Birthday Candles 2022

Ages: 12+
Opened: April 10, 2022
Closing: May 29, 2022

Birthday Candles - 2022 - Broadway History , Info & More

Todd Haimes Theatre (Broadway)
229 W. 42nd St. New York, NY

Debra Messing (Will & Grace) returns to the stage as Ernestine Ashworth, who spends her 17th birthday agonizing over her insignificance in the universe.



Soon enough, it’s her 18th birthday. Even sooner, her 41st. Her 70th. Her 101st. Five generations, dozens of goldfish, an infinity of dreams, one cake baked over a century. What makes a lifetime…into a life?



A writer of "freewheeling ambition" (Charles Isherwood, The New York Times), Noah Haidle makes his Broadway debut with a poignant new play as fearless in scope as it is tremendous in heart.



COVID-specific information can be found here.

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PREVIEW Birthday Candles - 2022 - Broadway

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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Birthday Candles

Birthday Candles, With Debra Messing, Is Not Much of a Party
3 / 10

Too much rests on Messing's shoulders, and it's simply the wrong play for her gifts. She has some odd ideas about playing young - her 17-year-old Ernestine has the physicality of a stomping kindergartner - and during the play's long middle she's inert, unable to strike sparks from her family. Even in moments of heightened emotion, Messing seems disconnected from those around her, twinkling at her children but not quite meeting their eyes. She's strongest when Ernestine gets into her nineties, because Messing's faraway gaze and abstracted air begin to take on poignancy. What is she seeing? What can she hear? Maybe there's some other life clamoring for her attention. Or maybe her mind is finally up there amid the constellation of lifetime things. Perhaps she's finding her place in the expanding universe, traveling farther and faster away.

Review: In ‘Birthday Candles,’ the cake is too sweet
4 / 10

Despite the play's universe-skimming ambitions, there's also a narrowness to its imagination of what life can and could be. Ernestine follows a path of least resistance; though she has regrets, 'Birthday Candles' isn't a critique of conformity, or the broader social forces that led her there (she is a woman happily baking a cake, year after year, for more than half a century, after all). The play rather reinforces the heteronormative fantasy that fulfillment comes in recognizable forms - just be careful which man you choose. It's a bitter, if obvious, pill served with enough sugar to rot a full mouth of teeth.

BIRTHDAY CANDLES Starring Debra Messing Begins Final Two Weeks on Broadway
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 16, 2022

Roundabout Theatre Company will conclude the New York premiere of Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle, starring Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, directed by Vivienne Benesch on Sunday, May 29.

VIDEO: Debra Messing Discusses Baking a Cake Onstage During BIRTHDAY CANDLES on LIVE! With Kelly & Ryan
by Michael Major - April 25, 2022

Debra Messing sat down with Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest this morning to discuss her current Broadway run in Birthday Candles. She discusses the plot of the play and how her character bakes a real cake onstage during every performance. Watch the new interview now!

VIDEO: Go Inside Opening Night of BIRTHDAY CANDLES
by Opening Night - April 11, 2022

Just last night, Roundabout Theatre Company New York premiere of Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle, starring Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, directed by Vivienne Benesch, celebrated opening night at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway (227 West 42nd Street). This is a limited engagement through Sunday, May 29, 2022.

Manhole Explosions Cause Panic at Opening Night of BIRTHDAY CANDLES
by Chloe Rabinowitz - April 11, 2022

Yesterday, Sunday, April 10, manhole cover explosions in Times Square caused panic among tourists and the exiting opening night audience of Broadway's Birthday Candles.

Photos: BIRTHDAY CANDLES Company Celebrates Opening Night
by Bruce Glikas - April 11, 2022

Just last night, Roundabout Theatre Company New York premiere of Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle, starring Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, directed by Vivienne Benesch, celebrated opening night at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway and BroadwayWorld was there to capture photos!

Photos: Debra Messing and Company Take Opening Night Bows in BIRTHDAY CANDLES
by Bruce Glikas - April 11, 2022

Just last night, Roundabout Theatre Company New York premiere of Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle, starring Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, directed by Vivienne Benesch, celebrated opening night at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway (227 West 42nd Street). This is a limited engagement through Sunday, May 29, 2022.

Photos: BIRTHDAY CANDLES Opening Night Red Carpet
by Bruce Glikas - April 11, 2022

Just last night, Roundabout Theatre Company New York premiere of Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle, starring Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, directed by Vivienne Benesch, celebrated opening night and BroadwayWorld was there to capture pictures.

VIDEO: Watch Highlights from BIRTHDAY CANDLES on Broadway
by Show Highlights - April 8, 2022

Watch a video from Roundabout Theatre Company's New York premiere of Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle, starring Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, directed by Vivienne Benesch.

Review Roundup: BIRTHDAY CANDLES on Broadway
by Nicole Rosky - April 10, 2022

Read all the reviews of Roundabout Theatre Company's New York premiere of Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle, starring Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, directed by Vivienne Benesch including the New York Times and more.

Photos: First Look at Debra Messing & More in BIRTHDAY CANDLES
by Nicole Rosky - March 30, 2022

Previews are currently underway for Roundabout Theatre Company's New York premiere of Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle, starring Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, directed by Vivienne Benesch.

Up on the Marquee: BIRTHDAY CANDLES, Starring Debra Messing
by Jennifer Broski - March 23, 2022

Roundabout Theatre Company is getting ready to present the New York premiere of Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle, starring Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, directed by Vivienne Benesch. Birthday Candles will begin preview performances this Friday, March 18, 2022 and open officially on Sunday, April 10, 2022. This is a limited engagement through Sunday, May 29, 2022 at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway (227 West 42nd Street). Check out photos of the new theatre marquee!

BIRTHDAY CANDLES on Broadway Starring Debra Messing Begins Previews Tomorrow
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 17, 2022

Roundabout Theatre Company will present the New York premiere of Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle, starring Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, directed by Vivienne Benesch, which begins previews tomorrow, March 18.

Photos: Debra Messing & Company in Rehearsals for BIRTHDAY CANDLES
by Nicole Rosky - March 14, 2022

Roundabout Theatre Company is getting ready to present the New York premiere of Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle, starring Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, directed by Vivienne Benesch.   

Meet the Cast of BIRTHDAY CANDLES
by Stephi Wild - March 18, 2022

Birthday Candles begins previews tonight, March 18, ahead of its official opening on April 10 at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway (227 West 42nd Street). Meet the cast bringing this show to the stage!

VIDEO: Debra Messing and Company Get Ready to Bring BIRTHDAY CANDLES to Broadway
by Nicole Rosky - March 2, 2022

Birthday Candles is back! The company of Noah Haidle's new play met the press on March 12, 2020, just hours before Broadway officially shut down. Now, they return at last for a limited engagement at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway (227 West 42nd Street).

Photos: The Company of BIRTHDAY CANDLES Meets the Press
by Jennifer Broski - February 25, 2022

Debra Messing (Will & Grace) returns to the stage as Ernestine Ashworth, who spends her 17th birthday agonizing over her insignificance in the universe. Soon enough, it’s her 18th birthday. Even sooner, her 41st. Her 70th. Her 101st.

Photo Coverage: Meet the Cast of BIRTHDAY CANDLES on Broadway!
by Jennifer Broski - March 12, 2020

Rehearsals are underway for Roundabout Theatre Company's New York premiere of Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle, directed by Vivienne Benesch. The new play will star Emmy Award winner Debra Messing as 'Ernestine,' Andre Braugher as 'Matt' and Enrico Colantoni as 'Kenneth,' Crystal Finn as 'Joan/Alex/Beth,' Susannah Flood as 'Alice/Madeline/Ernie,' and Christopher Livingston as 'Billy/John.'

Breaking: Andre Braugher, Enrico Colantoni and More Join Debra Messing in BIRTHDAY CANDLES on Broadway
by Chloe Rabinowitz - January 7, 2020

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director/CEO) has announced complete casting of the New York premiere of Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle, directed by Vivienne Benesch.

Birthday Candles FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What productions of Birthday Candles have there been?
Birthday Candles has had 1 productions including Broadway which opened in 2022.
What awards has Birthday Candles been nominated for?
Birthday Candles has been nominated for Outstanding New Broadway Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards. Enrico Colantoni and Crystal Finn have been nominated for Theatre World Awards.
What awards has Birthday Candles won?
Birthday Candles has won the Outstanding New Broadway Play award from the Outer Critics Circle Awards. Enrico Colantoni won a Theatre World Award, and Crystal Finn also won a Theatre World Award.

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