Roundabout Theatre Company's Birthday Candles Completes Broadway Run May 29

Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle concludes its Broadway premiere run May 29. Preview performances began March 18 at the American Airlines Theatre, ahead of an April 10 opening night.

Vivienne Benesch directs the cast, led by Emmy winner Debra Messing (Will and Grace, Outside Mullingar) and including Tony nominee John Earl Jelks (Sweat, Radio Golf), Enrico Colantoni (Just Shoot Me, Veronica Mars) in his Broadway debut, Crystal Finn (Roundabout's Bobbie Clearly), Susannah Flood (The Cherry Orchard), and Christopher Livingston (Roundabout's Something Clean).

The play follows Ernestine Ashworth (Messing), who, through the baking of a birthday cake over a 100-year period, examines her life and place in the universe.

READ: Playwright Noah Haidle Examines a Lifetime in Birthday Candles

The design team includes set design by Christine Jones, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Jen Schriever, sound design by John Gromada, and original music by Kate Hopgood.

Birthday Candles was commissioned by Detroit Public Theatre where it premiered in 2018. Revenue generated from the Broadway run and from future productions will help fund DPT's new theatre venue, slated to open in the fall. Haidle is a DPT board member, and fellow Broadway playwright Dominique Morrisseau serves as the company's executive artistic producer. A group of over 150 DPT supporters attended the Broadway production of Birthday Candles this spring.