{"id":3890,"date":"2026-04-08T14:46:30","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T07:46:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/storyintheworld.com\/?p=3890"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:46:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T07:46:30","slug":"barack-and-michelle-obama-share-statement-announcing-surprising-joint-career-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/storyintheworld.com\/?p=3890","title":{"rendered":"Barack and Michelle Obama share statement announcing surprising joint career move"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Former U.S. president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama say they\u2019re excited about a new creative project they\u2019ll be taking on together.<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>Although some supporters have encouraged one of them to return to politics, the couple is choosing a different path. Instead, they are expanding their storytelling work through their production company Higher Ground Productions by helping produce their first Broadway show.<\/p>\n<p>The project they\u2019re backing is a revival of the Pulitzer Prize\u2013winning play Proof, written by David Auburn. The story centers on the daughter of a brilliant but troubled mathematician who discovers a notebook after his d3ath that may contain groundbreaking work\u2014raising questions about genius, inheritance, and trust.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-328\" src=\"https:\/\/shadowtnue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-24-853x1024.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shadowtnue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-24-853x1024.png 853w, https:\/\/shadowtnue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-24-250x300.png 250w, https:\/\/shadowtnue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-24-768x922.png 768w, https:\/\/shadowtnue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-24.png 1000w\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"1024\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>The new Broadway production will star Don Cheadle as the mathematician and Ayo Edebiri as his daughter, marking both actors\u2019 Broadway debuts.<\/p>\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In a statement released Wednesday (March 11), the Obamas said they felt honored to help bring the celebrated play back to the stage.<\/strong><\/h1>\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bunny-wp-pullzone-qbwibhia54.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/5VIEFJGXIBGW7HKH47ZCGTU4HE.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bunny-wp-pullzone-qbwibhia54.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/5VIEFJGXIBGW7HKH47ZCGTU4HE.jpg 900w, https:\/\/bunny-wp-pullzone-qbwibhia54.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/5VIEFJGXIBGW7HKH47ZCGTU4HE-768x505.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bunny-wp-pullzone-qbwibhia54.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/5VIEFJGXIBGW7HKH47ZCGTU4HE-639x420.jpg 639w, https:\/\/bunny-wp-pullzone-qbwibhia54.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/5VIEFJGXIBGW7HKH47ZCGTU4HE-640x421.jpg 640w, https:\/\/bunny-wp-pullzone-qbwibhia54.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/5VIEFJGXIBGW7HKH47ZCGTU4HE-681x448.jpg 681w, https:\/\/bunny-wp-pullzone-qbwibhia54.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/5VIEFJGXIBGW7HKH47ZCGTU4HE-741x486.jpg 741w\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"592\" \/><\/h1>\n<p>\u201cTo bring this landmark play back to Broadway with Ayo, Don, Tommy, and Mike at the helm is an extraordinary privilege, and we couldn\u2019t be more proud to be part of this production,\u201d they said.<br \/>\n\u201cProof is exactly the kind of story Higher Ground was created to champion \u2014 one that explores brilliance, doubt, and what we inherit from the people we love.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-1\">\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1970393\" data-uid=\"097a3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The revival will run for 16 weeks starting in April and will be directed by Tony Award winner Thomas Kail, who will also produce the show alongside Mike Bosner and the Obamas.<\/p>\n<p>This marks a new step for Higher Ground, which has mainly focused on film, television, and podcasts. The company has already received three Academy Award nominations, winning one for American Factory, along with six Emmy Awards and two Grammys.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Obama Cries While Talking About Michelle Obama\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/10xEw59q6_g?feature=oembed\" width=\"735\" height=\"413\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Bosner and Kail welcomed the partnership, saying Higher Ground\u2019s passion for meaningful storytelling makes them ideal collaborators for the revival.<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>The play originally premiered Off-Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club in 2000 before transferring to Broadway, where it won several major awards. It was later adapted into a 2005 film starring Anthony Hopkins and Gwyneth Paltrow.<\/p>\n<p>With the Obamas now involved in the Broadway revival, many theater fans are eager to see whether this new run of Proof will achieve the same success as the original.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-1\">\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1970393\" data-uid=\"04430\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The addition of Higher Ground Productions has brought a renewed sense of excitement to the revival. Producers\u00a0<strong>Bosner and Kail<\/strong>\u00a0explained that the Obamas\u2019 company is known for supporting projects that combine strong storytelling with meaningful themes, making\u00a0<em>Proof<\/em>\u00a0a natural fit for their involvement.<\/p>\n<p>They noted that the play\u2019s emotional depth and intellectual themes still resonate strongly with modern audiences. \u201c<em>Proof<\/em>\u00a0is a story about family, genius, mental health, and the struggle to trust yourself,\u201d the producers shared. \u201cThose ideas are timeless, and with the support of Higher Ground, we have the chance to present them to a new generation of theatergoers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Originally written by\u00a0<strong>David Auburn<\/strong>,\u00a0<em>Proof<\/em>\u00a0quickly became one of the most celebrated plays of its time. After its\u00a0<strong>2000 Off-Broadway premiere<\/strong>\u00a0at the\u00a0<strong>Manhattan Theatre Club<\/strong>, the production transferred to Broadway and went on to win the\u00a0<strong>Tony Award for Best Play<\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0<strong>Pulitzer Prize for Drama<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The story centers on Catherine, the daughter of a brilliant but mentally unstable mathematician, as she tries to prove that a groundbreaking mathematical discovery is truly her own work. The role was famously played on stage by\u00a0<strong>Mary-Louise Parker<\/strong>, whose performance earned widespread acclaim.<\/p>\n<p>In\u00a0<strong>2005<\/strong>, the play reached an even wider audience when it was adapted into the film\u00a0<strong>Proof<\/strong>, starring\u00a0<strong>Anthony Hopkins<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>Gwyneth Paltrow<\/strong>. While the movie introduced the story to film audiences, many theater fans believe the play\u2019s true power is experienced live on stage.<\/p>\n<p>Now, with\u00a0<strong>Higher Ground Productions<\/strong>\u2014founded by\u00a0<strong>Barack Obama<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>Michelle Obama<\/strong>\u2014joining the production team, expectations are especially high. Their company has already built a reputation for producing thoughtful and award-winning projects in film, television, and documentary storytelling.<\/p>\n<p>Industry insiders say the revival could bring a fresh perspective to the beloved play, possibly with updated staging, a new cast, and modern interpretations of its themes. If the production captures the same emotional intensity that made the original so successful, it could once again become one of Broadway\u2019s most talked-about shows.<\/p>\n<p>For theater lovers, the big question remains: can this revival live up to the legacy of the original? With a powerful script, experienced producers, and the backing of Higher Ground, many believe\u00a0<em>Proof<\/em>\u00a0has a strong chance of finding success all over again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former U.S. president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama say they\u2019re excited about a new creative project they\u2019ll be taking on together. Although some supporters have encouraged one &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-breaking-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/storyintheworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3890","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/storyintheworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/storyintheworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storyintheworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storyintheworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3890"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/storyintheworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3890\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3891,"href":"https:\/\/storyintheworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3890\/revisions\/3891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/storyintheworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storyintheworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storyintheworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}