The podcast continues its spring season theater coverage this week! The hotly anticipated play from writer Lindsey Ferrentino, The Fear of 13, opened last week on Broadway at the James Earl Jones Theatre. Adapted from a documentary of the same name, the play is a semi-fictionalized depiction of the real-life events of Nick Yarris, a man who was wrongfully accused and convicted of rape and murder, and spent 22 years imprisoned, before finally being exonerated by DNA evidence. Two seasoned actors, Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson, bring this story to life, with Brody in the role of Yarris and Thompson playing a prison volunteer with whom he falls in love.

For both actors, this was their Broadway debut, and they sat down with Senior Editor of Features and News, Marley Marius, to talk about it. They talk about the theater rituals and also the nerves that go into performing this work. “I've had a lot of trepidation if I’m going to be honest,” Brody said of telling Yarris’ story, “just because of the enormity of the task.” They spoke about how this story is not only the story of Yarris, but an unfortunately relatable tale for so many folks in America who have family and loved ones in the carceral system.

The pair reflected on the immense obligation of telling a real and alive person’s story. Yarris, now a free man, has been highly instrumental in the rehearsal process, attending table reads and performances alike. He also joined the pair on the red carpet for opening night. When it comes to this kind of work “whether they’re in the room or not, they are in the room,” Thompson explained, “So then when they're literally in the room, it's a completely different thing.”

Crucial to Yarris’ experience in prison was his love of reading, a love so strong he referred to it as an addiction to books. Thompson, in an homage to her character Jacki who is a PhD candidate in poetry, has created a little library of books in her dressing room. There, she keeps several volumes of Charles Simic poetry and has also been known to read Mary Oliver and Nabokov’s Lolita (a problematic fav of hers).

When they aren’t in rehearsal or performances, Brody and Thompson have pretty distinct approaches to how they spend their time. Brody, a homebody and true multi-hyphenate, busies himself making music—or “beats” as Thompson fondly refers to them—and cooking sweet potato stews. Thompson, on the other hand, is looking forward to having a bit more free time now to see other shows on this season and find the little speakeasies tucked in and around the theater district.

The Run-Through with Vogue is your go-to podcast where fashion meets culture. Hosted by Chloe Malle, Head of Editorial Content, Vogue U.S.; Chioma Nnadi, Head of British Vogue; and Nicole Phelps, Director of Vogue Runway, each episode features the latest fashion news and exclusive designer and celebrity interviews.

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Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson Make Their Broadway Debuts in The Fear of 13

The Run-Through with Vogue