PROOF by David Auburn

PROOF by David Auburn Audition: Tuesday APRIL 22 at 7:30pm Performance Dates: JUNE 13, 14, 15, 20 & 21 Rehearsals: Commence Thursday APRIL 24 at 7pm o will be each Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday o all cast may not be required for every rehearsal initially Casting requirements: o 2 females 20s-30s o 1 male 20s-30s o 1 male 50s-70s o While the play stipulate specific ages casting will be dependent on actors ability and chemistry. It is important that Catherine appears a little younger than Claire and that Robert could realistically be father of Catherine & Claire. Hal has to credible as both romantic interest for Catherine and an ex- student of Robert. ABOUT THE PLAY: The play concerns Catherine, the daughter of Robert, a recently deceased mathematical genius in his fifties and professor at the University of Chicago, and her struggle with mathematical genius and mental illness. Catherine had cared for her father through a lengthy mental illness. Upon Robert's death, his ex-graduate student Hal discovers a paradigm-shifting proof about prime numbers in Robert's office. The title refers both to that proof and to the play's central question: Can Catherine prove the proof's authorship? Along with demonstrating the proof's authenticity, the daughter also finds herself in a relationship with Hal. Throughout, the play explores Catherine's fear of following in her father's footsteps, both mathematically and mentally and her desperate attempts to stay in control. CHARACTERS Catherine: A young woman who inherited at least some of her father's mathematical genius, and, she fears, his "instability" as well; she gave up her life and schooling to take care of her father until his recent death. Claire: Catherine's older sister, a no nonsense, take charge kind of gal. She left Robert and Catherine behind, distancing herself from the run down family home of her youth. She escaped the edge of the Univerity of Chicago campus to make a new life for herself in New York City. Robert: A recently deceased mathematician who did brilliant, breakthrough work in his youth, but whose later years were plagued by delusional mental illness; he is seen in Catherine's imagination and in flashbacks. Harold (Hal) Dobbs: One of Robert's last Ph.D. students during the one year his idol and mentor's illness went into remission, at least enabling Robert to teach, if not continue his own creative mathematical work. PRODUCTION HISTORY Originally produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club on 23 May 2000, it transferred to Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre on 24 October 2000. Directed by Daniel J. Sullivan, the production starred Mary-Louise Parker as Catherine, Larry Bryggman as Robert, Ben Shenkman as Hal, and Johanna Day as Claire. Later during the Broadway run, Jennifer Jason Leigh (September 13, 2001 to June 30, 2002) and Anne Heche took over the lead role. Josh Hamilton and Neil Patrick Harris subsequently played the role of Hal. Mary-Louise Parker won the Tony Award for her performance. From March 13, 2013 to April 27, 2013, a production appeared at London's Menier Chocolate Factory. It featured Mariah Gale in the role of Catherine and Polly Findlay directed.[1] In April and May 2013, a new production by the Whitmore Electic Theater Group opened in Los Angeles at the Hayworth Theatre for a limited run. James Whitmore Jr., son of the award winning iconic actor James Whitmore, stars and Aliah Whitmore, his daughter directed. A production in May 2013 opened at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre in Charlotte, North Carolina. In September to October 2013, Proof was directed by Emily Mann at the McCarter Theater in Princeton, NJ. Film adaptation A 2005 film adaptation was directed by John Madden starring Gwyneth Paltrow as Catherine, along with Anthony Hopkins, Hope Davis, and Jake Gyllenhaal. Adapted by Rebecca Miller, the film version added more characters (in minor supporting roles), whereas the play has only four. .

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