Anthony LaPaglia to Play Richard Nixon in Vineyard Theatre's Checkers

Tony Award winner Anthony LaPaglia and Tony nominee Kathryn Erbe will play Richard and Pat Nixon, respectively, in the Vineyard Theatre’s production of Douglas McGrath's Checkers. Directed by Terry Kinney, Checkers is set to begin preview performances on October 12, with an opening night scheduled for October 28.

Set in 1952 in the prime of the Eisenhower/Stevenson presidential election, Checkers follows vice presidential candidate Richard Nixon as his promising political campaign almost comes to a halt after an accusation of financial impropriety. The play lifts the veil on Nixon’s life, his marriage to Pat and his momentous speech that changed American politics. Joining LaPaglia and Erbe in the cast are Kelly Coffield Park, Joel Marsh Garland, Kevin O’Rourke, John Ottovino, Mark Shanahan, Lewis J. Stadlen and Robert Stanton.

LaPaglia won a Tony Award for the 1998 revival of A View From the Bridge. He last appeared on Broadway as Tito Merelli in the Stanley Tucci-directed revival of Lend Me A Tenor in 2010. He is well-known to audiences for his Emmy and Golden Globe-winning work on Frasier and Without A Trace.

Erbe was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for The Speed of Darkness. She has also appeared on Broadway in A Month in the Country and The Grapes of Wrath. She is also known for her roles on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Oz and Homicide: Life on the Street. 

The production will feature scenic design by Neil Patel, costume design by Sarah Holden, lighting design by David Weiner, music and sound design by Millburn/Bodeen and projection design by Darrel Maloney.