( ENSPIRE Entertainment ) “Proof” Broadway Opening Night April 16, 2026
KDon Cheadle (two-time Golden Globe Award winner) and Jin Ha (Grammy Award nominee) join the cast of Proof, alongside Kara Young and Ayo Edebiri, in this highly anticipated Broadway revival. Proof, written by David Auburn and directed by Tony Award winner Thomas Kail, is both a Tony Award–winning play and the 2001 Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama. Produced by Mike Bosner, this marks its first Broadway revival in a strictly limited 16-week engagement. Previews begin Tuesday, March 31, with opening night set for April 16 at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street, New York).
Originally premiering at the Manhattan Theatre Club in 2000, Proof quickly became a sold-out success before transferring to Broadway. The production earned six Tony Award nominations and won three, including Best Play. Since then, it has been staged internationally in cities such as London, Manila, Stockholm, Sydney, and Tokyo. Auburn later adapted the play into a feature film released by Miramax in 2005.
The story follows Catherine (Edebiri), the brilliant yet emotionally burdened daughter of a renowned mathematics professor, Robert (Cheadle). After his death, Catherine is left to navigate grief, uncertainty, and the discovery of a notebook containing groundbreaking mathematical proof. As questions arise about its true authorship, she must confront both her father’s legacy and her own sense of identity. Her sister Claire (Young), practical and business-minded, returns home to manage family affairs, adding further tension to an already complex dynamic.
Samira Wiley, an Emmy and SAG Award winner, was originally set to play Claire but withdrew due to a medical condition requiring her full attention. With the production extending its full support and well-wishes, Kara Young was selected to step into the role.
Kara Young continues to prove herself as one of the most dynamic and intentional performers of her generation. From Broadway to the screen, audiences have consistently witnessed her ability to fully embody each character she takes on—yet still recognize the distinct presence that makes her performances unmistakably her own.
There is an undeniable quality to Young’s work—an aura shaped by discipline, emotional depth, and a clear commitment to her craft. It is that combination of talent, work ethic, and authenticity that continues to position her for roles that demand both precision and range. While she transforms into each character with striking accuracy, she never disappears completely. Instead, she brings a level of humanity and nuance that allows every role to feel lived-in, intentional, and deeply resonant.
Her growing list of accolades reflects that impact. Young made Broadway history as the first Black performer to win two consecutive Tony Awards for Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s Purpose (2025) and Ossie Davis’s Purlie Victorious (2024). She also holds the distinction of earning four consecutive Tony nominations for Best Featured Actress in a Play—an extraordinary achievement that underscores both consistency and excellence.
Beyond Broadway, Young’s work continues to expand across mediums. She is currently appearing Off-Broadway in Rajiv Joseph’s Gruesome Playground Injuries and is set to star in the film adaptation of Alesha Harris’s Is God Is, as well as appear in Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters. Her additional honors include two Drama Desk Awards, an Outer Critics Circle Award, an OBIE, a Lucille Lortel Award, and an AUDELCO Award.
A powerhouse creative team supports the production, including Academy Award and Emmy Award winner Kris Bowers (original music), Teresa L. Williams (scenic design), and Tony Award winner Dede Ayite (costume design). Amanda Zieve (lighting design), OBIE Award winner Justin Ellington and Connor Wang (sound design), Academy Award and Emmy Award winner Mia Neal (hair and wig design), Daniel Swee, CSA (casting director), and Sara Gammage (production stage manager).
For more information on Kara Young, visit her Instagram. For tickets and showtimes, visit Proof on Broadway, now playing through April 2026.
Related Articles: FAT HAM, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Broadway Play, Purlie Victorious Returns to Broadway this Fall at the Music Box Theatre
