The Theatre Department at Birmingham-Southern College will perform American playwright David Auburn’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning drama Proof Oct. 1-4.

After premiering on Broadway in October 2000, the play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play the following year.

The story revolves around 25-year-old Catherine, the daughter of a mathematician who struggled with his genius and mental illness. When he dies, Catherine is haunted with fears that she will follow her father’s tortured path, and she struggles to maintain control.

Then Catherine encounters romance and mystery with Robert’s former graduate student, Hal. Is the paradigm-shifting proof about prime numbers in Robert’s office authentic? Her journey is a confrontation of the past, present and future. What will it take for Catherine to heal and move forward?

The production cast includes Darby Burgess, a junior, as Catherine; BSC Professor of Theatre Dr. Alan Litsey as Robert; Brennan Martignoni, a first-year student, as Hal; and Laura Scialdone, a senior, as Claire.

The production’s director, Pat Anderson-Flowers, will present a lecture about the play, “Proof: Deciphering Alien Messages,” on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 11 a.m. in the College Theatre/The Underground. The hour-long talk, part of BSC’s series of Provost’s Forums, is free and open to the public. The cast and crew will also be on hand to perform a scene and discuss the play, along with BSC Assistant Professor of Mathematics Dr. Anne Yust and BSC Coordinator of Accessibility Services Jason Peevy.

The play does contain adult language and situations. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for students from any school. Tickets are available online or by calling the Theatre Box Office at (205) 226-4780. Seating is limited and reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Free parking is available near the theatre.

For more information about upcoming arts events at the college, visit www.bsc.edu/artsalliance/calendar/index.html.