Performances & Events

Based on the 2007 novel Fellow Travelers by Thomas MallonFellow Travelers was developed through “Opera Fusion: New Works,” a joint venture between Cincinnati Opera and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, made possible by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; a residency at the MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, NH; and a residency at the Copland House, Cortlandt Manor, NY, as a recipient of the Copland House Residency Award.Used by arrangement with European American Music Distributors Company, sole U.S. and Canadian agent for Schott Helicon Music Corporation, New York, publisher and copyright owner.New York PremiereFELLOW TRAVELERSCOMPOSER Gregory SpearsLIBRETTIST Greg PierceDIRECTED BY Kevin NewburyCONDUCTED BY George ManahanEXECUTIVE PRODUCER G. Sterling ZinsmeyerSCENIC DESIGNER: Victoria "Vita" TzykunLIGHTING DESIGNER: Thomas C. HaseCOSTUME DESIGNER: Paul CareyHAIR AND MAKEUP DESIGNER: Anne Ford-CoatesGENERAL MANAGER: Amanda CooperPRODUCTION MANAGER: Carly LevinCINCINNATI OPERA PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Glenn PlottSTAGE MANAGER: Constance Dubinski GrubbsFEATURING:Aaron Blake as TIMOTHY LAUGHLINJoseph Lattanzi as HAWKINS FULLERDevon Guthrie as MARY JOHNSONVernon Hartman as SENATOR POTTER & BARTENDERMarcus DeLoach as ESTONIAN FRANK, INTERROGATOR, & SENATOR McCARTHYChristian Pursell as POTTER'S ASSISTANT, BOOKSELLER, & PRIESTPaul Scholten as TOMMY McINTYREAlexandra Schoeny as MISS LIGHTFOOTCecilia Violetta López as LUCYWITH American Composers OrchestraA Cincinnati Opera ProductionDeveloped and Co-Commissioned by G. Sterling Zinsmeyer and Cincinnati OperaCo-presented with John Jay College of Criminal Justice and American Composers OrchestraAdditional Billing & Special ThanksASSOCIATE DIRECTOR:Marcus ShieldsASSISTANT CONDUCTOR:Braden ToanASSOCIATE COSTUME DESIGNER:Madeleine PritnerASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGNER:Joe BeumerCOSTUME COORDINATOR/WARDROBE HEAD:Victoria BekHAIR AND MAKEUP ASSISTANT:Ali PohankaASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS:Skye Cone & Hayley HuntSUPERTITLE OPERATOR:Heather O'DonovanREHEARSAL PIANISTS:David Sytkowski &Andrew SunAMERICAN COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA:Eva Gruesser - The Roger Sessions Chair,Robert Chausow, Sander Strenger,Michael Roth, Deborah Wong,Martin Agee, violinVeronica Salas & Sandra Robbins, violaGene Moye - The Virgil Thomson Chair& Jeanne Leblanc, celloGail Kruvand, bassLaura Conwesser, fluteMelanie Feld, oboeSteve Hartman, clarinetMike Seltzer, Dave Taylor, tromboneSteven Beck - The Thorne Family Chair, pianoJonathan Taylor, Personnel ManagerSPECIAL THANKS:The Fellow Travelers Company would like to extend their gratitude to Cincinnati Opera, for all their support and work in creating the world premiere, and subsequently this remount, in particular Patricia K. Beggs, Evans Miragus, Glenn Plott and Marcus Kuchle. Thank you to the Lynch theater staff, and all the amazing staff and interns for thePROTOTYPE Festival.This work would not exist without the incisive novel by Thomas Mallon, to whom we owe our un-ending appreciation. And this NYC Premiere would not have been possible without the support of our angel individual donors:Lead Supporters:Gale Family FoundationTed SnowdonSupporters:Susan BienkowskiChristine & Michael GarnerSherwin GoldmanJohn KanderDoug NevinThe Newburgh Institute for the Arts and IdeasJohn Pcsolar and Alan SandmanCarey Ramos & Coco BentleyThe Jill and William SteinbergFamily FoundationOpera In Europe LLCWyncote FoundationThe Andrew D. Zacks FoundationFELLOW TRAVELERS, SYNOPSISThe story takes place from 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.ACT ONESCENE 1, PARK IN DUPONT CIRCLEA fledgling reporter, Timothy Laughlin, sits on a park bench reviewing his notes from McCarthy's wedding when he is approached by State Department employee Hawkins Fuller.SCENE 2, SENATOR CHARLES POTTER'S OFFICETimothy is hired as a speech writer for Senator Charles Potter, upon Hawkins’ recommendation. In Potter’s office, Timothy meets Tommy McIntyre who gives him unsolicited advice.SCENE 3, HAWKINS’S OFFICETimothy stops by Hawkins’ office to drop off a thank-you gift. He meets Hawkins’ assistant and best friend Mary and his secretary Miss Lightfoot, who mocks Timothy after he leaves.SCENE 4, TIMOTHY'S APARTMENTTimothy 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 ChurchIn the afterglow of last night's encounter with Hawkins, Timothy is torn between his deep Catholicism and his blossoming passion.SCENE 6, The Hotel WashingtonAt a Christmas party, Timothy is approached by an Army general about enlisting; Mary warns Hawkins about his reckless behavior; McIntyre tells Potter about McCarthy’s latest troubles; Miss Lightfoot overhears an intimate exchange between Hawkins and Timothy.SCENE 7, Interrogation Room M304An 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 APARTMENTTimothy and Hawkins discuss the interrogation, McCarthy, and Hawkins’ secret amusements in New York City.ACT TWOSCENE 9, MCCARTHY’S OFFICESenator Potter warns McCarthy that the "Adams Chronology" (which details how Roy Cohn and McCarthy pressured the Army to give David Schine special treatment) will be his downfall unless he gives up Cohn.SCENE 10, MARY'S KITCHEN/TIMOTHY'S APARTMENTMary invites Timothy over to warn him of Hawkins' fickle nature when it comes to his love interests. 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 OFFICETimothy, in agony over his fraught relationship, tells Hawkins he’s decided to enlist in the Army.SCENE 12, HAWKINS’ OFFICEMary tells Hawkins she quits, as she can no longer work in an atmosphere of panic and persecution.SCENE 13, TIMOTHY IN FRANCE/ HAWKINS IN CHEVY CHASETimothy writes letters to Hawkins and Mary from France, where he’s been stationed. Hawkins is now married to a woman named Lucy but would clearly like to rekindle things with Timothy upon his return.SCENE 14, Brick HouseIn the brick house that Hawkins has rented for his afternoon flings with Timothy, Hawkins expresses that he cannot be the partner Timothy wants.SCENE 15, MARY'S KITCHEN/BRICK HOUSE/ROOM M304Mary is packing up her things when Hawkins stops by, confessing that he has given Timothy's name to those in charge of investigating alleged homosexuals. He asks Mary to tell Timothy about this betrayal in hopes that it will make Timothy hate him enough to fall out of love with him.SCENE 16, PARK IN DUPONT CIRCLEHis dreams dashed, Timothy decides to leave Washington D.C. and Hawkins Fuller for good.