EP Candlelight Theatre Hold Auditions Sunday For 'Song of Bernadette'

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — The Evergreen Park Recreation Department’s Candlelight Theatre is now casting roles for “The Song of Bernadette.” There are parts for adults and some teen roles. Auditions start at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 1, in the performance center of the Evergreen Park Senior Center, 9547 S. Homan Ave.

Not to be confused with the musical of the same name opening in Chicago, the 1944 dramatic play by Jean Kerr, best known for “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies,” and her husband, the esteemed drama critic Walter Kerr, is adapted from the Franz Werfel’s novel. The novel and play are based on the true story of Bernadette Soubirous, a young girl living in Lourdes, France, in 1858.

While looking for firewood with her sisters and a family friend, Bernadette claimed to have a vision of a “Beautiful Lady” in the grotto of Massabielle, who later identified herself to Bernadette as “The Immaculate Conception”. Bernadette was ostracized by villagers, the church community and legal authorities, who believed her to be insane. By the time she passed away at a young age in a convent in Nevers, France, her story was accepted as truth. She was canonized as St. Bernadette by Pope Pius XI in 1933.

Performances will be held on May 15 trough May 17. An audition packet is also included with at the bottom of this story. For more information, please email epcandlelight@gmail.com.