Barack and Michelle Obama to produce Broadway revival of Pulitzer-winning play starring Ayo Edebiri and Don Cheadle

Barack and Michelle Obama will co-produce the Broadway revival of ‘Proof’ starring Don Cheadle and Ayo Edebiri

Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are making their Broadway producing debut with the revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Proof by David Auburn. The play follows Catherine, the daughter of a brilliant math professor, as she uncovers a notebook with groundbreaking discoveries following her father’s death.

The revival will feature Don Cheadle and Ayo Edebiri in their Broadway debuts, alongside Jin Ha from Pachinko and Samira Wiley from Orange Is the New Black. Tony-winner Thomas Kail will direct and produce, joined by Mike Bosner and the Obamas. The production will run for 16 weeks, beginning previews on March 31 at the Booth Theatre in New York City, with opening night on April 16.

In a joint statement, the Obamas said, “To bring this landmark play back to Broadway with Ayo, Don, Tommy, and Mike at the helm is an extraordinary privilege, and we couldn’t be more proud to be part of this production. Proof is exactly the kind of story Higher Ground was built to champion, a play that asks profound questions about brilliance, doubt, and what we inherit from the people we love most.”

Bosner and Kail added that Higher Ground’s creative vision and passion make them ideal collaborators for the revival, noting the company’s track record in film, TV, and podcasts, including projects such as the Oscar-winning American Factory, Michelle Obama’s Becoming documentary, and the Oscar-nominated Rustin. Higher Ground has earned three Academy Award nominations, six Emmy wins, and two Grammy wins since partnering with Netflix in 2018.

The play, known for its film adaptation starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins, explores themes of genius, mental health, and love, centering on Catherine as she navigates her relationships with her sister Claire, her father’s former student Hal, and the truths about her father’s life. The production signals Higher Ground’s first step into theatre while maintaining their mission of championing stories that spark dialogue and celebrate human experiences.