Seattle Premiere

The heightened sense of suspicion during the McCarthy era is the background of this subtle story of forbidden love from Gregory Spears and Greg Pierce. Seattle Opera presents this biting jewel of contemporary opera, conducted by Patrick Summers and with stage direction by Kevin Newbury.

What Is It About?

Based on Thomas Mallon's 2007 novel, Fellow Travelers follows Timothy Laughlin, an eager new graduate hoping to do his part to stem the rising tide of communism. When he lands his first job and first romance by way of handsome State Department official Hawkins Fuller, the tumult of deceit and social prejudice of the time become unbearable, leading to a devastating finale. Drawing on the policy of rooting out 'Sexual Subversives', Fellow Travelers is a maelstrom of double lives, first loves and betrayal wrapped up in a captivating chamber opera.