John Kander's THE LANDING, Richard Nixon Drama & More Set for The Vineyard in 2012-2013

The award-winning Vineyard Theatre will celebrate its 30th anniversary season after its enormously successful 2011-12 season – which included the acclaimed debuts of THE LYONS, OUTSIDE PEOPLE, NOW. HERE. THIS. and the developmental lab of THE LANDING – with new works by Douglas McGrath, Rajiv Joseph and Jenny Schwartz, to be produced during 2012-13, it was announced by Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director, and Sarah Stern, Co-Artistic Director.

The season will lead off with the world premiere of CHECKERS by Douglas McGrath, directed by Terry Kinney, with performances scheduled to begin October 3. CHECKERS is set in 1952 as a young Richard Nixon is campaigning to be his party's candidate for Vice-President-with his wife Pat proudly at his side – when an accusation of financial impropriety almost ends his promising career. In a momentous speech, Nixon takes charge of his fate and changes the character of American politics forever. CHECKERS is a revelatory look at Nixon's drive, history and most surprisingly, his marriage to Pat, told with wit, insight and unexpected tenderness.

Playwright Douglas McGrath is an Academy award nominee for his collaboration with Woody Allen on the screenplay for BULLETS OVER BROADWAY. His first film as writer and director was the Oscar winning EMMA, from Jane Austen's novel. His other films include Dickens's NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, which won the Best Ensemble Cast from the National Board of Review, INFAMOUS and HIS WAY. He began his career as a writer for SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and has written numerous essays on the arts and politics for the New Republic, The New Yorker, The Nation, The New York Times and Vanity Fair.

Terry Kinney directed the Vineyard's productions of Gina Gionfriddo's AFTER ASHLEY and Nicky Silver's BEAUTIFUL CHILD and THE AGONY AND THE AGONY. Elsewhere Off-Broadway he directed 'reasons to be pretty' (also on Broadway) and EYES FOR CONSUELA at Manhattan Theatre Club. Mr. Kinney is a co-founder of Steppenwolf Theatre where his many directing credits include OF MICE AND MEN, FOOL FOR LOVE, STREAMERS, RECKLESS, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, THE VIOLET HOUR, and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE.

THE NORTH POOL by Rajiv Joseph, directed by Giovanna Sardelli, will make its New York premiere at the Vineyard in February 2013. THE NORTH POOL was first developed at the Vineyard as part of Mr. Joseph's residency as the 2009 recipient of the Vineyard's Paula Vogel Playwriting Award. In this riveting psychological thriller, a high school Vice Principal and a Middle Eastern-born transfer student engage in a politically and emotionally charged game of cat and mouse, with dangerous consequences. Mr. Joseph is a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his play BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO. THE NORTH POOL received its world premiere at Palo Alto's Theatreworks and will also be seen this summer at Barrington Stage.

Rajiv Joseph's play, BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO, a 2010 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, played on Broadway last year, starring Robin Williams. His other plays include GRUESOME PLAYGOUND INJURIES, ANIMALS OUT OF PAPER, THE MONSTER AT THE DOOR, THE LEOPARD AND THE FOX (adaptation), ALL THIS INTIMACY and HUCK & HOLDEN. Rajiv has been awarded a United States Artists Grant and the Whiting Award. He has written for the Showtime award-winning series, "Nurse Jackie". He received his B.A. in Creative Writing from Miami University and his M.F.A. in Playwriting from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He served for three years in the Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa.

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