Proof

David Auburn’s Tony and Pulitzer-winning play is riveting in Big Idea’s thoughtful production, under the direction of Shannon Mahoney. Catherine (Jessa Berkey) has been caring for her mentally ill, brilliant mathematician father (Patrick Murphy); now he’s died, and his protégé Hal (Justin Muñoz) is looking for additional work, while his other daughter (Kassandra Douglas) is trying to take care of her sister. When a proof of a theorem about prime numbers is found, the action turns to proving who wrote it, and examining math and madness, genes and genius. Th, F, Sa 8pm; Su 2:30pm. Through 3/19. $10-$15. Big Idea Theatre, 1616 Del Paso Blvd.; (916) 960-3036; www.bigideatheatre.com.