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| Kevin Newbury, Stage Director of Fellow Vacationers. © Marcus Shields |
This February, Seattle Opera will current Fellow Vacationers, one of the incessantly carried out new operas of the previous decade, in collaboration with New York-based inventive collective Up Till Now, as a part of a nationwide mission that brings this essential story to phases throughout the nation. We sat down to speak with Kevin Newbury, Director of Fellow Vacationers, about his expertise bringing this story to life during the last 10 years, the significance of telling queer tales, and the way this present continues to impression audiences.
Seattle Opera: You’ve got been with this story because the
starting, inform us how this ebook grew to become an opera
Kevin Newbury: I’ve been with the Fellow Vacationers
opera from the very starting of the journey. My pal, Sterling Zinsmeyer,
who’s a producer, handed me Tom Mallon’s novel proper after it got here out in 2007.
He stated, “It’s a must to learn this. This story should be an opera, and also you want
to direct it.” I instantly fell in love with the primary characters, Tim
and Hawk and Mary. And I did not know very a lot in regards to the Lavender Scare or about
this era in historical past after I learn the ebook, so I additionally realized loads.
We obtained proper to work
and commissioned Gregory Spears, the composer, and Greg Pierce, the librettist.
We reached out to Tom Mallon and obtained the rights. And we premiered the opera at
Cincinnati Opera in 2016. So, that is our tenth anniversary, and we’re
launching our tenth anniversary tour right here at Seattle Opera.
Seattle Opera: What was the Lavender Scare, how did it
manifest in authorities work, and why have been LGBTQ+ individuals focused?
Kevin Newbury: The Lavender Scare refers to one of many nice
witch hunts in American historical past. In April 1953, President Eisenhower issued an
govt order that stated it was unlawful to be homosexual (what we might name LGBTQ+
now) and work within the US authorities. They thought of sexual perversion to be a
risk to nationwide safety. And 5,000+ women and men have been fired from
authorities service for both being queer or being rumored to be queer.
And Senator McCarthy,
Joe McCarthy, was behind this. We consider communism as being the central tenet
of McCarthyism, however the Lavender Scare was truly a lot larger. They went
after much more queer individuals than they did alleged communists. So it was the
systematic persecution and firing of queer individuals throughout our authorities
establishments.
Seattle Opera: Are you able to discuss a bit about how recordsdata have been
stored on individuals, how ironic it’s that these recordsdata are arduous to search out or nonexistent
now, and the way that’s visually built-in into the present?
Kevin Newbury: One of many nice ironies of this time interval
of McCarthyism and the Lavender Scare within the early ’50s is that it was all
about holding recordsdata on individuals, holding data, spying on individuals, submitting away
their tales. And the nice irony is that these recordsdata have by no means been launched;
many have been destroyed or hidden away. It sounds nearly unimaginable to suppose
that they’d launch these recordsdata now.
So, it is extra essential
than ever to share these tales, acquire these tales, and make clear our
shared LGBTQ+ historical past. Our present administration is actively trying to
erase our historical past, so it makes Fellow Vacationers extra essential than
ever.
These recordsdata date
again to World Conflict II. That was when these anti-gay insurance policies have been codified and
launched all over the Lavender Scare —the Do not Ask, Do not Inform interval. And sadly, this present second when
so many individuals in our queer neighborhood, particularly our trans and non-binary
brothers and sisters are dropping their jobs and getting banned from the navy
and being spied on and reported on. That is sort of a second Lavender Scare
that we’re dwelling via.
Seattle Opera: Inform us in regards to the Lavender Names Undertaking.
Kevin Newbury: Some of the
thrilling components of this Fellow Vacationers mission is one thing we’re
calling the Lavender Names Undertaking. We’re amassing pictures and tales
from queer individuals throughout the nation and their chosen household, their
kinfolk—a few of these of us are not with us. It is the biggest ever
archival analysis and neighborhood outreach initiative to recollect our historical past
that I do know of. And these pictures and tales will dwell on stage on the finish of
the opera in a visible memorial. They are going to find yourself on the finish of the tour on the
American LGBTQ+ Museum in New York Metropolis. It is a collaboration with the
museum and archival researchers and universities and libraries all throughout the
nation, together with the Library of Congress, the Lambda Archives in San Diego,
and plenty of different unimaginable organizations.
I am actually
honored to be spearheading this with my group. So, if anybody that has
ever been prosecuted or fired or topic to harassment by the hands of federal,
native authorities, or the navy, please do share your story or share your
cherished one’s story, as a result of it could be an honor to incorporate and bear in mind.
Seattle Opera: Do you will have a specific story from the
Lavender Names Undertaking that actually resonated with you?
Kevin Newbury: I have been
connecting with individuals all around the nation via this Lavender Names
Undertaking, together with Colonel Bree Fram, this wonderful trans girl. Colonel Bree
Fram was the highest-ranking trans officer within the armed forces, and she or he was
fired in 2025 throughout this administration’s ban on trans of us within the navy,
and she or he simply introduced that she’s operating for Congress within the state of Virginia.
We’re so honored to share Bree’s story within the
Lavender Names Undertaking alongside queer legends like Frank Kameny, who’s the
godfather of homosexual rights; he misplaced his job after working as an astronomer within the
US authorities within the late Nineteen Fifties. And Bree Fram additionally labored in aeronautics or
astronomy, no matter you name it. So, it is sort of chilling that we have come full
circle to this second when sensible those that wish to serve their nation
are fired or not allowed to enlist or to run for workplace, no matter it could be,
as a result of they’re LGBTQ+. I imply, we have made a lot progress over time, and
our rights are in peril proper now throughout the board on this nation, and it is
extra essential than ever to struggle for them.
Seattle Opera: You’ve been directing this present since its inception, how have you ever seen its impression differ because it’s carried out in large and small cities throughout the nation?
Kevin Newbury:
Fellow Vacationers has been all around the nation. I prefer to say
that now we have carried out in America’s greatest cities and in her heartland. And
in every single place we go, the present has such an impression. Now we have offered one thing like
25,000 tickets throughout these 14 productions. We’re so excited to deliver the opera
to cities and communities that have not seen it but and we’ll even be returning
to some cities which have hosted their manufacturing.
Seattle Opera: How have you ever seen individuals impacted by this
story?
Kevin Newbury: One of many nice issues about Fellow
Vacationers, the opera, is that folks keep within the foyer after the present for
so long as they’ll, and all of those unimaginable intergenerational tales and
conversations unfold. I’ve heard individuals come out to their members of the family within the
foyer, or say “This occurred to my grandfather within the Nineteen Fifties, however he was
by no means capable of discuss it earlier than he died.” So, it is a very cathartic,
shifting expertise for individuals.
We did the manufacturing
in Norfolk, Virginia, Virginia Opera in 2023. And Norfolk’s a reasonably
conservative navy city, and we had this excellent contingent from NATO that
got here to our costume rehearsal. And on opening evening, this girl ran as much as me, and
she was crying and she or he stated, “Kevin, can I offer you a hug?” And I stated, “Of
course you’ll be able to.” I am at all times open for a hug.
She stated, “I’ve
to let you know that my husband and I have been on the costume rehearsal, and my daughter
is trans and my husband and my daughter haven’t been talking for 2 years.
And after the costume rehearsal, he known as her up; she’s moved again in they usually have not stopped speaking for 2 days. He
modified his thoughts and you have saved my household.”
That sort of impression is
simply such an honor to be a part of a present that opens hearts and minds and
encourages individuals to be extra open.
Seattle Opera: This story started as a glance again at a second
in historical past, but it surely’s turning into clear this period hasn’t remained in our previous. What
makes this story so related proper now?
Kevin Newbury: Sadly, we’re dwelling via a second Lavender
Scare. There are such a lot of individuals in our nation which can be being focused proper
now, however talking in regards to the LGBTQ+ neighborhood, our authorities is actively attempting
to erase our historical past. Our authorities is taking on our cultural establishments
in DC, slicing funding for the humanities, so a narrative like that is sadly extra
essential than ever. I typically say that that is the correct piece for no matter time
that is, as a result of I’d not name it the “proper” time. And as a queer child rising up in
Auburn, Maine, on the peak of the AIDS disaster within the Nineteen Eighties and ’90s, I by no means
noticed any illustration of the queer neighborhood apart from the limitless information cycle
about homosexual individuals dying from HIV and AIDS.
So it is extra essential than ever for me to
share this homosexual love story. And showcasing intimacy between males or similar intercourse
intimacy on stage has at all times been actually essential to me, so individuals can see
themselves represented. And the present—it is a horny present. Can I say horny? I imply,
Heated Rivalry is the preferred present on this planet proper now. The
Fellow Vacationers miniseries was additionally very charged.
Hopefully the opera
would not disappoint in delivering a narrative that actually portrays love between two
males in an trustworthy approach, bodily and emotionally. And we want these tales
greater than ever proper now.
Seattle Opera: What does telling this story imply for you as
a queer director?
Kevin Newbury: Wow. If I may return and inform my closeted, queer, teenage self that I’d be constructing a profession as a director throughout mediums—I direct opera, theater, movie, tv—and telling
queer tales is simply… I really feel prefer it’s my mission in life.
I like
intergenerational conversations. I like to spend time with different queer of us
and our allies, from youngsters of their early 20s which can be simply popping out and
realizing who they’re to individuals my age, to my pals and of their 80s and
90s, and all the brand new pals that I at all times meet all through the course of this
manufacturing.
I have been
considering loads about what it means to be a queer artist, making work at this
very tough second for our nation. And I imagine within the energy of artwork to
construct neighborhood. I imagine that we stand on the shoulders of the those that
got here earlier than us who fought so arduous for us to have the rights that now we have now.
And I imagine within the energy of a extremely good love story. And Fellow Vacationers
is at the start a extremely lovely love story, and it connects with
audiences from all kinds of backgrounds, generations, and political
persuasions.
Though it
takes on some severe points and this sort of scary second in our historical past
serves because the backdrop for this story, the present can be actually humorous and actually
shifting, and it strikes at a extremely quick tempo. It feels extra like a Broadway
musical than an opera in some methods. It has plenty of pleasure, plenty of
motion, and I can not wait to see you all on the theater. I’ll be in any respect
the reveals, so for those who see me within the foyer, inform me what you suppose and are available and
share your love story.
Seattle Opera: Anything you’d prefer to share or add
that you really want our audiences to listen to?
Kevin Newbury: The music in Fellow Vacationers is so
lovely. Greg Spears’s rating is lush, romantic, tuneful. It simply invitations
audiences in, and it is such an exquisite expertise to be within the theater with
Greg’s attractive music. And Greg Pierce’s libretto is so taught and humorous and
insightful and romantic. And so the mixture of Greg and Gregory’s skills
simply elevate up this story in such a phenomenal theatrical approach. Thomas Mallon’s
novel is fantastic. The opera is simply such an thrilling piece of theater. And
then in fact, the miniseries was additionally fabulous and the miniseries introduced the
story to much more individuals across the nation and you’ll expertise them in
no matter order you need.
Come to the opera first
after which learn the novel after which see the miniseries or watch the miniseries and
then come to the opera. However I simply love that this opera has been round for 10
years and that the story continues to succeed in audiences throughout the nation and
hopefully the world over. Our plan is to take it in every single place.
Fellow Vacationers is on stage February 21–March 1, 2026 at McCaw Corridor. Be taught extra and purchase tickets at seattleopera.org/fellowtravelers.
