News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

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.


Get Birthday Candles Email Alerts

Be the first to get ticket offers, news, photos & more.

PREVIEW Birthday Candles - 2022 - Broadway

Birthday Candles Production Photo
Photos
Show Video Preview
Videos

FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Birthday Candles

Birthday Candles
3 / 10

Still, much of the play consists of a ticking off of biographical events. By necessity or by design, it is incumbent on members of the audience to find a personal connection to the ups and downs of Ernestine's life. Debra Messing generally has too little to work with, only coming into her own as Ernestine herself comes into her own. The rest of the cast, playing multiple roles, all do what they can with their parts, but mostly they are stuck with one-dimensional attributes, and neither they nor director Vivienne Benesch are able bring them fully to life.

Birthday Candles review: Debra Messing has her cake and bakes it, too
5 / 10

If only the play gave Messing time to settle, we might have been allowed to experience more of the actress' range. The action moves so fast that emotional moments pop up out of nowhere, and Ernestine's responses ring hollow. When she's betrayed by her husband, the bell tolls to the next year before the audience has had enough time to grasp onto what just happened to our heroine and how she feels. Still, judging by the sniffs in the audience by the play's conclusion, it's clear Birthday Candles landed with some. Personally, I was more upset about the cake's fate than Ernestine's.

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 History

Other Productions of Birthday Candles

2022   Broadway Roundabout Theatre Company Original Broadway Production
Broadway

Birthday Candles - 2022 Broadway Awards and Nominations

Note: Award winners will appear on a background
Year Ceremony Category Nominee
2022 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actress in a Play Debra Messing
2022 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding New Broadway Play Birthday Candles
2021 Theatre World Awards Theatre World Awards Enrico Colantoni
2021 Theatre World Awards Theatre World Awards Crystal Finn

Videos