THE PROOF IS
IN THE FAMILY

Ed Begley Jr. and daughter Hayden Begley
bring David Auburn’s Pulitzer Prize-winning
drama to the stage for a four-performance
benefit supporting Parkinson’s research

Ed Begley Jr and Hayden Begley star in Proof at the El Portal Theatre

Jason Jeske presents a special four-performance engagement of David Auburn’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Proof at the El Portal Theatre, starring Ed Begley Jr. and his daughter, Hayden Begley, in a production that carries unusual personal significance. Directed by Stuart Rogers, the limited run benefits the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, with 100 percent of net proceeds supporting the organization’s efforts to find better treatments and, ultimately, a cure. The project was inspired in part by the tenth anniversary of Ed Begley Jr.’s Parkinson’s diagnosis and the family’s desire to share the stage together while raising money for a cause close to their hearts. The cast also includes Kate Woods and Kelly Sry.

Kate Woods, Kelly Sry and Hayden Begley

Directed by Stuart Rogers, Auburn’s Proof centers on Catherine, a brilliant but troubled young woman who has spent years caring for her late father, a celebrated mathematician whose genius was matched by debilitating mental illness. After his death, Catherine struggles to determine whether she has inherited his extraordinary intellect, his illness, or both. When one of his former students discovers a groundbreaking mathematical proof among his notebooks, Catherine’s fragile grip on certainty begins to unravel as she confronts questions of trust, family, love, and the fine line between brilliance and madness. Winner of both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play, Proof remains one of the most compelling contemporary dramas about family, legacy, and the mysteries of the human mind.

Hayden Begley and Kate Woods

With Parkinson’s disease offering no predictable path, Ed and Hayden Begley chose not to wait for another opportunity to work together. David Auburn’s Proof, centering on a daughter coping with the memories of her father’s decline, proved to be an especially meaningful choice.

Kelly Sry and Hayden Begley

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photos by Jeff Lorch

Proof
El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood
runs July 23–26, 2026
Thu.–Sat. at 8; Sun. at 7
2 hours, including one 10-minute intermission
for tickets ($35–$150), call 818.508.4200 or 866.811.4111, or visit El Portal Theatre
all net proceeds benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

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Ed Begley Jr and Hayden Begley