SPRINGFIELD – The theater arts program at American International College (AIC) is proud to present Proof, the first of two upcoming fall productions.

“Proof” by David Auburn premiered on Broadway in October 2000. The nationally acclaimed play earned the Drama Desk Award, the Pulitzer Prize, and the Tony Award for Best Play.

Proof revolves around Catherine, the daughter of Robert, a recently deceased mathematical genius and professor at the University of Chicago.

The plot focuses on Catherine’s struggle with her own mathematical genius and growing fears of mental illness, having cared for her father through his lengthy battle with mental illness.

Upon Robert's death, Hal, the graduate student he mentored discovers a paradigm-shifting proof about prime numbers tucked away in Robert's office.

While Catherine claims to be the author, no one believes her. Hence, the play’s title which refers both to that proof and to the play's central question: Can Catherine prove the proof's authorship? 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.

The four character, two act play includes Catherine, a young woman who sacrificed her life and pursuit of her own education to tend to her father until his death; Catherine's older sister, Claire, a personally and professionally successful woman who left her home behind to build a life for herself in New York City; Hal, Robert’s devoted student who enters into a romantic relationship with Catherine; and Robert who appears in Claire’s imagination and flashbacks throughout the play.

Performances are Oct. 30 and 31 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. in the West Wing of the Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center on the AIC campus. Admission is free; donations gratefully accepted. All proceeds are reinvested into the AIC Theater Arts program.

More information is available online at www.aic.edu or by calling 654-1486.