Birthday Candles |
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By Noah Haidle
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Sound Design |
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Produced in special arrangement with Concord Theatricals |
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| This performance runs approx. 90 minutes | ||
Follow Us:
A Note From the Director:
I first encountered Birthday Candles in May 2022 during my senior trip to New York City. Although I didn’t see the production then (a choice I now look back on with much regret) the title lingered in the back of my mind. When it came time for my Script Analysis final project, I finally caved and ordered the script. I was instantly captivated. I fell deep into the world Noah Haidle created, mesmerized by how a life could progress so much in such a short period of time.
In the world we live in today, it is easy to feel lost. Regardless of our age, we are all searching for our place within an ever changing world. We see this reflected in Ernestine’s journey as she struggles to find her place in the universe. Central to this Ernestine’s search is the concept of Atman, the Sanskrit word for the "inner self" or the spark of divinity within every individual. In Birthday Candles, this vast, eternal concept is represented by something small and fragile: a goldfish. This serves as a reminder that while the universe is infinite, the divine is also right here, tucked inside the quietest moments of our lives.
Through this process, I found myself fascinated by Ernestine’s steadfast tradition of baking her own birthday cake every single year. This cake isn’t just a habit; it is a way of tracking the changes in her life, honoring the Atman within herself, and acknowledging everyone who passes through her kitchen. This show has impacted me so deeply that, for the first time, I made it a point to truly celebrate my own birthday this year. Instead of resisting the milestone as I usually might, I chose to lean into it, inspired by Ernestine's persistence.
As you watch Ernestine navigate her life tonight, I invite you to consider your own place in the universe. Where are the places or who are the people in your life that create that space for you? Even if you aren't a "ritualistic" person, what are the mini-traditions that have naturally formed in your life to create a universe of your own?
Be sure to wish Ernestine a “Happy Birthday” at the curtain call.
Thank you for being here.
-Cody Lee Crist
Cast
Production Team
Cody Lee Crist
Lillyann Buller
Daisa Smidt
Isabel Mancinas
Frankie McClairen
Elizabeth Stratton
Hannah Schmitz
Matthieu Helaine
Alan Fick
Kat Cover
Adam Millikan
Mazie Tippets
Paulina Hurtado
Byron Travis
Summer Maher
Asher Slover
Camden Kent
Helaina Cooper
Nathan Hagedorn
Joel Egger
Jules Harlow
Meet the Company
Ella Zubieni
Ella Zubieni is a senior theatre major from Denver, CO. She has been doing theatre for most of her life and intends to continue pursuing it after graduating in May! Birthday Candles has been an extremely bittersweet process as this is her last performance and Senior Project at Doane. She is very grateful to Doane's Theatre Department for the amazing experiences she has received over the last four years. Birthday Candles is the opportunity of a lifetime, and she is so excited to be sharing the life of Ernestine Ashworth with audiences. Ella would like to thank her parents, her grandma, her little sister, Alex, the phenomenal cast and crew, and her incredible friends for always supporting her. She would like to dedicate this final performance at Doane to the woman who has been helping her prep her auditions and practice her lines since she was ten years old: her mom, Heather. She wouldn't be half the woman she is today without the love and encouragement of her number one supporter. She hopes everyone enjoys the show!
Jimmy Pierce
Jimmy Pierce is an actor, playwright, and satirist. He enjoys long walks on the beach, buffets, and staying up past his bedtime.
Emily Dominguez
Emily Dominguez is a junior from Wylie, Texas. She has been apart of many things at Doane. She has been apart of The Delays, Town Hall, and Map of virtue. She has also helped on technical side for Midsummer nights Dream, Welcome, Bright New Boise, and many more. She is so excited for everyone to see the show.
Tristan Tyson
Tristan Tyson is a sophomore music ed and vocal performance double major, he is involved in Doane choir, Jazz Unlimited and theatre
Matthieu Helaine
Matthieu Helaine is a Junior Theatre Major from Littleton, Colorado. He has performed in prior shows such as Bright New Boise and Between the Lines, Sound Designed the first show of our current season, Welcome, and is currently both Sound Designing for Birthday Candles and Acting in both Birthday Candles and Scarlet. He hopes the audience loves the show, and recommends bringing tissues if you have them. You can find him at Sir_Sketti on Instagram
Jozi Heermans
Jozi is a freshman and this will be her first production with Doane! She is also apart of the upcoming musical Scarlet. Jozi is involved with Doane Players and the Theatre Department! She would like to shout out her amazing support from loved ones Gigi, Jett, Zoey, and Andrew! She loves to thrift…
Her instagram is Jozi.heermans!
Cody Lee Crist
Cody Lee Crist is a theatre artist from Derby, KS, completing his B.A. this May. While primarily a lighting designer, Cody Lee is also an accomplished director with credits including Straight, The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet, and The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon. His regional design work includes Misery (Crane River Theatre), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Prairie Repertory Theatre), and A Christmas Carol (Nebraska Community Playhouse). Upcoming projects include lighting The Cottage at Community Players Beatrice and performing as Sammy in Doane University’s Scarlet. He is also in talks with Summer Stock companies and hopes to announce his summer plans soon. This fall, Cody Lee will head to Detroit to pursue his M.F.A. in Lighting Design at Wayne State University. He is incredibly grateful to his family and friends for their unwavering support throughout this exhilarating journey and would like to dedicate all of his work on this show to the people who pushed him to be better. Check out his portfolio: Instagram @theleeman0213
Lillyann Buller
Lillyann Buller is a junior theatre major from Hastings, NE. Lilly has focuses in many different areas of theatre including Stage Management, Costume Design, and Acting. Past credits include Between the Lines (Stage Management), I'm Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire (Costume Design), She Kills Monsters (Lilith), and The Delays (Assistant Stage Management). When not doing theatre Lilly is often reading a book or drinking coffee. Find her portfolio on her Instagram @lillyannbullertheatre
Daisa Smidt
Daisa is a freshman theatre major from Palmyra, NE. She has been previously seen as an Assistant Stage Manger in “welcome. (a working title)” Her involvements at Doane include Doane Players, USITT, Collegiate Chorale, APIO, Active Minds, Kindness Project.
Isabel Mancinas
Isabel’s been involved in theatre for 4+ years both the technical and acting side. She was in the first show of the year “Welcome.” Her instagram is Isabel_lilly27
Frankie McClairen
Frankie is an actor and designer from Omaha, NE. This is their first role as a designer, but was previously the assistant costume designer for a previous Doane show “A Map of Virtue”. They’re very excited to showcase the costumes that they’ve designed with the help of their assistant Elizabeth Stratton!
Elizabeth Stratton
Elizabeth is a freshman theatre major from Bellevue, NE. She has been previously seen as a performer in “welcome. (a working title)”, and as an assistant stage manager in “I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire”. Her involvements at Doane include Doane Players, USITT, Collegiate Chorale, and Doane eSports.
Hannah Schmitz
Hannah is a junior theatre major at Doane with a focus in lighting. Birthday Candles is her second lighting design credit, following I'm Gonna Marry You, Tobey Maguire, and an assistant designer position on She Kills Monsters last year. She would like to shout out her incredible electrician team, including master electrician Adam Millikan, for their hard work on this show and ensuring her design can come to fruition!
Matthieu Helaine
Alan Fick
As an engineering major and technical theater minor, Alan has been working in the technical side of theater for 5 years.
Kat Cover
Adam Millikan
Adam (they/them) is a Junior here at Doane University and very excited for their first time as Master Electrician. They have been worked as an electrician most shows since their sophomore year here at Doane. Previous tech positions include Sound Designer for I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire, Light Board Operator for Between the Line and Sound Board Operator for Welcome*.
Mazie Tippets
She acted and did tech throughout all of high school and is a cast member in Scarlet!
Paulina Hurtado
Byron Travis
Summer Maher
Asher Slover
Camden Kent
Helaina Cooper
Nathan Hagedorn
Nathan Hagedorn is a junior Music Education major from Elkhorn, Nebraska. Nathan is involved in Doane Choir and Alpha Pi Epsilon Fraternity. Nathan was asked to compose a piano piece for the show and is very excited for everyone to hear his first composition.
Joel Egger
Jules Harlow
Jules Harlow is a senior theatre and vocal performance double major at Doane. While she is primarily an actor, she has done movement/choreography work on several Doane shows including She Kills Monsters, Between the Lines, and I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire. Jules is so proud of the cast and can’t wait for you to see the show!
ACTF Achievements:
She Kills Monsters:
Lighting Design - Cody Lee Crist
A Map of Virtue:
Directing - Blake Tobey
Scenic Design - Sam Feng
Sound Design - Sam Feng
Performance - Alexis McDaniel-Gates
Ensemble Work - Jules Harlow
Ensemble Work - Katie Craig
welcome:
Assistant Direction - Ella Zubieni
Lighting Design - Johanna Horne
Sound Design - Matthieu Helaine
I'm Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire:
Scenic Design - Sam Feng
Sound Design - Adam Millikan
Properties Management - Casey Callahan
Up Next at Doane
Scarlet: April 30 - May 2 @ 7:30pm and May 2nd @ 2pm
Digital Program Provided By Doane Players and Doane USITT
