East West Players presents the Tony Award-winning play PROOF

East West Players, the nation's premier Asian American theatre organization, continues its 39th Anniversary Season ˆ New Perspectives ˆ with the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play PROOF by David Auburn, directed by Heidi Helen Davis.

Catherine, a troubled young woman, has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father, a famous mathematician. Now, following his death, she must deal with her own volatile emotions; the arrival of her estranged sister, Claire; and the attentions of Hal, a former student of her father's who hopes to find valuable work in the 103 notebooks that her father left behind. Over the long weekend that follows, a burgeoning romance and the discovery of a mysterious notebook draw Catherine into the most difficult problem of all: How much of her father‚s madness–or genius–will she inherit?

"East West Players production of PROOF is an excellent opportunity to show the powerhouse of acting talent in the Asian Pacific American community and that minority actors do not need to be relegated to ethnic roles. PROOF is a universal story where race isn‚t a factor. The characters in the play and the issues that they deal with can apply to any family situation." said Tim Dang, East West Players Producing Artistic Director.

Director Heidi Helen Davis has directed plays such as WATCH ON THE RHINE, GLASS MENAGERIE, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, BABY DANCE, TREATS, THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT, TOYS IN THE ATTIC, SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH, HAROLD AND MAUDE, LETTICE AND LOVAGE, MEDEA, and the original DARK CLOUD by Ellen Geer with Ed Asner, Jeff Corey and John Randolph appearing as House UnAmerican Committee members. Other plays include original projects such as TACHINOKI by Robert Schenkkan about the Japanese relocation during which her own Nisei mother was placed in Minadoka in Idaho. Other East West Players productions include SONGS OF HARMONY by Karen Huie, NOT A THROUGH STREET by Wakako Yamauchi and S.A.M. I AM by the late Garrett Omata. Heidi is a resident director at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga, directs student plays at the American Academy of the Performing Arts and teaches directors "Working with Actors" at the Los Angeles Film School.

David Auburn's plays include SKYSCRAPER, performed at the Greenwich House; FIFTH PLANET, New York Stage and Film; MISS YOU, HBO Comedy Arts Festival; and THE NEXT LIFE, Julliard School. His work has been published in Harper's Magazine and The New England Review. He was a member of the Julliard playwriting program.

The design team includes set designer Victoria Petrovich, costume designer Dori Quan, lighting designers Jose Lopez, sound designer Robert Bresnik, property master Ken Takemoto and stage manager Robert Fromer.

All performances are in the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts, located in Little Tokyo at 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Opening night is February 2, 2005 (includes gala reception with the director, cast and crew) and closing on February 27, 2005. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm (no Saturday matinee on February 5). Previews are January 27-29 at 8 pm and January 30 at 2 pm. An American Sign Language-interpreted performance is scheduled for February 12 at 2 pm.

General ticket prices are $38 in the orchestra and $33 in the balcony. Preview tickets are $20 for all seats. Tickets can be purchased by visiting http://www.eastwestplayers.org/ or calling (213) 625-7000. Senior, student and group discounts are available.

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