Kelsey Grammer to hold US debut of musical based on life of Catholic Saint Bernadette in Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Kelsey Grammer, in Chicago Wednesday, talked about a new stage production he's bringing to the city.

It's "Bernadette, the Musical." He won't be singing or dancing; he's the producer.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

He spoke on why Chicago is the perfect place for the show to make its debut in the U.S. and what inspired him to be part of the creative team.

The U.S. premiere will be at the Athenaeum Center in Lakeview.

"Chicago's a great theater town; it's always been a great theater town. The first time I performed in Chicago I was doing 'Othello' with James Earl Jones and Christopher Plummer. And we performed at the Shubert Theatre. I had the best time. I stayed at the Blackstone, yeah, Blackstone. I have a great relationship with this town," Grammer said.

"Bernadette" is based on the true story of a French teenage girl.

She has a series of apparitions, which the faithful believe are visions of the Mother Mary.

Grammer is not Catholic, but was moved by the bravery of Bernadette.

"She has the chutzpah to say, 'I'm going to tell you exactly what I saw. I'm going to stand here and let you berate me and threaten me and challenge me. And I'm still not changing my story,'" Grammer said. "It's probably why she became a saint."

Grammer said he hopes Chicago theater-goers get solace from the show.

"And inspiration and tears and a sense of joy, and if you happen to be religious, it'll lift your spirits. And if you're not, it will lift your spirits anyway," he said.

The actor starred as the corrupt mayor of Chicago in the series "Boss."

"The whole idea was what town in America is basically a fiefdom: Daley, Rahm Emanuel, it's basically Chicago. It's like a little kingdom," Grammer said. "Maybe it's changed in a decade, but that energy was prevalent here when I was here. Emanuel and Daley said, 'I'll have dinner with you.' He was a lovable monster. He holds onto power in this town and makes sure it's the best town it can be."

Grammer said he always knew he was going to act, whether it was in "Frasier" or something else.

"I want to be in the game; I want to make sure that I'm making a difference, that my being here made somebody else's life better," he said.

"Bernadette, the Musical" debuts at the Athenaeum Center from Feb. 12 through March 15.

Grammer said it was a big hit in Europe, and he's had a lot of input adapting it for American audiences.