale on Thursday, August 13 at noon online at https://springsteencenter.org/. The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music is located at 382 Cedar Ave. in Long Branch.
About the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music:
The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music at Monmouth University preserves and promotes the legacy of Bruce Springsteen and celebrates the history of American music and its role in shaping American culture. Through exhibitions, collections, educational initiatives, public programs, performances, and scholarly research, the Center explores music as a powerful lens through which to understand the American experience.
