Originally produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club, opening on May 23, 2000, the play transferred to Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre on October 24, 2000.[1] Directed by Daniel J. Sullivan, the production starred Mary-Louise Parker as Catherine, Johanna Day as Claire, Larry Bryggman as Robert, and Ben Shenkman as Hal.[2] Later during the Broadway run, Jennifer Jason Leigh (September 13, 2001 to June 30, 2002)[3] and Anne Heche (July 2, 2002 – January 5, 2003)[4] took over the lead role. Josh Hamilton[5] and Neil Patrick Harris subsequently played the role of Hal.[4] Mary-Louise Parker won the Tony Award for her performance, and Daniel Sullivan won the Tony Award, Best Direction of a Play.[2] The play closed on January 5, 2003, after 917 performances,[2] making it the longest-running Broadway play of the 21st century.
Proof premiered in the West End at the Donmar Warehouse in May 2002, to June 15, 2002. Directed by John Madden, the cast starred Gwyneth Paltrow as Catherine, with Ronald Pickup as Robert, Sara Stewart as Claire, and Richard Coyle as Hal.[6]
Proof premiered in Australia at the Sydney Opera House in 2003, starring Jacqueline Mckenzie as Catherine, Christina Eliason as Claire, Barry Otto as Robert, and Jonny Pasvolsky as Hal. It was directed by George Ogilvie as a Sydney Theatre Company production. The popular, sold-out run broke box office records and was extended.
London's Menier Chocolate Factory produced the play from March 13, 2013, to April 27, 2013.[7] It featured Mariah Gale in the role of Catherine, and Polly Findlay directed.[8]
In April and May 2013, a new production by the Whitmore Eclectic 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, starred; and his daughter Aliah Whitmore 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 Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey.[9]
London's Tabard Theatre produced the play from 29 September to 24 October 2015, directed by Sebastien Blanc (son of Raymond Blanc). It featured Tim Hardy (Royal Shakespeare Company Marat/Sade) as Robert, Julia Papp as Catherine, Mary-Ann Cafferkey as Claire and Ian Charleson Awards nominee Kim Hardy as Hal.[10]
A Seattle production opened in January 2017 at Strawberry Theatre Workshop with three TPS Gregory Award-winning actors, Anastasia Higham, Charles Leggett, and Allison Standley in principal roles. Proof was directed by Greg Carter on the Mainstage at 12th Ave Arts.[11] It was the first professional production in Seattle since 2004.
Spring Green, Wisconsin’s American Players Theater produced the play from 26 October to 19 November, 2023, directed by APT Artistic Director Brenda DeVita (wife of actor and director James DeVita). It featured Kelsey Brennan as Catherine, David Daniel as Robert, Nate Burger as Hal, and Laura Rook as Claire. [12]
