Patrick Tovatt begins playing the math-genius father of Mary Louise Parker's troubled character in the Tony Award-winning Proof June 12 at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

Larry Bryggman, who originated the role at Manhattan Theatre Club in spring 2000 and moved with the company to Broadway, played his last performance June 10. The entire company was nominated for acting Tonys. Parker won the Tony for Best Actress in a Play.

Bryggman's "day job" is playing Dr. John Dixon in TV's "As the World Turns." Tovatt was an "ATWT" regular who played Cal Stricklyn for nine years on the CBS soaper. Tovatt was recently the understudy for Philip Bosco in Broadway's Copenhagen. Among his past theatre roles are Prospero in The Tempest, Claudius in Hamlet and Drummond in Inherit the Wind.

Tovatt plays the mentally-ill math professor whose daughter, Catherine, may be afflicted with both his genius and illness. Johanna Day plays the older sibling, Claire, and Ben Shenkman plays Hal, a student of the professor.

Parker continues with the Broadway production through Labor Day. She also won the Drama Desk Award for Best Actress in a Play.

David Auburn won a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the play. Director Daniel Sullivan won the Tony for Best Director.

Proof continues at the Walter Kerr Theatre. A national tour begins at the Seattle Repertory Theatre in September. Casting for the tour has not been announced.