The Fear of 13
A gripping true story of a man who spent 22 years on death row, brought to life on Broadway at the James Earl Jones Theatre.
About this show
The Fear of 13 Tickets
The Fear of 13 brings the extraordinary true story of Nick Yarris to Broadway at the James Earl Jones Theatre. This gripping drama follows a man who spent 22 years on death row for a murder he claimed he didn't commit, told through intense conversations with a volunteer named Jackie. As their meetings deepen, the boundaries between observer and participant blur, forcing both to confront questions of justice, truth, and the fragile line between freedom and fate.
Written by Lindsey Ferrentino and directed by Tony Award winner David Cromer, this Olivier Award-nominated play combines raw emotion with razor-sharp dialogue. The production stars Michael Milligan as Nick Yarris alongside Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee Tessa Thompson as Jacki. Running for 1 hour and 45 minutes without intermission, this limited engagement offers a powerful exploration of the American justice system through one man's harrowing experience.
Highlights
- Based on the real-life story of Nick Yarris, who spent over two decades on death row
- Features Tony Award-winning direction by David Cromer
- Stars Tessa Thompson, nominated for Golden Globe and Emmy Awards
- Nominated for Best New Play and Best Actor at the Olivier Awards
- Adapted from Yarris's memoir and the acclaimed Netflix documentary
- Limited Broadway run at the historic James Earl Jones Theatre
Plan Your Visit to The Fear of 13
The Fear of 13 runs from 19 March 2026 to 12 July 2026 at the James Earl Jones Theatre in New York's Theatre District. Evening performances typically start at 7 PM or 8 PM, with matinees usually scheduled for Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 PM. The show is suitable for ages 14 and above due to mature themes.
Arrive at least 30 minutes before curtain time to allow for security checks and finding your seats. The theatre offers wheelchair-accessible seating, assistive listening devices, and accessible restrooms. Smart casual or semi-formal attire is recommended. Note that the performance contains flashing lights, darkness, loud noises, theatrical haze, and smoking on stage.
If you're planning a complete theatre evening, consider exploring other plays in New York during your visit. The James Earl Jones Theatre is conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan, making it easy to combine with dinner and other New York attractions before or after the show.
Good to know
Refund policy
These tickets cannot be cancelled or rescheduled.
This show has finished its run.
What the critics say
“With Academy Award winner Adrien Brody and actress Tessa Thompson making their Broadway debuts, the play features some profound performances. However, it also feels tonally bumpy by the end.”
“If I were going to get granular, I’d say that what the adaptation misses is the way that the film documentary touches at times”
“He [Brody] was, as is the play itself, repeating a good story but not providing deeper insight, giving us a mythology without a deeper sense of a man.”
“This show exists in large part to elicit gasps by exposing the brokenness of the criminal justice system — not to make us know, understand and get lost in the life of a fellow human being.”
“Brody takes to the stage well, though possibly not as well as he could, and at least some of The Fear of 13 is riveting, though possibly it could be better.”
“Ferrentino adheres to the basic facts of Nick's brutal mistreatment, but packages them into an easily digested and forgettable form.”
“the focus largely stays on Nick. How could it be otherwise, given Adrien Brody’s skill in embodying the storyteller’s gifts of passion, precision, and charm?”
“Nick Yarris’s story is effective and heartbreaking, mostly because of Brody, Thompson and the cast.”
“Lindsey Ferrentino's dramatic adaptation aims to convey the full sweep of Yarris' history, but it skimps on the crucial points that would ground it in recognizable reality, often failing to provide crucial context as well as emotional engagement and suspense. The devil is in the details, and here the details are often missing.”
“From its opening line, the play is focused on time and how it gets warped, especially behind bars. It’s challenging to convey that on stage in a powerfully visceral way, and in the end, the play is all-tell, no-show, blunting its impact.”
“The Fear of 13 is also about the way narratives take hold, how once they are officially accepted by authority, it is very hard to undo them—but not impossible.”
“The extent you get caught up in The Fear of 13 rests largely on how much you get caught up in Adrien Brody's compelling performance.”
““The narrative asks us to believe a man whose survival required learning to lie, and in believing him, we confront how many others we've failed to believe.””
“the focus largely stays on Nick. How could it be otherwise, given Adrien Brody’s skill in embodying the storyteller’s gifts of passion, precision, and charm?”
“Adrien Brody makes his Broadway debut in The Fear of 13, a doc-to-stage drama about Nick Yarris, wrongly sent to death row for 22 years. Brody is charismatic and surprisingly funny, but the play never builds relationships worth caring about.”
“The Fear of 13 is a compelling, often gripping evening anchored by a formidable star turn.”
“In his Broadway debut, Adrien Brody conveys the restless energy of a man who's always searching for another angle, a new avenue to pursue in his quest for justice and personal redemption.”
Community Reviews
Venue
James Earl Jones Theatre, 138 W 48th St, New York, NY 10036, USA