Sebastian Arcelus & More to Lay Down the Law in John Grisham’s A Time to Kill on Broadway

Order in the court! Sebastian Arcelus, Fred Dalton Thompson and John Douglas Thompson will star in the Broadway stage adaptation of John Grisham’s bestselling courtroom novel A Time to Kill. Adapted for the stage by Rupert Holmes and directed by Ethan McSweeny, the previously announced production begins performances September 28, with an official opening night set for October 20 at the Golden Theatre. Additional casting will be announced shortly.

Arcelus will play attorney Jack Brigance, a role he played in the Arena Stage world premiere of A Time to Kill in 2011. Set in Ford County, Mississippi, A Time to Kill tells the emotional story of a young, idealistic lawyer (Arcelus) who defends a black man, Carl Lee Hailey (John Douglas Thompson), for taking the law into his own hands following an unspeakable crime committed against his young daughter. The small town is thrown into upheaval as Jack finds himself arguing against the formidable district attorney, Rufus Buckley, and goes under attack from both sides of a racially divided city. Fred Dalton Thompson will play Judge Noose.

Grisham’s 1989 novel was adapted into a major motion picture in 1996, starring Matthew McConaughey, Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock and Kevin Spacey.

Arcelus has appeared on Broadway in Elf, Jersey Boys, Good Vibrations, Rent and Wicked. He currently plays newspaper editor Lucas Goodwin on the Netflix TV series House of Cards, and will continue to be a series regular while rehearsing and performing A Time to Kill. Arcelus’ additional film and TV credits include Person of Interest, The Last Day of August and Winx Club. Fred Dalton Thompson will make his Broadway debut in A Time To Kill. His film credits include Marie, No Way Out and The Hunt for Red October. He played New York District Attorney Arthur Branch on TV's Law & Order. John Douglas Thompson appeared in Julius Caesar and Cyrano de Bergerac on Broadway. His film and TV credits include The Bourne Legacy and Michael Clayton.

A Time To Kill features set design by James Noone, costume design by David Woolard, lighting design by Jeff Croiter, sound design by Lindsay Jones and projection design by Jeff Sugg.