Think about Theater of the Mind and find soul with Bernadette

Bernadette, the Musical captures the spirit of Bernadette Soubirous at The Athenaeum Center, 2936 North Southport Avenue, in the new year. The story of a miller's daughter experiencing visions and seeing apparitions of the Virgin Mary will be one to watch onstage beginning in February of 2026. Humanizing the patron saint of bodily illness and telling her tale through a musical lens is a lofty goal for the producers, Kelsey Grammer and Pierre Ferragu. The duo and director Serge Denoncourt attended a recent press conference in the Paradiso Room inside the venue.

A trio of cast members sang standout tracks from the upcoming endeavor, including Thomas James, who portrays Father Pevramale in the piece. The talented queer singer now resides in New York, but attended Columbia College Chicago. This son of a preacher grew up Southern Baptist while living in Memphis and his background resonates in his angelic voice.

James confessed that his all-time favorite musical is Rent, as it catapulted his career professionally.

Thomas described the show by saying, “It takes people on a journey to discover Bernadette as a person. They may believe in her or not, but she saw something and she is not a liar.”

Pray to find tickets at bernadettethemusical.com from February 12 through March 15, 2026.

Another exciting project staged in the Windy City began with a similarly early press conference. Legendary musician David Byrne was in town during his tour and stopped by the Reid Murdoch Building at 333 North LaSalle Drive. The 15,000 square foot environment was already under construction and casting had commenced for the upcoming Theater of the Mind.

Produced by Goodman Theatre and directed by Andrew Scoville, Theater of the Mind immerses visitors into a world of wonder. Groups of 16 people will walk through several rooms and have a sensory-enveloping experience for 75 minutes.

At the press conference, Byrne stated that Spanish speakers may be accommodated in the future with adjustments to the material. The team hopes that the engagement from March 11 through May 31 extends longer and tickets have been selling fast at theaterofthemindchicago.com. Prepare your heart and your mind for a unique experience this spring.