Love Life star John Earl Jelks has joined the upcoming Broadway production of Noah Haidle’s Birthday Candles. He joins previously cast Debra Messing, Enrico Colantoni, Crystal Finn, Susannah Flood, and Christopher Livingston.
The play centers on Ernestine Ashworth (Messing) “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?
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The Roundabout Theatre Company production, which begins previews March 18 and opens April 10, was originally set to debut in spring 2020 but was postponed due to the Covid shutdown. At the time, Andre Braugher was set to co-star with Messing and Colantoni.
The limited engagement of Birthday Candles will run through May 29 at the American Airlines Theatre. Vivienne Benesch directs.