Birthday Candles Program
BIRTHDAY CANDLES
By Noah Haidle
Directed by: Mark Liermann
Stage Manager: Ashton Bahr
Lighting Designer: Sydney Becker
Costume Designer: Stacey Jordan
Scenic Designer: Luke Henn
Originally Produced on Broadway in 2022 by Roundabout Theatre Company.
Birthday Candles was originally commissioned and produced by Detroit Public Theatre, Detroit, MI. Producing Artistic Directors: Courtney Burkett, Sarah Clare Corporandy, and Sarah Winkler.
Developed as part of Chautauqua Theater Company's New Play Workshop series, 2017, underwritten by the Roe Green Foundation.
"Birthday Candles" is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
CAST
Ernestine Ashworth: KATIE BAVIRSHA
Kenneth: JOE MEAGHER
Billy/John: LUKAS NOWAK
Joan/Alex/Beth: MADISON WARNKE
Alice/Madeline/Ernie: MOLLY WILSON
Matt/William: CARTER BARNES
Understudies:
LEAH HOCHHALTER
DANE CALNICEAN
KARSTEN COOPER
AMY WARD
KIMIA MIRI
JADEN SMITH
PRODUCTION TEAM
Assistant Director: Aiden Dockendorf
Production Assistant: Madeline Clarke
Pianist: Leah Hochhalter
Assistant Costume Shop Supervisor: Gizelle Khouri
Stitchers: Emma Wagner, Allan Connelly, Gizelle Khouri, Elle Miller, Lauren Dinkelmann, Sammy McGuire, Timsil Goodman
Wardrobe Crew Head: Sammy McGuire
Wardrobe Crew: Arya Agulto, Cassidy Monti, Noah Brown, Hannah Cowgill, Brendan Cox, Autumn Cymbal, Ben Franz, Clover Gato, Rain Heller, Elliott Hoagland, James Nixon, Nick Pollich, Gwen Trimmer, Ben Zuzelski
Assistant Lighting Designer: James Nixon
Light Board Operator: Madeline Clarke
Production Audio: Landen Yocum
Audio Crew: Riley Grieder
Stage Crew: Lexi Gratton, Erin Petite
Intimacy Director: Elizabeth Terrel
Arts Administration Assistants: Jordan Smaka, Luke Stephens, Anna Swank (Graphic Design)
BIOS
Ashton Bahr (Stage Manager) is a Junior from Muskegon, MI. Previous WMU credits include Stage Manager for "The Cottage" (WMU).
Carter Barnes (Matt/William) is a Senior from Highlands Ranch, CO. Previous WMU credits include Benedick in "Much Ado About Nothing," Henry Temple in "The Great Gatsby," and Hylas/Asterion in "Argonautika."
Katie Bavirsha (Ernestine Ashworth) is a Senior from New Lenox, IL. Previous WMU credits include Brittani in "The Bronco Way," Jennifer in "Utopia," Assistant Director for "The Coast Starlight," Natalie Portman in "All the Natalie Portmans," Mrs. Dudley in "The Haunting of Hill House," and Hera/Athena (u/s) in "Argonautika."
Dane Calnicean (US Kenneth) is a Sophomore from Lansing, MI. WMU Debut!
Karsten Cooper (US Billy/John) is a Sophomore from Portage, MI. Previous WMU credits include Hugh Oatcake in "Much Ado About Nothing," Gatsby's Staff in "The Great Gatsby Immersive Experience," and Mr. Krabs in "SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical" (Portage Central HS).
Luke Henn (Scenic Designer) is a Junior from Warsaw, IN. Previous WMU credits include Props Master for "Cats" (2025) and "Sweeney Todd" (2026), and Assistant Props Master for "The Haunting of Hill House" (2024).
Leah Hochhalter (US Ernestine Ashworth, Pianist) is a Sophomore from Valley City, ND. This is her WMU Theatre debut!
Stacey Jordan (Costume Designer) is a Junior from Kalamazoo, MI, making a WMU Theatre debut as a designer. Previous WMU credits include Assistant Costume Designer for "The House That Will Not Stand" and Wardrobe Supervisor for "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Dreamgirls."
Joe Meagher (Kenneth) is a Senior from Milford, MI. Previous WMU credits include Jay Gatsby in "The Great Gatsby," Luke/Arthur (u/s) in "The Haunting of Hill House," and Dymas in "Argonautika."
Kimia Miri (US Alice/Madeline/Ernie) is a Junior from Tehran, Iran. Previous WMU credits include Violet Pahlavi in "The Great Gatsby," Lydia (u/s) in "Utopia," Assistant Stage Manager for "The Cottage."
Lukas Nowak (Billy/John) is a Junior from Holt, MI. Previous WMU credits include The Headmaster/Seneschal/Duke of Burgundy in "The Book of Silence" and Leonato in "Much Ado About Nothing."
Amy Ward (US Joan/Alex/Beth) is a Junior from Homewood, IL. Previous WMU credits include Deirdre in "The Cottage," Jordan in "Utopia," and Waitstaff in "The Great Gatsby."
Madison Warnke (Joan/Alex/Beth) is a Senior from Rockford, MI. Previous WMU credits include Sylvia in "The Cottage," Tessa in "Utopia," and Party Guest/Daisy (u/s) in "The Great Gatsby."
Molly Wilson (Alice/Madeline/Ernie) is a Senior from Tinley Park, IL. Previous WMU credits include Anna in "The Coast Starlight," Laura in "Utopia," and Doctor in "The Book of Silence."
