PROOF

Proof by David Auburn directed by Mike Wood. January 27-30, 2011

The Nashua Theatre Guild will hold auditions for "Proof" by David Auburn, the Pulitzer Prize winning third show of NTG's epic 50th Anniversary Season Celebration. Proof was originally produced Off Broadway by Manhattan Theater Club and was transferred to Broadway in October 2000. The play focuses on Catherine, a woman afraid of following in her father's footsteps, both in his chosen field of mathematics and the slippery slope of insanity he suffered from. Is there a connection between genius and insanity and does she dare take the chance of achieving her potential? Her father, Robert, a recently deceased mathematical genius and professor at the University of Chicago was cared for by Catherine 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? Complicating things, Catherine finds herself in a relationship with Hal. Also, Catherine is confronted by her sister Claire, who on one hand wants to save Catherine and yet on the other resents her sister's connection with their father.

Auditions will be held at the Nashua Public Library in the East Wing on Wednesday, October 13th from 6:30-8:30pm and Saturday, October 16th from 1-4pm. Performance dates are January 27th, 28th, 29th at 8pm and January 29th and 30th at 2pm. Rehearsals will be held in Nashua and due consideration will be given to the holidays.

Character descriptions:
Catherine is a woman in her mid to late 20's, possibly into her 30's. She is strong, brash and sarcastic but has allowed herself to slip into a malaise of self-destructive behavior and bitterness. She allowed her relationship with her father to define her and has become lost in his legacy of mathematic genius and madness.

Hal is slightly younger than Catherine, more accomplished than she but with much less natural talent. He has a duality of being a "math nerd" and yet plays in a rock band and is remarkably poised and self-confident. His motivations are in doubt: Is he self-serving or truly devoted to Catherine's father and concerned about Catherine?

Claire is Catherine's older sister and is deeply concerned about her sister but also resents her because Catherine was truly her father's daughter and favorite. Also, Claire wonders if more could have been done for her father and thinks Catherine was out of her depth caring for their father.

Robert is the father of Catherine and Claire, and mentor to Hal. When lucid, he is charming, witty and wise. When losing his grip with reality, he is deeply troubling and yet inherently sweet.

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Actresses auditioning for Catherine are encouraged to present a dramatic monologue. Monologues for actresses auditioning for Claire or actors auditioning for Hal or Robert will not be heard. Please visit www.nashuatheatreguild.org for more information or contact director Mike Wood at mikewoodnh@comcast.net with any questions.

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Nashua Theatre Guild
Post Office Box 137
Nashua, NH 03061
NTG@NashuaTheaterGuild.org

Phone: 603.320.2530