Tessa Thompson is officially heading to Broadway for the first time. The actor will make her Broadway debut this spring in The Fear of 13, a limited-engagement play based on the true story of a wrongfully convicted death row inmate.
Thompson stars opposite Adrien Brody, who will also make his Broadway debut in the production, reprising the role he originated in London last year. The play is written by Lindsey Ferrentino and adapted from the 2015 documentary directed by David Sington.
The Fear of 13 centers on the extraordinary real-life story of Nick Yarris, a Pennsylvania man who spent more than two decades on death row for a murder he maintained he did not commit. Through a series of prison visits with a volunteer named Jackie—played by Thompson—Yarris recounts the impulsive decisions and emotional consequences that shaped his life, as their conversations begin to blur the line between witness and participant.
Brody portrays Yarris, becoming the first person sentenced to death in Pennsylvania to be exonerated through DNA evidence. His performance in the play’s 2024 London debut at the Donmar Warehouse earned him an Olivier Award nomination, with the production itself also receiving recognition.
The Broadway staging will be directed by David Cromer and will run for a 16-week limited engagement at the James Earl Jones Theatre. Previews begin March 19, with opening night set for April 15.
The production will partner with the Innocence Project, further grounding the play in its real-world impact. Notably, one of Yarris’ former attorneys, Christina Swarns, now serves as the organization’s executive director.
Produced by Seaview, Wessex Grove, and Gavin Kalin Productions, The Fear of 13 brings an internationally recognized production to Broadway while marking a major career milestone for both Thompson and Brody.