Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway premiere of Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle officially opened April 10 at the American Airlines Theatre, with the limited engagement continuing through May 29.
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.
Check out photos from opening night below:
Bryan Cranston
Bryan Cranston
Kathy Najimy, Camryn Manheim, and Marin Hinkle
Marin Hinkle
Lynn Nottage and Kate Whoriskey
Margaret Colin and Beth Fowler
Michelle Posner and Kenneth Posner
Ben Shenkman and Lauren Greilsheimer Shenkman
Margot Bordelon
Dave Harris
Michele Lee and Fred Rappoport
Richard Kind
Hilary Bettis
Blair Underwood
Kathy Najimy and Carol Jenkins
Kathy Najimy
Tonya Pinkins
Tonya Pinkins
Sarah Steele
Adam Gwon
J.T. Rogers
Bill Irwin
Noah Brody
Melba Wilson
Melba Wilson
David Rockwell
David Rockwell
Jason Butler Harner
Christian Siriano
Camryn Manheim, Mariska Hargitay, and Dylan McDermott
Isabel Gilles, Ali Wentworth, Nancy Jarecki, Mariska Hargitay, and Ashley McDermott
Ali Wentworth and Mariska Hargitay
Susannah Flood, Christopher Livingston, and Crystal Finn
John Earl Jelks and Enrico Colantoni
John Earl Jelks
Debra Messing
Debra Messing
Debra Messing
Debra Messing
Debra Messing
Debra Messing
Christopher Livingston, Susannah Flood, John Earl Jelks, Debra Messing, Enrico Colantoni, and Crystal Finn
Christopher Livingston, Susannah Flood, John Earl Jelks, Debra Messing, Enrico Colantoni, and Crystal Finn
Christopher Livingston, Susannah Flood, John Earl Jelks, Debra Messing, Enrico Colantoni, and Crystal Finn
Christopher Livingston, Susannah Flood, John Earl Jelks, Debra Messing, Enrico Colantoni, and Crystal Finn
Christopher Livingston, Susannah Flood, John Earl Jelks, Debra Messing, Enrico Colantoni, and Crystal Finn
Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche
Kirk Cambridge Del Pesche
John Earl Jelks
Christopher Livingston
Christopher Livingston
Enrico Colantoni
Enrico Colantoni
Kate Hopgood
Blythe Adamson
Kate Hampton, Brandon J. Pierce, and Arielle Yoder
Noah Haidle
Katherine McGerr and Vivienne Benesch
Vivienne Benesch and Noah Haidle
Debra Messing and members of the FDNY
Debra Messing and members of the FDNY
Debra Messing and members of the FDNY
Debra Messing
Debra Messing
Debra Messing
Vivienne Benesch, Susannah Flood, John Earl Jelks, Enrico Colantoni, Debra Messing, Noah Haidle, Crystal Finn, and Christopher Livingston
Debra Messing
Debra Messing
Crystal Finn
Susannah Flood
Debra Messing and Enrico Colantoni
The production also has 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. It was originally slated for production at Roundabout in spring 2020. The play marks Haidle's Broadway debut, but his work has previously been seen on New York stages at Roundabout Theatre Company (Mr. Marmalade) and Lincoln Center Theater (Saturn Returns).
