Chicago Premiere Fellow Travelers

At the height of the McCarthy era in 1950s Washington, D.C., recent college graduate Timothy Laughlin is eager to join the crusade against communism. A chance encounter with a handsome State Department official, Hawkins Fuller, leads to Tim’s first job—and his first relationship with a man. Drawn into a maelstrom of deceit, Tim struggles to reconcile his political convictions and his forbidden love for Fuller—an entanglement that will end in a stunning act of betrayal.

Lyric Opera is proud to present the Chicago premiere of this work, which was praised as “a near-perfect example of fast-flowing musical drama” by The New York Times in its 2016 world premiere. The Wall Street Journal raved, “Mr. Spears’s subtle, lyrical music is beautiful without being obvious or sentimental…Kevin Newbury’s directing, particularly of the love scenes, was as honest and touching as the opera.”

Language: Sung in English with projected English text
Running Time: 2 hours, 5 minutes with 1 intermission
Location: Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Avenue, Chicago

Fellow Travelers videos

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Fellow Travelers

An opera by Gregory Spears
Libretto by Greg Pierce

Purchase on Amazon or Apple Music.

“Bermuda”

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“Last Night”

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“I Worry That's All”

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Fellow Travelers articles

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Two Important New Works are Headed to Chicago

A a Q&A with celebrated tenor Lawrence Brownlee and a stunning new opera receiving rave reviews premieres.

A Q&A with Fellow Travelers Conductor Daniela Candillari

Daniela Candillari, a Slovenia native who has triumphed as a conductor and pianist all across the world, will conduct the 17-piece orchestra. As she gears up for the Chicago premiere performances, she took the time to answer a few of our questions about this compelling piece.

Synopsis

TIME and PLACE: September 1953 to May 1957, in Washington, D.C. Eisenhower is president. Senator Joseph McCarthy is stoking fears that the U.S. federal government is full of Communists, Soviet spies, and homosexuals.

Scene 1. Park in Dupont Circle

A fledgling reporter, Timothy Laughlin, sits on a bench reviewing his notes from McCarthy’s wedding when he is approached by State Department employee Hawkins Fuller.

Scene 2. Senator Charles Potter’s office

Timothy is hired as a speechwriter for Senator Charles Potter. Timothy meets Tommy McIntyre, who gives him unsolicited advice about Washington politics.

Scene 3. Hawkins’s office

Timothy stops by to drop off a thank-you gift. He meets Hawkins’s assistant and best friend Mary, and his secretary Miss Lightfoot, who mocks Timothy after he leaves.

Scene 4. Timothy’s apartment

Timothy is at home cooking soup and writing his sister a letter when Hawkins unexpectedly stops by to tell him about the delights of Bermuda, among other things.

Scene 5. St. Peter’s Church

In the afterglow of last night’s encounter with Hawkins, Timothy is torn betweenhis deep Catholicism and his blossoming passion.

Scene 6. The Hotel Washington

At a Christmas party, Timothy is approached by an Army general about enlisting; Mary warns Hawkins about his reckless behavior with Timothy; McIntyre tells Potter about McCarthy’s latest political troubles; Miss Lightfoot overhears an intimate exchange between Hawkins and Timothy.

Scene 7. Interrogation Room M304

An interrogator puts Hawkins through a series of humiliating tests in an attempt to determine whether or not he is a homosexual.

Scene 8. Timothy’s apartment

Timothy and Hawkins discuss the interrogation, McCarthy, and Hawkins’s illicit amusements in New York City.

Scene 9. McCarthy’s office

Senator Potter warns McCarthy that the “Adams Chronology,” which details how Roy Cohn and McCarthy pressured the Army to give Cohn’s friend David Schine special treatment, will be McCarthy’s downfall unless he gives up Cohn.
Scene 10. Mary’s kitchen/Timothy’s apartment

Mary invites Timothy over to warn him of Hawkins’s fickle nature. She tells Timothy she is pregnant from a one-night stand. In Timothy’s apartment, Hawkins rejoices that he’s been cleared of allegations of homosexuality. Timothy is shocked by how Hawkins wants to celebrate.

Scene 11. Roof of the Old Post Office

Timothy, in agony over his fraught relationship, tells Hawkins he’s decided to enlist in the Army.

Scene 12. Hawkins’s office

Mary tells Hawkins she is quitting, as she can no longer work in an atmosphere of panic and persecution.

Scene 13. Timothy in France/Hawkins in Chevy Chase

Three years pass. Timothy writes letters to Hawkins and Mary from France, where he is stationed. Hawkins is now married to a woman named Lucy, with a house in the suburbs, but would clearly like to rekindle his relationship with Timothy upon his return.

Scene 14. Brick House

In a house in D.C. that Hawkins has rented for his afternoon flings with Timothy, Hawkins expresses that he cannot be everything Timothy wants. Hawkins resolves to end the affair himself.

Scene 15. Mary’s kitchen/Brick House/Room M304

Mary is packing when Hawkins stops by, distraught. He confesses that in order to push Timothy away, he has given Timothy’s name to those investigating alleged homosexuals. He asks Mary to tell Timothy about this betrayal in hopes it will make Timothy hate him.

Scene 16. Park in Dupont Circle

His dreams dashed, Timothy decides to leave Washington, D.C., and Hawkins Fuller for good. Both heartbroken, they say goodbye.

Program book

Go inside this production of Fellow Travelers with engaging articles, notes from the director, a complete plot synopsis, artist bios, and more.

View Digital Program Book

Meet the artists

Jonas Hacker

Timothy Laughlin

Award-wining tenor Jonas Hacker made his Lyric debut as Timothy Laughlin/Fellow Travelers (2017|18)

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Joseph Lattanzi

Hawkins Fuller

Joseph Lattanzi sang in the world premiere of Fellow Travelers and made his Lyric debut as Hawkins Fuller/ Fellow Travelers (2017|18)

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Devon Guthrie

Mary Johnson

Soprano Devon Guthrie sang in the world premiere of Fellow Travelers and made her Lyric debut as Mary Johnson/Fellow Travelers (2017|18)

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Vanessa Becerra

Miss Lightfoot

Soprano Vanessa Becerra made her Lyric debut as Miss Lightfoot/ Fellow Travelers (2017|18)

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Marcus DeLoach

Senator Joseph McCarthy, Estonian, Frank, Interrogator

Baritone Marcus DeLoach made his Lyric debut as Senator Joseph McCarthy, Estonian, Frank, Interrogator/ Fellow Travelers (2017|18)

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Amy Kuckelman

Lucy

Soprano Amy Kuckelman's Lyric credits include Female Narrator/Jason and the Argonauts (2016|17)

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Will Liverman

Tommy McIntyre

The American baritone and Ryan Opera Center alumnus earned critical acclaim as Dizzy Gillespie/Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD .

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Reginald Smith, Jr.

Senator Charles Potter, Gen. Arlie, Bartender

Baritone Reginald Smith, Jr. made his Lyric Opera debut as Senator Charles Potter, Gen. Arlie, Bartender/ Fellow Travelers (2017|18)

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Sam Handley

Senator Potter’s Assistant, Bookseller, Party Guest, Technician, French Priest

Bass-baritone and Ryan Opera Center alumnus Sam Handley's Lyric credits include Senator Potter’s Assistant, Bookseller, Party Guest, Technician, French Priest/ Fellow Travelers (2017|18)

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Daniela Candillari

Conductor

Conductor Daniela Candillari led An American Dream (2018|19) and Fellow Travelers (2017|18).

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Kevin Newbury

Director

Director Kevin Newbury's Lyric credits include Faust (2017|18); Norma (2016|17); Bel Canto (2015|16, world premiere); Anna Bolena (2014|15).

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Vita Tzykun

Set Designer

The designer has designed sets, costumes, and projections for The Bolshoi Theater (Russia), Den Norske Opera (Norway), Santa Fe Opera, LA Opera, Seattle Opera, Minnesota Opera, Dallas Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Boston Lyric Opera, Atlanta Opera, and The Kennedy Center (Washington DC) among others.

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Paul Carey

Costume Designer

Paul Carey made his Lyric Opera debut with Fellow Travelers (2017|18)

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Thomas C. Hase

Lighting Designer

Lighting designer Thomas C. Hase made his Lyric debut with Fellow Travelers (2017|18)

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