Pictured: Jonas Hacker

Lyric Opera has announced casting for the Chicago premiere of FELLOW TRAVELERS, produced by its “Lyric Unlimited” division at the Athenaeum Theatre next March.

Tenor Jonas Hacker and baritone Joseph Lattanzi will sing the lead roles of Timothy Laughlin and Hawkins Fuller, two men who fall in love during the height of the McCarthy era in 1950s Washington D.C. Devon Guthrie will sing the role of Mary Johnson, Hawkins’s assistant, and Timothy’s confidante. Based on the 2007 novel of the same title by Thomas Mallon, with music by Gregory Spears and libretto by Greg Pierce, FELLOW TRAVELERS will be conducted by Daniela Candillari and directed by Kevin Newbury.

The cast also features Vanessa Becerra as Miss Lightfoot, Marcus DeLoach as Senator McCarthy, Amy Kuckelman as Lucy, Will Liverman as Tommy McIntyre, Reginald Smith, Jr. as Senator Charles Potter, and Sam Handley as Potter’s Assistant. Design team members are Vita Tzykun (sets), Paul Carey (costumes), Thomas C. Hase (lighting), and James Geier (wigs and make-up). Marcus Shields is assistant director.

“Lyric Unlimited is thrilled to be presenting this recent work by Gregory Spears and Greg Pierce,” said Cayenne Harris, director of Lyric Unlimited. “The story and themes explored, while set in the recent past, have meaning and resonance with current political and social issues.”

Sung in English with projected English texts, Fellow Travelers runs March 17-25 for four performances at the Athenaeum Theatre. Tickets go on sale Monday, July 10 at lyricopera.org.