Illinois Valley Community College’s fall theater season features an award-winning play, some wacky wordplay and a new theater department director, the college said in a news release.

The IVCC Theatre Department will stage an original work written by instructor Dale J. Young titled “Bottom’s on First 2.0” from Oct. 17 to 19 and the Pulitzer- and Tony Award-winning play “Proof” by David Auburn from Nov. 20 to 23.

With “Bottom’s on First 2.0,” Young promises a Reader’s Theater-style romp, according to the release.

The ensemble includes Tyler Bienemann, Hope Laza, Isaac Fletcher, Tobias Burkey, Matt Masters, Sarah Masters and Phillip Goodale.

“Proof” introduces a quartet of compelling characters. Catherine (portrayed by Phoebe Kammer) has spent years caring for her father, Robert (Joe Ennenbach), a famous mathematician. Now, after his death, she must deal with her own volatile emotions, the arrival of her estranged sister, Claire (Ellie Radtke), and the attention of Hal (Alex Stafford), a former student of her father’s. A burgeoning romance and the discovery of a mysterious notebook draw Catherine into the most difficult problem of all: How much of her father’s genius – or madness – will she inherit?

“‘Proof’ is a superbly written play with well-defined characters,” Young said.

Kammer, Radtke and Stafford are IVCC students, and Ennenbach is a community member who has been active in community theater.

Tickets for “Bottom’s on First 2.0” only will be sold at the door starting one hour before performance times. Tickets are $5, or nonperishable food donations for IVCC’s Eagles Peak Food Pantry also will be accepted instead of the ticket price.

The performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct. 18, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19.

Online tickets for “Proof” go on sale Oct. 10. Tickets for adults are $20, and students in high school and younger are $15.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, through Saturday, Nov. 22, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, Nov. 23. Tickets can be purchased through a link on the IVCC theater website: ivcc.edu/theatre.

Admission for both productions is free for IVCC students.