Adrien Brody & Tessa Thompson Give Inside Look at Rehearsal Room for Their Broadway Play ‘The Fear of 13’
adrien brody and Tessa Thompson will star in a Broadway adaptation of Nick Yarris’s true story, The Fear of 13. The production opens April 15 (ET) at the James Earl Jones Theatre in New York City. Written by Lindsey Ferrentino and partnering with the Innocence Project, the play examines the psychological toll of a wrongful conviction.
What to know now
Nick Yarris spent 22 years on death row following a 1981 conviction for kidnapping, rape and murder; in 2004 DNA evidence established his innocence and led to his release. His story was later made into a 2015 documentary that featured Nick himself. The stage version brings that decades-long fight for freedom to New York with star casting and institutional backing from the Innocence Project.
Adrien Brody Reprises Role, Broadway Debut
Adrien Brody will portray the title role on stage and previously took on that character in a production in London. In the production, adrien brody will portray the title role on stage; he and Tessa Thompson will be making their Broadway debuts in this run. The casting adds notable awards cachet: the materials note Adrien Brody as an Academy Award winner and reference his performances in The Pianist and The Brutalist as having earned Oscars for Best Actor.
Immediate reactions from the cast and creatives
Adrien Brody, Academy Award-winning actor, called Nick Yarris’s story emotionally powerful: “It’s an incredibly moving story. It’s a remarkable journey. ” Tessa Thompson, Golden Globe–nominated actor, described performing on Broadway as “really surreal, tremendous and a long time coming. ” Lindsey Ferrentino is credited as the playwright shaping the material for the stage.
Quick context
The play previously ran in London, where it earned two Olivier Award nominations. This Broadway production partners with the Innocence Project and moves the story from screen and earlier stagings to a New York house with a star-led cast.
What’s next
Expect attention on reviews and audience reactions when the show opens on April 15 (ET); early reactions from rehearsals signal strong emotional focus but further schedule details and run length were not provided. With adrien brody and Tessa Thompson both making their Broadway debuts, the production will be measured by how the stage adaptation conveys Nick Yarris’s long fight for justice and how critics and theatergoers respond in the weeks after opening.
