The play, written by David Auburn, centers on the daughter of a mathematician who discovers a notebook containing significant findings after his death. Actors Don Cheadle and Ayo Edebiri are set to make their Broadway debuts in the production, Variety reported.

The revival is scheduled to open in April and run for 16 weeks. Tony Award winner Thomas Kail will direct and produce alongside Mike Bosner and the Obamas.

“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,” the Obamas said in a statement obtained by The Independent.

“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,” they said.

Rumors about the Obamas’ marriage have circulated online over the past year. Neither Barack Obama nor Michelle Obama has confirmed any separation.

The speculation intensified in early 2025 after Michelle Obama did not attend the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter or the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Barack Obama attended both events.

Political commentator Meghan McCain addressed the rumors during an appearance on journalist Tara Palmeri’s podcast in 2025. “I have been hearing this rumor that the Obamas are getting a divorce by reputable people,” McCain said.

“I’m not talking about TMZ, I’m not talking about Perez Hilton, although I love him, he’s my friend,” she said. “I’m talking about like very serious journalists telling me that they’re hearing that the Obama divorce rumors are true.”

“We’ve heard that for a long time,” Palmeri said. “Like I just heard that they live separate lives.”

Michelle Obama launched her podcast, “IMO,” in 2025. Barack Obama appeared on the podcast in July, where both addressed the rumors.

“There hasn’t been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting my man,” Michelle Obama said. “And we’ve had some really hard times. So we had a lot of fun times, a lot of adventures, and I have become a better person because of the man I’m married to.”

“These are the kinds of things that I just miss, right?” Barack Obama said. “So I don’t even know this stuff’s going on. And then somebody will mention it to me and I’m all like, ‘what are you talking about?’”

The Broadway production marks the Obamas’ latest venture through Higher Ground, which has produced film, television, and podcast content since its launch. The play’s opening is scheduled for April.

Former first lady Michelle Obama has frequently been called a racist by her detractors and others, and she appears to have earned that label again. In a video that has since gone viral online, Obama claimed unabashedly that she tries to avoid buying clothing brands from white-owned companies.

“If I hear of someone whose fashion I like, and I hear they’re a person of color, I try to make it a point” to patronize them, she said during the discussion, which featured only black women. “You know, I think we can all do some work to think about that balance in our wardrobes. What does our closet look like, and who’s in it?

“Who are we supporting in it?” she added, as the other ladies nodded in approval and smiled. “I think if you have the money to buy Chanel, then you have the money to buy everybody.”