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[0:06] Robert Bannon: It's the ROUNDTABLE with me, Robert Bannon. Hello, ROUNDTABLE. Adrian and John. We are back at. Now you see I'm all dressed up, I'm glitzy, I'm glamour. We are at the opening night of The Fear of 13, starring Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson. We are here. We are ready to go. It's gonna be crazy. There's a lot of people coming. It's gonna be amazing. We might even see an award winner. Shocking, I know. We're hoping to get a good little interview with Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson and Ben. We have there's so many people, like it's insane. So you better go get your tickets because this play is fire, and you've got two-time Academy Award winner, Adrien Brody starring in this with Tessa Thompson, nominated for a million things. Fantastic. Save me a seat at the ROUNDTABLE.

[0:52] Robert Bannon: I'm here, ROUNDTABLE, with Adrien Brody, two-time Academy Award winner. Broadway debut, how are you feeling? How does it feel?

[0:58] Adrien Brody: Uh this is lovely. I'm very excited. Um I'm humbled to be here, honestly. Like I've, you know, I started acting as a boy in New York, taking the train to do off-Broadway in the East Village and Brooklyn, and to find myself about to step on the stage for my Broadway debut is really remarkable. I love the community. I've always been in awe of what it takes for actors to do this. And uh that's part of what's kept me from doing it for so long, if I'm gonna be honest. Um but this role and the writing and this Nick's story and how it's representative of so much injustice just conspired to um propel me forward, and I'm very happy that we're here today. It's been a lot of work. Um the story is important to be told. It's very, very important work to be done. I'm a huge fan, Summer of Sam, the jacket. I love it. Congratulations, thank you.

[2:06] Robert Bannon: Roundtablers, I am here with the fabulous Tessa Thompson. Congratulations on your Broadway debut.

[2:12] Tessa Thompson: Thank you so much. Yeah, exciting stuff. Exciting stuff. When this came across your desk, what made you be like, I need to be a part of this?

[2:21] Tessa Thompson: Oh goodness, so I'm waving at our stage manager Hodge, who I adore. I love that man. I really love him. Well, it wasn't Hodge because I didn't know Hodge would be involved yet. But I did know David Cromer would be involved, and I'm a massive fan of his work on stage. Um and I just I couldn't put the play down. It was such an instant read. I felt so emotional. I also couldn't, I was like, how do you do this play? Like it's a beautiful piece of work, but how do you stage it? And I sort of love that. I love when you read something that um feels so singular that you can't really imagine how it would be done, but then you get to imagine it through the um through the guidance of someone's work that you really trust, and that was Cromer.

And then you know, I'm such a massive fan of Adrian's and the chance to get to work with him on this and on Lindsay's beautiful writing, and also with a story that I think obviously it's a true story of this man Nick Yarris, but it is the true story of so many people in this country who are wrongfully convicted, and also it tells a story of just how flawed and frustrating our criminal justice system is. Like full stop. And so I think to get to offer that to audiences. Right. It's because I'm an engaged citizen and I forget. Right, you know, it's easy to forget. The system is designed so that we forget. So I think to try to burn this story into the memories of sort of the collective is something that felt worth doing.

[3:49] Robert Bannon: Yes, that's always I do. I'd be remiss. My husband is he's a big Marvel fan. So we're excited. I had to ask, he's a big, big fan. But we're so this is so amazing for you. I'm so happy.

[4:11] Ephraim Sykes: I'm good. How are you?

[4:12] Ephraim Sykes: Hello there. We are here with a friend of the ROUNDTABLE with Robert Bannon. This is Ephraim Sykes. How are you, my friend?

[4:12] Robert Bannon: I'm good. You're looking very dapper. I like this.

[4:13] Ephraim Sykes: Thank you. Same knee, same new. I have to be a little sparkly for opening up.

[4:16] Robert Bannon: I dig it, I dig it. How excited do you be to be a part of this amazing cast?

[4:22] Ephraim Sykes: I legitimately can't believe it. I'm like, wait, what? I'm doing what with who? Like, are you serious? Like excited is not even the word, and I don't know what the word is. I should get like Nick and read more books so I can figure out what the word actually is for how I feel right now.

[4:39] Robert Bannon: Now who do you play in this?

[4:41] Ephraim Sykes: Man, I play literally six or seven different characters in this.

[4:45] Robert Bannon: Which is so much fun. Is that like that's gotta be difficult though, too?

[4:49] Ephraim Sykes: It's difficult, but is it for every show or is it different every show?

[4:52] Ephraim Sykes: No, it's for every show. The same thing, the same multitude of characters every show. But it's an exercise for me in a way that I've never gotten to do before. Like this show is so unlike anything I've gotten to do before in many ways, but that especially because I literally every time I leave stage, I take off one coat and I'll put on another and a whole nother personality, a whole nother skin, a whole nother way they walk. I mean, it's just it's such a beautiful exercise, and again, it just gives me more people to try to humanize in these ways. Uh and also in a certain way it allows me, I don't I can't be too too precious about anything. Right. Anything you do, you just gotta do it, serve the purpose of the story, shake it off, and let's go to what's next so I can keep helping serve the purpose of the story. I'm in love with it.

[5:32] Robert Bannon: So great. I got to interview Nick Yarris, and what an amazing human being. Can you believe it? I mean, when he was, he, you know, when I said, how do you feel? And he was so humble, and I'm like, I just wanted to give him a big hug.

[5:43] Ephraim Sykes: Yeah, he just but his energy is palpable.

[5:46] Ephraim Sykes: Oh yeah, 100%. Like his story is like one of those things like you can't write that. Right. I mean, thank God for Lindsay because she wrote it beautifully, but because this man lived one of the most, I mean it's such a life that you again you just can't write it. So the fact that he went through all that he went through, like I every day I ask myself, like how much how it must have felt to know that you have an end date to your life and know when it is, and have to pick your head up every day and figure out how to survive in that environment. But then not to just survive it, but then do it with joy and thrive and learn and will yourself and love. Like, you know, it's an inspirational, he's an inspirational person in that way, very much so. Um so I'm just grateful to be a part of his story right now.

[6:27] Robert Bannon: Wonderful. Well, Ephraim, thank you so much. As you know, Robert Bannon, always a fan.

[6:30] Ephraim Sykes: Oh same. I appreciate it. Congratulations.

[6:32] Robert Bannon: Hey, how are you? Could you please introduce yourself to the ROUNDTABLE?

[6:38] Lilli Cooper: Hello, my name is Lilli Cooper.

[6:40] Robert Bannon: And Lilli, what role do you play?

[6:42] Lilli Cooper: I play man number six, which means I play a bunch of different roles.

[6:46] Robert Bannon: Oh, okay. Well that's important.

[6:48] Lilli Cooper: Yeah.

[6:48] Robert Bannon: How excited were you when this came across your desk and you were like, this is something that I need to be a part of?

[6:55] Lilli Cooper: Yeah, I mean it's a very important story, it's an incredible um story to tell. Um I'm thrilled. I'm beside myself. I get to tell it with some incredible people, which is even cooler.

[7:09] Robert Bannon: I don't know what to do. Does it ever get like wow pinch me moment? Like with something like this.

[7:15] Lilli Cooper: Every day.

[7:16] Robert Bannon: Yeah, I love that. Every day. You know, we have a lot of young young people that watch our podcast and whatnot. Any advice that you can give them if they're frustrated and not sure what to do? Any advice that you could give them.

[7:29] Lilli Cooper: Why are you not you are enough? Step inside for a minute.

[7:35] Robert Bannon: That's so fantastic. Thank you so much. Congratulations. Break legs tonight.

[7:41] Lilli Cooper: Thank you.

[7:42] Robert Bannon: Could you please introduce yourself to the ROUNDTABLE?

[7:45] Jeb Krieger: Sure. Uh Jeb Krieger.

[7:48] Robert Bannon: Member of the cast. Now are you number because I there's a lot of numbers that are.

[7:53] Jeb Krieger: Oh yeah, yeah. I'm I'm man number two.

[7:54] Robert Bannon: Okay, number two. Alright, there we go.

[7:56] Jeb Krieger: Yeah.

[7:57] Robert Bannon: How excited are you for this tonight?

[7:58] Jeb Krieger: I mean it's it's a culmination of a lot of hard work, it's a culmination of a lot of fun. Um I've been surprised how much fun we've had doing this. It's a harrowing subject, um, it's a serious subject, it's a true story. Um but even in and around all that, um, we've found a way to have so much fun, and um it's a great group on stage, and it's a great group off stage.

[8:21] Robert Bannon: So that's what I love about theater. It brings people together that you wouldn't think, even you know, off stage.

[8:27] Jeb Krieger: Oh, yeah, absolutely. And I mean, you know, and there's the also the bringing of the all the people into the house to see the show every night too. So um, but yeah, I feel very very close to this group. The energy is fantastic.

[8:37] Robert Bannon: Good, I'm glad.

[8:38] Jeb Krieger: Yeah, yeah. I'm glad people feel it because we all feel it.

[8:39] Robert Bannon: Oh, congratulations. Have a great time.

[8:42] Jeb Krieger: Okay, thanks.

[8:44] Robert Bannon: Hi, Ben. This is Ben Thompson.

[8:47] Ben Thompson: I love you so much. I'm such a fan. So you and Waitress, American Idiot. Come on, forget. But it makes me feel good. So I was so excited. I was like, Ben is in this, I'm so excited. And I follow you on Instagram. I love your story. I'm so excited to see you. Look very nice. I like the color. It's very, very fashionable. The green seems to be the color of the evening.

[9:04] Ben Thompson: Yes, I know, I know. I'm setting trends. I'm excited for you to be here tonight. There's nothing like a black way opening. You know, when I was talking to my wife this morning about it, and I was like, when I was younger, I didn't think I'd get one. And now this is number five, six, and it just never gets old. And young me is always just kind of like, hey, jerk. Wake up and see where you are, you know? And so it's been amazing and telling his story. I know. It's important to be told, especially nowadays. Well, and just the company that we have telling it, and Lindsay's book and David's direction and Heather's lighting. I mean, the whole thing, you know, it's a complete show.

[9:43] Robert Bannon: Yeah, yes. And they cast a very fun group of guys to tell this kind of crazy story. And it's just I'm thrilled to be a part of it. You know, I really that sounds so cliché. I get the energy, I love it.

[10:00] Ben Thompson: Well, my job is to be ready if Adrian's sick.

[10:04] Robert Bannon: Right.

[10:05] Ben Thompson: He cannot get sick. I will not let him. I'm gonna bring him teas.

[10:09] Robert Bannon: There you go.

[10:10] Ben Thompson: Pro code, all that good stuff. The advantage of that though is that I've gotten to watch the show more than anybody else.

[10:15] Robert Bannon: Right.

[10:15] Ben Thompson: And so it's just I'm just feeling really lucky to be here. I'm so excited.

[10:19] Ben Thompson: Well, congratulations.

[10:19] Victor Cruz: Thank you, and thank you for your kind words. That means a lot.

[10:23] Ben Thompson: Hi, everybody, Ben Thompson again. I just wanted to introduce Michael Cavender. It is his debut tonight. And there is nothing better than being a part of your buddy's Broadway debut. Dreams coming true right in front of our eyes. Enjoy your interview.

[10:36] Michael Cavender: Thank you, pal.

[10:37] Ben Thompson: Thanks, Ben.

[10:38] Michael Cavender: Oh my gosh, what uh I mean, I can't have a better introduction. Hi, I'm Adrian too.

[10:43] Adrien Brody: Hey Adrian, nice to meet you. How excited are you? First of all, Broadway debut.

[10:48] Michael Cavender: Yeah, it's amazing. What a cast. What are you feeling?

[10:51] Adrien Brody: Uh yeah, a whole bunch of stuff. Like it's excitement. It's a little bittersweet because like the development process is ending. But like I'm just so excited for the people to see this show. Like it's uh wonderful, uh wonderful material, it's thought provoking, uh and it's like heavy uh material that's balanced so incredibly well with levity.

[11:14] Michael Cavender: I love that. It's just such a uh a wonderful piece. I I think everybody's should really enjoy it.

[11:19] Adrien Brody: Yeah, no, I'm excited. I I we're looking forward to seeing it too. It's just and I think it's important for stories like this to be told, you know?

[11:25] Michael Cavender: Absolutely. Because it's based on on Nick. I I mean it's it's just amazing. But now who do you play?

[11:30] Adrien Brody: Um Man number five.

[11:31] Michael Cavender: Number five. So a number of people in the show.

[11:34] Adrien Brody: Ah, well, that's kind of fun too. So sometimes you might not know what you're doing when you come in.

[11:38] Michael Cavender: Yeah, I'm it's a bit a surprise. I'm I'm a bit all over the place, you know. So quirky person, but like a lot of range.

[11:45] Michael Cavender: Well, congratulations, enjoy, and we'll see you soon.

[11:48] Victor Cruz: Good. This is a beautiful outfit. You're looking very dangerous.

[11:52] Adrien Brody: We are magic.

[11:52] Victor Cruz: We are and could you please introduce yourself to the roundtable.

[11:56] Victor Cruz: Absolutely. So my name is Victor Cruz, not to be mistaken for the football dancing salsa guy uh from the Giants, who's no longer with the Giants, but he's a fantastic person. Um so I am in the play. I play uh a few different characters. I play man number three, Bo Mullen, who's Nick Yarris' lawyer in the story, and uh and a handful of other characters. You'll you'll see me pop up on the stage.

[12:18] Victor Cruz: I mean it's I say it's spring, but it's summer with this with the Zoom. We're like, well, they're gonna dress up really nice, we'll try to sweat them to death.

[12:24] Adrien Brody: Right, exactly. But how are you feeling? I mean, how exciting is this?

[12:28] Victor Cruz: Excited. I mean, this is my Broadway debut. So um so big ordeal. I I think I'm pinching myself every single day that this is actually happening. I hit the lotto with having Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson and Ephraim Sykes and all these wonderful actors. Uh David Cromer, Lindsay Ferrantino, what can I say? So um it's it's just been great.

[12:47] Victor Cruz: Yeah, but it's an important story.

[12:49] Adrien Brody: It's an important story.

[12:51] Victor Cruz: The reason it's important is because this is a topic that's like out of sight, out of mind. If you're not talking about it, you're not thinking about it, you're not wondering, are there any lives on death row? You know, serving many years for a crime they did not commit.

[13:01] Adrien Brody: Right.

[13:05] Victor Cruz: Um, or serving too much time, right? Right? More than they should for the crimes that they committed. So I think it it allows us to look at the justice system, especially for the general public to think about it and ask themselves what can I do to maybe make some changes.

[13:18] Adrien Brody: Right.

[13:19] Victor Cruz: So yeah.

[13:20] Adrien Brody: That's wonderful. Victor, congratulations.

[13:21] Victor Cruz: Thank you. I appreciate you. We'll be seeing you soon in a week.

[13:25] Victor Cruz: Yes, yes. I'll see you soon.

[13:27] Adrien Brody: Awesome. I'm sorry. Could you please introduce yourself to the round tablers?

[13:30] Jared Wayne Gladly: I'm Jared Wayne Gladly.

[13:32] Adrien Brody: And who do you play?

[13:33] Jared Wayne Gladly: I play one of the ensemble members in the show.

[13:37] Adrien Brody: How excited are you to be? This is an amazing cast, by the way.

[13:40] Jared Wayne Gladly: It's so cool. I am I'm so relieved that we're here. And this is such a beautiful, beautiful show. It's a beautiful company, and it's exciting.

[13:49] Adrien Brody: Yeah. I just got to speak with Nick Yarris, and what an amazing human being. Like, he literally almost made me cry telling me the story about his wife. And uh it just, I was like, I can't wait to see this. I'm coming in a couple weeks. But I love it. I love it.

[14:00] Jared Wayne Gladly: And I think what's so cool is that something must have happened that was a major because we know the end already. Right? You know, and that's the really that's the beautiful part of this story. We're able to get in there to to understand what helped him, what bullied him, you know what I mean?

[14:17] Adrien Brody: Right, which maybe could help others that are in that same predicament.

[14:20] Jared Wayne Gladly: Yes.

[14:20] Adrien Brody: So important.

[14:21] Jared Wayne Gladly: Indeed. Indeed. Thank you so much. So nice to meet you. Have a great time tonight.

[14:25] Jared Wayne Gladly: Thank you.

[14:26] Joel Marsh Garland: My name is Joel Marsh Garland. I'm in Fear of 13, and I play this is gonna sound like not a big part. I play the guard.

[14:32] Adrien Brody: The guard okay, not a number, because I got a lot of numbers.

[14:35] Joel Marsh Garland: No, I got no numbers. Okay. I'm the guard.

[14:39] Adrien Brody: Well, you've you've played the guard before.

[14:41] Joel Marsh Garland: I have played a guard before, but that one had a name.

[14:43] Adrien Brody: Yeah.

[14:44] Joel Marsh Garland: This one doesn't have a name but has a lot to do. Yeah, I'm a very busy guard.

[14:47] Adrien Brody: Oh, yeah.

[14:48] Joel Marsh Garland: Uh yeah, I know I played a guard on Orange is the New Black off and on for seven years, which was lovely.

[14:52] Adrien Brody: Oh, amazing.

[14:52] Joel Marsh Garland: Yeah, yeah. I missed it a little bit, you know. I yeah, it's interesting to work on a completely different kind of beast, you know. But there's a lot of joy in this and a lot of um humor and a lot of sadness.

[15:06] Adrien Brody: Yeah.

[15:06] Joel Marsh Garland: So it runs the gambit, but it's not it's not as much of a comedy as Orange is.

[15:11] Adrien Brody: That is true, that is true. And is this your Broadway debut?

[15:13] Joel Marsh Garland: This isn't your Broadway debut. You know, you've been around the block before.

[15:16] Joel Marsh Garland: I've been around the block. I did my cement a few years ago uh over at the Long Acre.

[15:20] Adrien Brody: Yeah.

[15:20] Joel Marsh Garland: Oh my goodness, but what a cast. I mean here or there.

[15:23] Adrien Brody: Yeah, here.

[15:24] Joel Marsh Garland: Amazing. I mean, our leads are amazing. Adrian and Tessa are both phenomenal and engaged and have just giant whales of parts to drag along, and they do a beautiful job. And then we have such a like the cast has such a diversity of of performance backgrounds. You got folks who are mostly comedians, folks who do a lot of like standard plays, people who are musicians and do musicals and perform in that venue.

[15:50] Adrien Brody: It's just such a wide group, and we have people who are natural leaders and people who are natural, like uh cheerleaders. It's just a nice variety. It's the sort of thing where when we're doing it, I never feel jealous of another performer. I just feel excited for them to do their thing. And so it's just such a nice environment to watch each person succeed where their talents benefit the play. It's lovely.

[16:15] Adrien Brody: Oh, I love to hear that. That's so great. And we have a lot of young people that watch the podcast. Any advice that you could give to them who might be frustrated or be like, oh, I don't know if I can do it. Any advice.

[16:24] Joel Marsh Garland: Oh, about acting?

[16:25] Adrien Brody: Yeah.

[16:26] Joel Marsh Garland: Oh, you have to just do it. Here's the thing. The second person that said that's a good one. Well, you know, I mean, it's true. You can't sit around and wait for it. And the community that you work with will come up with you. Right? So, like Victor and I are in the same dressing room. Right. We've known each other for 23 years, never worked together before, only been in there, competing with each other, auditioning against each other, and now we have the chance to like build a real friendship.

[16:49] Adrien Brody: Right, right. And it's things like that where like the people who you are alongside and competing with and working with come up with you. And that's how you build community. A lot of people think the community is about hustling and getting to know this person and be like, you're so good, and now you can employ me. Community is about going and doing the work and helping other people grow and growing yourself so that when you get to the next level and the next level, you remember each other and you're there to work together. Community is very organic. And I think that's something people need to remember and learn. It's not easy when you're young because you want it to happen now.

[17:22] Adrien Brody: Right, right. But keep doing it and trying it, and as it moves forward, you'll know more and more people, and they'll be happy to see you because you do nice work. And then you'll do more work together, and that's how it works.

[17:33] Joel Marsh Garland: That see, I love that. Thank you so much.

[17:35] Adrien Brody: Yeah, my pleasure. It's such a pleasure to be able to do that. Nice to meet you. Have a great time tonight. Enjoy. And we'll we'll we'll be here in a couple weeks. Are you gonna watch it?

[17:41] Joel Marsh Garland: Not tonight, we'll be here in a couple weeks, though.

[17:43] Adrien Brody: All right. I promise.

[17:44] Joel Marsh Garland: That's good.

[17:44] Adrien Brody: Yes, thank you so much.

[17:46] Unknown speaker: Roll.

[17:46] Unknown speaker: Here we go.

[17:48] Unknown speaker: Mr. Congratulations.

[17:49] Unknown speaker: Thank you. This let me tell you, I talked to almost everyone in this cast.

[17:52] Unknown speaker: Yes. They just sang your praise.

[17:55] Unknown speaker: Yeah, that's opening night. That's the thing people say on opening night. I'm not gonna tell you all the things they did wrong, all the things they did to me.

[18:01] Unknown speaker: No, I but how excited are you? What an amazing story.

[18:03] Unknown speaker: It's a beautiful story. I mean, it's a it's a try, it's a heroic story. Shouldn't say it's beautiful. It ends up quite beautiful. And uh yeah, I Nick went through all of this stuff, and Lindsay found this beautiful way to tell it. You know what I mean? To make it to make it poetry, you know what I mean, to make it theater, it's not a documentary. We could not possibly uh portray what he went through.

[18:33] Unknown speaker: Right.

[18:33] Unknown speaker: Um so yeah, it was great. It was great.

[18:36] Unknown speaker: And I had these beautiful, beautiful cast of like all the most strange and gorgeous character actors in the world, you know.

[18:43] Unknown speaker: You have such an eclectic group, like you've got you, you know what I'm saying?

[18:45] Unknown speaker: Yeah, yeah, yeah. And Adrian Brody and Testament.

[18:47] Unknown speaker: And Adrian Brody and Tessa Thompson, yeah. They were so so nice. That's a good group. Amazing. Well, it's good. I'm glad they said nice things about me. I'll have to think of something nice to say about them.

[18:55] Unknown speaker: Here we go. Congratulations.

[18:56] Unknown speaker: Thank you very much. Thank you so much.

[18:58] Unknown speaker: Thanks. Here with the fabulous playwright Lindsay Ferrentino. Congratulations. How are you?

[19:04] Lindsay Ferrentino: Sorry, I didn't mean to wave during that. Is that your dad over there?

[19:09] Unknown speaker: This is one that worked on the show. Sorry. How excited are you for this season?

[19:12] Lindsay Ferrentino: I beautiful new. Look at me, I'm waving to people. I'm very excited. I'm very excited. It's um I'm the you know, I moved to New York when I was 17 to try to study playwriting and be a playwright, and you take those risks on yourself and you don't know where they're gonna go. And you know, this is one of those nights where I'm just so grateful that the 17-year-old in me decided to pursue this.

[19:32] Unknown speaker: Um yeah, that's how I feel. And how important is something like this to be shown for people to see?

[19:37] Lindsay Ferrentino: Because it's based on a real person.

[19:39] Lindsay Ferrentino: Yeah. I mean, I am so grateful to Nick Yarris as a person and a friend and a mentor, and getting to know and interview him and befriend him over the last few years. He has a story that it just cuts through the numbers and statistics and headlines and just moves people's hearts. And that's I think the only way that you know any sort of reform gets done is when you get beyond headlines and get to people's stories, and his story does that, certainly did for me, and I, you know, know that it will for audiences.

[20:08] Unknown speaker: That's amazing. And we have a lot of uh young viewers that watch us.

[20:11] Lindsay Ferrentino: Yeah.

[20:11] Unknown speaker: Any advice you can give for those looking who may want to write, who may have a story in their head, any advice you could give to them.

[20:17] Lindsay Ferrentino: Uh just do it. That's the only, no, that is really it's it's a cliche bit of advice, but the only control you have over your career trajectory, whether you're starting out or mid-career or late career, is just as a writer is just writing and chasing the stories that you have an instinct means something to you and trusting that if it means something to you, it will mean something for an audience.

[20:38] Common: Congratulations.

[20:38] Unknown speaker: Thank you.

[20:39] Unknown speaker: Have a great time today.

[20:40] Common: This gentleman right here, this play, The Fear of 13, this is about you. This is about your story. It's about a woman who brought love to my life while I was on death row for 23 years. She taught me this beautiful lesson that no matter how much you grow and develop as a man, a woman needs to teach you how to complete that process. And if that happens to you, you never ever forget that lesson.

[21:10] Unknown speaker: I think that's brilliant.

[21:12] Common: That Tessa Thompson, representing my wife, Jackie, goes to prison and taught me how to become a man.

[21:23] Unknown speaker: I'm getting emotional.

[21:24] Common: That's beautiful. That's absolutely beautiful. How excited are you tonight? I can see your energy. You're so excited.

[21:30] Common: My mother said, please be worthy of my tears and prayers for 23 years for you to come home and be somebody respectful. I tried my best tonight to be that. That's basically all I can be.

[21:44] Unknown speaker: That's amazing. And what was it like to get to work with Adrien Brody?

[21:49] Common: I mean, that he looks when you guys were over there taking pictures. I was like, look at that energy, look at those smiles. He literally is as genuine with me in person as he was out here, a finer gentleman. I noticed Sylvia and his father are so proud of him, and it's just such a reward to be part of a family's bonding. Him and his mother really got close, and I remember the story in London. His father was surrounded by all these newspapers about his son, and it was a brilliant moment for them to have.

[22:30] Unknown speaker: Congratulations on this. Enjoy tonight. Enjoy every single minute of it.

[22:33] Common: I'm trying. Thank you so much. Yeah, because the Innocence Project is being a supporter of the play. I think it's so important that we have the former head of the NAACP and my former attorney.

[22:47] Unknown speaker: No, no, no, the most important piece here is that I represented this man for seven years. I stood up in court the day the DNA test was announced. I have the sketch of the courtroom moment. She has my eyeglasses and my shirt in my office.

[23:06] Common: So this is Christina Sworn and she's representing the Innocence Project who are doing this amazing event on May 3rd with Kim Kardashian.

[23:16] Unknown speaker: That's right. And we're gonna have a talk back and a wonderful experience for everyone to come. But I saw all the other press talking to everyone else from the play. But I think it's so important that the Innocence Project be given a voice as well. So please, someone interview this beautiful lovely lady who put up with me even though she wanted to strangle me.

[23:36] Christina Sworn: I did, I did, I did.

[23:38] Common: That is a true story.

[23:42] Unknown speaker: Hello there. I got to see you in the amazing play, your Broadway debut.

[23:47] Lilli Cooper: Oh yes. That was fantastic.

[23:48] Unknown speaker: Thank you, thank you.

[23:50] Lilli Cooper: Yes, I love theater. I'm definitely here to support this. Um, I was so honored to be able to be a part of, you know, Between Riverside and Crazy. But I go see plays all the time. Like I just saw Becky Hall the other last night.

[24:05] Unknown speaker: Yeah, yeah.

[24:06] Lilli Cooper: And then I saw, yes, I enjoyed that. Um definitely makes you think about relationships, and of course, of course, I saw Joe Turner's Come and Gone, um the great August Wilson play star, you know, Sergio the Entertainment or to Rogi Henson and Ruben Santiago. It was amazing to see those talents on stage together. Um, getting to be able to see. This is an important one. This is an important one. I saw I saw the production in London, um, but I'm looking forward to this right now here on Broadway to be able to see um this the Fear of 13. And uh man, this is an important story that needs to be told. We know we've been dealing with the epidemic of mass incarceration with the plague of mass incarceration. So we could change people's hearts and minds through storytelling.

[24:58] Unknown speaker: That's right. Through great storytelling.

[25:00] Unknown speaker: How are you?

[25:01] Lilli Cooper: Hey, how are you?

[25:02] Unknown speaker: Good, how are you doing?

[25:04] Lilli Cooper: Last time I saw you, we were at bug opening.

[25:02] Unknown speaker: We were at bug opening. And now we're here.

[25:06] Lilli Cooper: Now we're here. What's new and exciting?

[25:08] Unknown speaker: What's new and exciting?

[25:09] Lilli Cooper: Um I would say what's new and exciting is that I am at the opening of this original Broadway play.

[25:13] Unknown speaker: Uh-huh. We love original, don't we?

[25:15] Lilli Cooper: I know. So exciting. Yeah. I got to interview Adrien Brody. I was a little starstruck.

[25:19] Unknown speaker: I think I saw that.

[25:21] Lilli Cooper: I think I saw that, honestly. And I felt starstruck through you.

[25:25] Unknown speaker: Not as starstruck as Tessa Thompson, personally.

[25:28] Lilli Cooper: Stunning. When she stood next to me, I'm like her makeup, like flawless. Can you believe it's her Broadway debut?

[25:33] Unknown speaker: I can't. Isn't that like I'm...

[25:34] Lilli Cooper: She feels like she's been here forever.

[25:36] Unknown speaker: I know, I know. So now what's new with you? What's going on? What can you share?

[25:39] Lilli Cooper: I can share that I'm working on a project with David Cromer. We're doing a new piece that I won't give too much away about, but we're uh he's a very busy guy, and we um are in rehearsals, we were in rehearsals today.

[25:54] Unknown speaker: Oh, I'm sorry.

[25:54] Lilli Cooper: So he's he stays working, Facebook stays busy. Look at that.

[25:57] Unknown speaker: But we like that.

[25:58] Lilli Cooper: That's it. Beautiful. Well, enjoy tonight. Always a pleasure to be.

[26:01] Unknown speaker: Thank you so much. Alright, I'll see you soon.

[26:02] Lilli Cooper: Bye.

[26:03] Unknown speaker: Bye.

[26:05] Unknown speaker: Yes, hello. Is this chartreuse? Because this is stuck. I think it's chartreuse.

[26:11] Unknown speaker: Thanks. And is that a cape or is that a spark?

[26:14] Unknown speaker: It's a cape.

[26:14] Unknown speaker: I love that so much. Oh. I just liked it like over more.

[26:20] Unknown speaker: No, no, that's so clear.

[26:21] Unknown speaker: Thank you. Do you want me to hold this?

[26:22] Unknown speaker: Yes.

[26:22] Unknown speaker: Okay, great. How excited are you to be here today?

[26:24] Unknown speaker: I'm so thrilled. I'm just so excited. I hear how uh uh incredible the show is, and the fact that it's a true story. I just I'm I don't even know if I'm ready. And let me tell you, he almost brought me to tears where he was talking about how his wife loved him and got him together. And it's amazing. I'm coming in a couple weeks, but I just I am talking to everyone. They're so excited. They're so happy. The energy was so there, so I can imagine how amazing tonight's debate. Not only am I so excited to, of course, see my brother on stage, but to see Adrien and Tessa on stage. And I've been huge fans of them forever.

[27:00] Lilli Cooper: Eddie Cooper.

[27:01] Unknown speaker: Oh, Eddie Cooper.

[27:02] Lilli Cooper: Yeah. I didn't sorry, didn't you do it again?

[27:05] Unknown speaker: Can I tell you? He's so much fun. I got to interview him and he was adorable.

[27:08] Lilli Cooper: Yeah. He was super sweet. And he said, like, it's it's just something about this cast. He says there is something special that with everyone. I feel like together. Cromer really knows how to put a good group of people in a room together.

[27:19] Unknown speaker: Oh yes. That's true. Now, Lilli, what is next for you?

[27:22] Lilli Cooper: Well, I'm in Spelling Bee right now. Yeah. Um at New World Stages. And uh I can't really share what my next project is, but there's some things on the horizon that I'm excited about.

[27:31] Unknown speaker: Spelling Bee is fun.

[27:33] Lilli Cooper: It's so fun. Oh God, what a good cast. I feel so lucky.

[27:36] Unknown speaker: And you've had some special guest stars coming.

[27:38] Lilli Cooper: Oh my so many special guest stars, yes. Oh, we've had, I mean, one of our first was Daniel Radcliffe. I mean, we had Harry Potter.

[27:44] Unknown speaker: You had Harry Potter.

[27:45] Lilli Cooper: So cool. So amazing. Always a pleasure. Enjoy tonight.

[27:48] Unknown speaker: Thank you so much. See you soon.

[27:51] Unknown speaker: You know, opening night in New York. I was like, is it gonna be 90 degrees or like 50 degrees? This weather is normal.

[27:55] Unknown speaker: I know. Well how are you doing?

[27:59] Unknown speaker: Great. I'm excited to be here. This is a very exciting night. I got the cast, and they were amazing.

[28:05] Unknown speaker: Yeah. Adrien, I was a little starstruck. Usually I'm pretty good.

[28:07] Unknown speaker: Well, sure. But like they won an Oscar like a year ago, right? Like, it's crazy, but Tessa Thompson's stunned. I mean.

[28:12] Unknown speaker: She's just, she's a star.

[28:16] Unknown speaker: She's effervescent.

[28:17] Unknown speaker: Oh, yes.

[28:18] Unknown speaker: And I also got to meet Nick as well.

[28:20] Unknown speaker: Oh.

[28:21] Unknown speaker: Adrien Brody.

[28:21] Unknown speaker: Oh wow. Can I tell you? He almost made me cry just interviewing him, talking. He was he's he's so excited to be here. He was running up and down the carpet, and I'm like, this is amazing.

[28:32] Unknown speaker: It is amazing. I saw I watched the documentary.

[28:34] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[28:34] Unknown speaker: So like I'm invested.

[28:36] Unknown speaker: Yes.

[28:36] Unknown speaker: You know?

[28:36] Unknown speaker: Yes.

[28:36] Unknown speaker: And he was like, oh, you want to talk to me? Yes, I want to talk. You're you're this is about you. Like, yeah.

[28:42] Unknown speaker: I love that. So now uh what's up and coming for you, my friend. Oh, you can share.

[28:45] Unknown speaker: Uh well, I just got back in town. I was doing a play at the Goodman. Um uh uh directed by Robert Falls called Holiday. Uh it's it's uh Richard Greenberg's final play before he passed last spring. Um so we'll see what happens with that. There is some uh some rumblings, maybe so we'll see about that. But um yeah, I'm just acclimating back to New York City and getting caught up with theater and wonderful.

[29:12] Unknown speaker: Well, we want to hear all about it, so reach out to us because we'll have you on, but so we'll chit chat about that.

[29:16] Unknown speaker: Thank you. But enjoy tonight. Always a pleasure to see you.

[29:19] Unknown speaker: Thank you.

[29:21] Jeff Brackett: Hi, I'm Jeff Brackett. Yeah, I'm an actor here in New York, and yeah, I'm excited to see this show. I have to say I interviewed pretty much almost everyone in the cast, and their energy is like electric. They are so excited for tonight. I mean, how this is a this is a really exciting night.

[29:34] Unknown speaker: It really is. Adrien Brody, Broadway debut.

[29:37] Jeff Brackett: Yes, I mean, come on. Another David Cromer. I mean, happy birthday today. That's a great birthday gift.

[29:42] Unknown speaker: Yeah. Anyways, yeah, I'm really excited to see a new David Cromer play.

[29:46] Jeff Brackett: Right. That's always exciting. So yeah. Now now what's up uh for you? What's up and coming that you can share?

[29:50] Unknown speaker: Yeah, up and coming. I have a project in Catskill. I'm gonna be doing a McNally play.

[29:55] Jeff Brackett: Okay.

[30:01] Unknown speaker: And I'm also writing a play.

[30:03] Jeff Brackett: With I am, yeah, it should be fun. That's all I'll say about that. But it's with a director who is who's quite wonderful here in New York. Yeah, I'm really excited. I'll definitely keep you posted, Adrian.

[30:14] Jeff Brackett: Please do, please do. I want to know. The round table wants to know. Because then you have to come on and talk about it. Come on the podcast and we'll talk about it.

[30:19] Unknown speaker: Oh, I'd love that. I'd love that. I was just talking to a dramaturg earlier about it. So um getting all the pieces together, but it's gonna be something that I feel like isn't done.

[30:28] Jeff Brackett: Yes, okay. But we'll I'm very excited about this.

[30:30] Unknown speaker: Yeah. Not that we don't love the OGs, they're great, but new and fresh is what we're looking for. So I'm excited for you.

[30:35] Jeff Brackett: Yeah, thank you, Adrian. I appreciate that. Well, have a great night. Always a pleasure to see you, and we'll be in touch.

[30:41] Unknown speaker: Yes, great.