Vineyard Theatre's CHECKERS Begins Performances Tomorrow

Vineyard Theatre (Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director and Sarah Stern, Co-Artistic Director) will open its 30th Anniversary season with the world premiere production of CHECKERS, a new play by Academy Award nominee Douglas McGrath (Emma, Infamous, Bullets Over Broadway), directed by Terry Kinney (Reasons To Be Pretty, After Ashley). CHECKERS begins performances on Friday, October 12, 2012 at The Vineyard (108 E. 15 St., between Irving Place and Union Square East). Opening Night is Wednesday, October 31st. Tickets can be purchased by calling The Vineyard box office at 212-353-0303 or online at www.vineyardtheatre.org.

It’s 1952. A young Richard Nixon is campaigning as his party’s candidate for Vice-President - his wife, Pat, proudly at his side - when an accusation of financial impropriety almost ends his promising career. In a momentous speech, he 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 – all of which are explored with insight, blistering wit and unexpected tenderness.

The "Checkers speech" was delivered before a national television audience on September 23, 1952. Recently, noting the speech’s 30th anniversary, Chuck Todd on his "The Daily Rundown" program on MSNBC-TV remarked that the speech "helped re-shape modern politics and usher in the era of TV as the vehicle for political messaging - by one man who would one day change the face of Presidential politics for good." Mr. Todd went on to note how the effects of Nixon's speech are reflected in the 2012 Presidential race.

The Cast of CHECKERS includes Kelly Coffield Park, Kathryn Erbe (as Pat Nixon), Joel Marsh Garland, Anthony LaPaglia (as Richard Nixon), Kevin O'Rourke, John Ottavino, Mark Shanahan, Lewis J. Stadlen and Robert Stanton.

The creative team for CHECKERS includes Neil Patel (scenic design), Sarah Holden (costume design), David Weiner (lighting design), Milburn/Bodeen (music and sound design), and Darrel Maloney (projection design).

Scheduled currently through November 18, CHECKERS will perform Tuesdays at 7 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $75 (Premium tickets are $100) and can be purchased by calling The Vineyard box office at 212-353-0303 or online at www.vineyardtheatre.org.

Also this season, Vineyard Theatre will produce the New York premiere of Rajiv Joseph's (Bengel Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo) THE NORTH POOL, directed by Giovanna Sardelli (Animals Out of Paper) in February 2013; and the world-premiere of SOMEWHERE FUN by Jenny Schwartz (God’s Ear), directed by OBIE Award-winner Anne Kauffman (Detroit) in May 2013.

One of the nation's leading non-profit theatre companies dedicated to new plays and musicals and bold new programming, The Vineyard has consistently premiered provocative, groundbreaking works and is thrilled to be celebrating its 30th Anniversary Season. Vineyard Theatre’s leadership includes Douglas Aibel (Artistic Director), Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell (Executive Producer), Sarah Stern (Co-Artistic Director), and Michael Page (General Manager).