People’s Light continues its 50th Anniversary Season with Birthday Candles, a heartwarming and thought-provoking play by Noah Haidle, running Apr. 5-May 1 on the Steinbright Stage. This poetic and imaginative work follows one woman’s journey through the decades, marking the passage of time with each birthday she celebrates.
Directed by Executive Artistic Director Emeritus and Acclaimed Director Abigail Adams, Birthday Candles stars Company Artist Teri Lamm as Ernestine Ashworth, a woman who begins the play as a rebellious teenager and, over the course of 90 minutes, ages into her twilight years — without ever leaving her kitchen. As the years unfold, Ernestine bakes the same birthday cake, reflecting on love, loss, and the meaning of existence.
Birthday Candles marks the tenth collaboration between Adams and Lamm; past productions include The Cherry Orchard, Mornings At Seven, Trip To Bountiful, Auctioning The Ainsley’s, The Matchmaker, Our Town, Lettie, Vinegar Tree, and Shakespeare’s Will.
Lamm is joined by a dynamic cast of Company Artists and local favorites, including Kevin Bergen as Kenneth; Claire Inie-Richards as Alice & others; Ian Merrill Peakes as Matt & others; Jacob Orr as Billy & others; and Julianna Zinkel as Joan & others.
“As we celebrate 50 years of People’s Light, Birthday Candles is a perfect story for this milestone moment,” stated Zak Berkman, Producing Artistic Director. “It’s a beautiful meditation on time, family, and legacy — reminding us of the fleeting nature of life and the profound impact of seemingly small moments. It invites us to cherish our past while embracing the future, which is at the heart of our anniversary season.”
Tickets and Additional Information
Tickets for Birthday Candles start at $35 and can be purchased here or by calling the box office at 610.644.3500. Special performances include a Relaxed Performance and Open Captioned Performances. Visit the website for details.
Join People’s Light in celebrating its own “birthday” and experience this touching, humorous, and deeply human story that reminds us of the beauty in everyday life. Find more information on this production, as well as upcoming news, events, and happenings related to People’s Light’s 50th Anniversary here.
Learn more at People’s Light. Founded in 1974, People’s Light is celebrating its 50th anniversary as one of Pennsylvania’s most accomplished professional non-profit theatres. For five decades, the company has been a vital cultural and civic center known for its resident company of artists, a diverse array of productions, and innovative programming that engages young people and the broader community. As the theatre marks this milestone year, People’s Light continues to invite and create opportunities for diverse communities to discover and celebrate our shared humanity through the transformative power of live theatre.
