IU presents award-winning play

Very seldom do women receive attention for outstanding achievements in mathematics. But when David Auburn wrote his award-winning play "Proof," he helped break this stereotype.\nAt the beginning of the play, a disturbed Catherine decides to put school on hold to care for her mentally-ill father -- a famous mathematician. After his death, she discovers his old notebooks and finds a proof, exposing the truth about Catherine. The proof is believed to solve many other mysteries that have puzzled mathematicians over the centuries.\n"This play is very real. It is realism at its finest," said graduate student Allison Batty. "It also has a strong female lead. There are not many successful women in this field and because it is a male-dominated field, it is hard for women to be taken seriously." \nAside from gender biases, "Proof" also incorporates many other aspects into its storyline to which students can easily relate.\n"The characters and their problems are easy to identify with and care about," said director Martha Jacobs. "'Proof'" is a comedy that deals with issues we all know well -- family issues, love ... and fear."\nThe winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for Best Play, John Kinzer, director of audience development, said the play will attract many from the community.\n"It's been a very hot play everywhere. It's attracted large crowds all over," Kinzer said. "It is a much more intimate play than any other play this year."\n"Proof" opens tonight at 8 p.m. Additional performances are also at 8 p.m. Feb. 7 and Feb. 9-14 with 2 p.m. matinees Feb. 7 and 14. \nTicket prices for the performances are $15 for adults and $13 for students. Student rush tickets are available 30 minutes before every performance for $10. The house opens 30 minutes before curtain. \nFor ticket information, call the IU Auditorium or visit www.ticketmaster.com.\n-- Contact staff writer Laura Bare at lbare@indiana.edu.