English Bernhardt ’14 was inducted into the Fine Arts Hall of Fame, recognizing her career, which has taken her from the classrooms and stage at Ravenscroft to national tours and the bright lights of Broadway.
Bernhardt was a Hunter Scholar during her time at Ravenscroft and her talent was obvious from her very first role as Bielke in “Fiddler on the Roof” in 2007. She went on to shine as Dorothy in the “Wizard of Oz”, Mary Lennox in “The Secret Garden”, and Esther Smith in “Meet Me in St. Louis”, among many other roles, while at Ravenscroft.
Bernhardt’s longtime friend Rachel Wakeford ’14 presented the award, sharing heartfelt remarks that highlighted their time together at Ravenscroft – from choir trips to Disney to late-night sleepovers recording original songs.
“English, your voice has always been more than just beautiful – it’s moving, joyful, and deeply special,” Wakeford said. “And I thank God that you continue to share this incredible gift with the world.”
After graduating from Ravenscroft, Bernhardt moved to New York in 2015 following her casting in the Broadway workshop of “Dear Evan Hansen”. She performed in the first national tour of “If/Then” alongside Idina Menzel and later joined the first national tour of “Mean Girls”, where she served as a standby for three leading roles – Cady, Regina and Janis – before stepping into the role of Cady Heron full-time in 2022.
