The Marian Knights Drama Club launched its first play of the semester with Proof on Sept. 5–6 at the Marian Theatre in Marian Hall.
Student directors Peter Waning and his team selected Proof after student actresses Hailey and Bethany performed Act II, Scene 5 in class and were drawn to the script. Their passion for the piece inspired the club to bring the play to a wider audience.
“They instantly fell in love with the script,” Waning said. “From there, t
hey worked hard to get it off the ground and make sure we had the chance to bring it to life.”
The Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, set on a Chicago back porch, explores family, love, intellect, and the struggles that come with them. Waning said the directors wanted the Marian audience to reflect on the complexities of family relationships.
“The message we hoped to share with the audience was one about family—their complexities, struggles, and love,” Waning said. “At the end of the day, family is family, and love still remains no matter what happens.”
Leading actress Hailey carried much of the show’s emotional weight, Waning said
, with performances ranging from sarcasm and frustration to vulnerability and intellect.
“She did a great job of making the intention of each scene clear,” Waning said. “The rest of the cast picked up on her energy and adapted beautifully.”
One standout experience for Waning was working with Carl, a Marian chemistry professor who had not been on stage since high school.
“Helping him step back onto the stage was such a gift,” Waning said. “He grew tremendously from our first read-through to closing night, and he also challenged me as a director.”
The production faced hurdles, including rehearsing over the summer and transitioning from outdoor practices in the campus amphitheater to a fully staged indoor performance.
Performing outside required projection and adaptability to natural distractions, while moving indoors meant mastering lighting, microphones, and pacing on stage.
“That shift can be disorienting, but the cast really rose to the occasion,” Waning said. “By performance time, they not only adapted but thrived.”
For Waning, directing Proof was a transformative experience.
“The biggest skill I had to grow was believing in myself as a director—trusting that my unique vision mattered and could inspire others,” Waning said.
The role pushed him to see theatre beyond individual performance and to appreciate the work of stage managers, designers, and crew members who shape a production.
“It taught me that theatre is not just about one performance or one role,” Waning said. “It is about creating a cohesive vision that lifts the entire cast and crew.”
While Waning plans to continue performing, directing opened his eyes to new possibilities in theatre.
“I would absolutely love to direct again, and who knows what the Lord has in store for the future,” Waning said. “Being on stage gives me the joy of living inside a character, while directing gives me the broader perspective of shaping an entire production. Each role strengthens the other.”
Looking beyond Marian, Waning is considering pursuing theatre opportunities in New York.
“This experience showed me that directing is not just about calling the shots—it is about guiding a group of people toward a shared vision and helping them bring out the best in themselves,” Waning said.
