Altoona Community Theatre’s 2005-2006 production season at the Historic Mishler Theatre will continued February 9 to 12 with the award-winning contemporary drama “Proof.”

John S. Anastasi directed the show, which won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize and Broadway’s Tony Award for Best Play. Chairman of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery of Altoona, Anastasi is making his directing debut with ACT but has performed with the group in “Beau Jest” and in other area productions of “Deathtrap,” “They’re Playing Our Song” and “The Zoo Story.” In addition, he is a playwright and producer, mounting professional stagings of his plays “In My Father’s Eyes” and “Stolen Lives” locally and in New York City through his production company M.L.C. Productions. His producing efforts also include other Off-Broadway works as well as the Broadway hit “Hairspray” and the current revival of “Sweeney Todd.” Anastasi’s most recent script, “Pied-a-terre,” has been optioned for publication and distribution by Samuel French Inc.

Written by David Auburn, “Proof” is about a troubled young woman, Catherine, who is struggling with the death of her father, having taken care of the once-brilliant college professor through years of declining mental stability. Torn between her overbearing older sister’s intent to rule her future and the romantic interest of a former student documenting the work her father left behind, Catherine finds herself pondering a premise more complex than any of the mathematical expressions that consumed his life -- has she inherited his genius or madness?

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Courtney Sherkel as Catherine and Justin Delasko as Hal	Courtney Sherkel and Catherine Anastasi as Claire
Brian Anderson as Robert and Justin Delasko	Courtney Sherkel and Justin Delasko
Sherkel and Anderson	Anastasi and Sherkel
Sherkel and Delasko	Delasko and Sherkel
Anderson and Sherkel	Delasko and Sherkel