Glory Denied

In 1964, American soldier Jim Thompson’s plane was shot down in South Vietnam and he was quickly captured by the Viet Cong. He would remain a hostage there until 1973, making him the longest held prisoner of war in American history. Sadly, his life after he was released back to the United States was plagued by depression, addiction, and PTSD. Thompson's complex story was first told in Tom Philpott's 2012 book Glory Denied; now, Pittsburgh Opera stages an adaptation of that book at its headquarters in the Strip. Following this performance, audience members can meet Philpott, as well as the show's composer Tom Cipullo.