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'Proof' starts Wednesday

The ENMU play will feature a split cast; runs through Sunday afternoon.

PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico University's Department of Theatre and Digital Filmmaking will perform its new production "Proof" this week.

Winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, "Proof" tells the story of a famous mathematician and how his family becomes tested by his mental illness.

The production features two different casts which will alternate each night. Director Janeice Scarbrough said the motivation for the split cast was twofold.

"I did that to give more actors an opportunity to act and also I think it's a super interesting experience for our students to see how work can be interpreted by different people," Scarbrough said. "They're saying the same words in the same scenes and it sounds different."

Both casts feature Jon Barr, assistant professor of digital filmmaking, as Robert, the father.

One cast also includes ENMU students Raquel Valenzuela, Sydney Henderson and Joe Miller while the other cast includes students Mckayla Tempia, Kay Ewing and Brendan Moore.

Moore, who plays the role Hal, one of Robert's students, thinks the play will show the audience a side of the world of math that they haven't seen before.

"I love this play because it's something I feel we don't glamorize a lot, math," Moore said. "We don't have this image of math being interesting or engaging but it really is, it's like finding the answers to these beautiful questions of the universe and I think that's something that really comes out in "Proof.""

Henderson believes the audience will be able to connect with the characters and their family dynamic, even if they don't have an appreciation for math.

"It hits very close to home and I think it will for a lot of people in the audience," Henderson said. "Even though maybe the specific situation isn't for everyone, it's very focused on this family's relationships with one another."

Henderson has been trying to get into the mindset of her character Claire each night before rehearsal by listening to a playlist of songs she believes her character would listen to, including songs like Section 12 by The Polyphonic Spree, Two Fingers by Jake Bugg and Barbies by P!nk.

Moore has worked with a dialect coach to make his voice sound like he is from Chicago, where the play takes place.

"I think it really helped me become not myself by doing a different voice," Moore said.

The play opens Wednesday night at 7 p.m. and will run until Sunday with shows Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.

The show will take place in the intimate Studio Theatre located in the University Theatre Center.