Birthday Candles Tickets
Click on a performance to purchase
December 4 7:30pm December 5 7:30pm December 6 2pm
December 6 7:30pm December 7 2pm December 11 7:30pm
December 12 7:30pm December 13 2pm December 13 7:30pm
December 14 2pm December 18 7:30pm December 19 7:30pm
December 20 2pm December 20 7:30pm December 21 2pm

Birthday Candles

Written by Noah Haidle

Directed by Alex Levy

December 4-21, 2025

Ernestine Ashworth 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. This poignant and funny play takes its audience through the highlights, heartbreaks and extraordinary moments that make up one woman’s ordinary life. “For my money, Birthday Candles is precisely why people go to the theater.” – Chicago Tribune

Open Captioned Performances :

  • December 11 - 7:30 pm, December 12 - 7:30 pm, December 13 - 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm,

    December 14 - 2:00 pm

Audio-Described Performance:

  • December 14 - 2:00 pm

Mask Required Performances:

  • December 13 - 7:30 pm

Community Conversations

Following the 2 PM Performance

12/6/25: Meet the Design Team

Join us in conversation with members of the Design Team for Birthday Candles about creating the world of the play.

12/7/25: Meet the Director

Chat with director Alex Levy about the process of bringing this story to life.

12/13/25: Meet the Cast

Join 1st Stage in conversation with the cast of Birthday Candles.

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