The musical 'Bernadette de Lourdes', which has attracted over 250,000 spectators in France, is set to debut in the United States in February 2026. Lead performer Eyma Scharen will reprise her role as Bernadette Soubirous for the American production, 'Bernadette: the Musical'. Scharen shared that rehearsals for the English-language show began on November 3, involving travel between France, the US, and Montreal, Canada. Learning to sing the role in English presents a new challenge for Scharen, who has been taking private English lessons for a year.
6 days ago
The musical "Bernadette de Lourdes," which premiered in Lourdes in 2019, has captivated over 250,000 spectators in France.1
It toured Italy in January 2025 and is now expanding to the United States as "Bernadette: The Musical," with performances starting in February 2026.1
The production's move to North America marks a significant milestone, following its success in Europe.1
American producers attended a French performance and selected the cast, including lead performer Eyma Scharen, for the English-language version.1
Rehearsals began on November 3, 2025, in Montreal, Canada, with Scharen traveling from France to prepare.1
Scharen, aged 23, has been taking English lessons twice weekly for a year to tackle the language shift.1
She notes that performing in English alters the emotional delivery of the role, requiring her to rebuild connections with new cast members.1
Despite the adjustments, she describes the process as joyful and enriching.1
Scharen expresses disbelief and excitement about the US tour, initially doubting it would happen beyond France.1
The role of Bernadette Soubirous has deeply transformed her, increasing her openness and sensitivity through interactions with pilgrims in Lourdes.1
Her family's involvement—her father managing tickets, mother in production, and siblings adapting schooling—strengthened their bonds during the French run.1
Scharen credits the experience with changing her worldview and that of her family.1
She believes it extended her grandmother's life amid illness, feeling her grandmother's spiritual presence as she prepares for America.1
The adventure has evolved her from a 17-year-old in comedy to a matured artist shaped by faith and performance.1
Scharen hopes US viewers embrace the show's simplicity and emotional depth.1
Central to her intent is conveying Bernadette's core message: follow your heart, stay authentic, and persevere for your convictions.1
Lourdes' themes of hope and love, experienced firsthand, are what she aims to share across the Atlantic.1
How does modern musical theater portray Bernadette Soubirous?
Bernadette Soubirous, the humble visionary of Lourdes, has inspired numerous artistic works over the centuries, reflecting her profound impact on Catholic devotion and popular culture. However, based on the Catholic sources available to me, which focus primarily on her historical life, the apparitions of the Virgin Mary, and her path to sainthood, I do not have direct information on how she is portrayed in modern musical theater. These sources emphasize her authentic story as a poor, uneducated girl from 19th-century France who experienced 18 apparitions at the Grotto of Massabielle in 1858, leading to the establishment of the Lourdes pilgrimage site renowned for healings and spiritual renewal. Without specific references to theatrical productions, I cannot provide a detailed analysis of contemporary musical interpretations, such as any dramatizations in Broadway-style shows, off-Broadway pieces, or international musicals that might adapt her life into song and dance.
That said, the sources I have reviewed offer a rich foundation for understanding how Bernadette should be portrayed in any faithful representation, which could inform theater's approach. They consistently depict her not as a dramatic heroine seeking fame, but as a model of simplicity, obedience, and hidden virtue—a "broom" used by Our Lady and then set aside in her corner, as she herself described. Born into extreme poverty on January 7, 1844, in Lourdes, Bernadette suffered from chronic asthma and other ailments from childhood, living in a former jail cell known as the "cachot" with her family amid hardship and neglect. Her apparitions began on February 11, 1858, when, at age 14, she encountered a "Beautiful Lady" dressed in white with a blue sash and rosary, who revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception on March 25. The Virgin's messages centered on prayer, penance, and conversion, urging Bernadette to drink from a spring that miraculously appeared, symbolizing spiritual purification.
In these accounts, Bernadette's character shines through her resilience amid skepticism and persecution. She endured intense interrogations from civil and ecclesiastical authorities, who suspected fraud, yet remained steadfast, never seeking attention or material gain. Visitors pressed her for "secrets" confided by Mary, attempted to cut pieces from her clothing for relics, and even offered bribes, but she responded with childlike humility and patience, often weeping from the strain but answering without irritation. An English visitor in 1859 noted her "quiet, sedate demeanor" and "large, dreamy eyes," underscoring her innocence rather than theatrical flair. After the apparitions, she joined the Sisters of Charity of Nevers in 1866, serving as infirmarian and sacristan despite worsening health, and died at 35 on April 16, 1879, after profound suffering from tuberculosis and a knee tumor. Beatified in 1925 and canonized in 1933 by Pope Pius XI, she is venerated as St. Bernadette Soubirous, patroness of the sick, shepherds, and the innocent. Popes like John Paul II highlighted her fidelity to God's will, quoting Sirach: "If you choose, you can keep the commandments... faithfulness is shown by your choice" (Sir 15:15), portraying her as an exemplar of humble obedience over worldly happiness. Benedict XVI described her face as "radiant" during the visions, a light piercing the "darkness" of her impoverished life, echoing John's Gospel: "The light shines in the darkness" (Jn 1:5).
Given this canonical portrayal, modern musical theater—should it draw from her story—might emphasize themes of divine encounter amid ordinary suffering, using music to convey the joy of the apparitions against a backdrop of doubt and pain. Productions could highlight Mary's gentle dialogue with Bernadette, treating her as "one person speaking to another" with respect, without condescension. Yet, any artistic license must align with Church teachings to avoid sensationalism; the sources warn against reducing her to a figure of hysteria or imposture, as initial skeptics did. If theater amplifies her "peasant sanity" and self-effacement—her desire to "see without being seen"—it could inspire audiences with the transformative power of faith.
In summary, while I lack sources on specific musical theater depictions, Bernadette's life from Catholic tradition offers a blueprint of quiet heroism and Marian devotion that enriches any creative retelling. For deeper exploration of her spiritual legacy, including prayers like those recited at Lourdes—"Good Mother, have mercy on me; I give myself entirely to you"—I can provide guidance rooted in Church documents. If your query relates to her role in Catholic devotion or ethical portrayals in art, feel free to elaborate.