Don Cheadle and Ayo Edebiri Set to Star in Revival of “Proof,” Making Broadway Debut

The seasoned actors will step on the Broadway stage for the first time in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

Don Cheadle returns to his theater roots as Ayo Edebiri goes beyond the world of comedy and writing.

Tony Award winner Don Cheadle and SAG Award winner Ayo Edebiri will make their respective Broadway debuts in the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Proof.

The revival will be directed by Thomas Kail, a fellow Tony winner, and co-produced by Mike Bosner and Kail. Previews will begin March 31 of next year with opening night set for April 16. 

Written by David Auburn, Proof follows a woman named Catherine living with her father — a former world-renowned mathematician. Catherine takes care of her father during a period of mental decline, and she begins to realize how much she shares in common with her father beyond the love for numbers. 

One of the former students of Catherine’s father, Hal, spends his days combing through her father’s journals in hopes of finding something of value. In doing so, Hal will question if his best days are behind him. Catherine’s sister, Claire, only wants the best for her, though her motives may not be totally unselfish. 

David Auburb's "Proof" was originally released in 2000, later adapted into a movie in 2005.

Edebiri recently won several awards for her role as Sydney on FX’s The Bear, and is currently nominated for her work on its third season. She expresses gratitude for the opportunity to bring the play back to life, reports Variety.

“It’s hard to find the right words when talking about a text as rich and witty and full as David’s - what I can say is how deeply grateful I am for this incredible opportunity,” Edebiri told the publication. “I can’t believe my good fortune that I not only get to go to Broadway with this play, but have the opportunity to work alongside Don Cheadle, Tommy Kail, and such an amazing team around us.”

Cheadle, known for his roles in Hotel Rwanda and Marvel’s Avengers franchises, found a connection to the source material in relation to his experiences as a father.

“I couldn’t be happier for the opportunity to return to the stage in this remarkable play with this level of talent assembled to pull it off,” Cheadle told Variety. “As a father of two, both around the same age as Ayo, I’m excited (if not a little nervous) to dig into all the father/daughter messiness, not to mention the mental health challenges the family faces.”

The creative team behind Proof will include Academy Award and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for original music, Teresa L. Williams for scenic design, Tony winner Dede Ayite for costume design and Amanda Zieve for lighting design.

Proof originally premiered Off-Broadway in 2000, later transferring to Broadway in October of that year. In 2001, it won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and three Tony Awards, including Best Play. It was later adapted into a 2005 film by Auburn, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Edebiri has several upcoming projects lined up, including Luca Guadagnino’s film After the Hunt, which will premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Prior to her breakout role in The Bear, she began as a standup comedian — she performed a set on Comedy Central’s Up Next.

She also worked behind the scenes as a writer for The Rundown with Robin Thede and NBC’s Sunnyside. Edebiri would join the writing staff of Big Mouth for the show’s fourth season. Edebiri worked on Dickinson, an Apple TV+ show about Emily Dickinson’s early days, as a writer and later as a supporting character. 

During her time on Dickinson, she met Christopher Storer who directed two of her episodes. Storer would later develop The Bear, considering Edebiri for the role of Sydney.

Cheadle’s credits span decades, starting with his time at the California Institute of the Arts. During his time at CalArts, he acted in several plays including Athol Fugard’s “Master Harold” …and the Boys. He first received widespread notice for his role as Mouse Alexander in 1995’s Devil in a Blue Dress. 

He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in 2005 for his portrayal of Paul Ruseabagina in Hotel Rwanda. He also starred and produced Crash, which won the 2006 Academy Award for Best Picture. 

The rest of the cast, creative team members and ticketing details for “Proof” will be announced in the near future.