AUDITIONS FOR BIRTHDAY CANDLES

by Noah Haidlee

Wheaton Drama Inc. proudly announces auditions for Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle  Directed by Marge Uhlarik-Boller, this play follows the life of Ernestine Ashworth from age 17 to 107, always on her birthday, as she experiences life’s joys and heartbreaks while baking a cake and exploring themes of time, mortality and finding significance in ordinary life.  The play uses the ritual of cake baking to explore a century in one character’s life. Actors aged 30+ are encouraged to audition for this mind bending, moving play.

AUDITION DATES

• Sunday, November 23rd at 6:00 p.m.
• Monday, November 24th at 7:00 p.m.
• Callbacks, if necessary, will be held on Tuesday, November 25th, at 7:30 p.m.

LOCATION

Wheaton Drama Inc.
111 N. Hale Street
Wheaton IL 60187

PRODUCTION DATES

• January 23–Febuary 8, 2026
  • Evenings Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Matinees Sundays at 2pm

Those interested in auditioning should fill out the audition sheet attached with desired audition times.  Sides will then be forwarded to you.  Actors will be given a solo audition slot of at least 10 minutes, and will read with an “on their feet” reader for the initial audition.

Please forward completed audition form (PDF | Word) or any questions, to: [email protected]

All roles are available for consideration and all actors are strongly encouraged to apply for any role. Age ranges are suggestions only.

Roles available are:

• Ernestine (female identifying)
  • She ages from 17 to 107
  • Kenneth (male identifying)
  • He ages from 17 to 80s+
  • Ernestine’s neighbor and eventual
    love interest
• Actor #1 (female identifying). She plays:
  • Alice, Ernestine’s mother aged 40-50
  • Madeline, Ernestine’s daughter, ages from teen –30’s
  • Ernie, Ernestine’s grandaughter, teen-ager/young mom
• Actor #2 (male identifying) He plays:
  • Matt, Ernestine’s boyfriend/husband ages from teen – 40s
  • William, Ernestine’s grandson, 13
• Actor #3 (male identifying) He plays:
  • Billy, Matt and Ernestine’s son, ages from teen through 60s
  • John, a man awakened in the middle of the night by Ernestine
  • Aged 40
• Actor #4 (female identifying) She plays:
  • Joan, Billy’s wife Ages 20s-40
  • Alex, Billy and Joan’s daughter, teen-ager
  • Beth, wife of John, awakened by Ernestine, aged 40