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| Name | Barter Theatre |
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| Formed | 1933 |
| Location(s) | 127 West Main Street, Abingdon, VA |
| Artistic director(s) | Richard Rose |
| Website | http://www.bartertheatre.com/ |
Barter Theatre, located in Abingdon, Virginia, opened on June 10, 1933. It is one of the longest running professional theatres in the nation. In 1933, when the country was in the middle of the Great Depression, most patrons were not able to pay the full ticket price. Robert Porterfield, founder of the theatre, offered admittance by letting the local people pay with food goods, hence the name "Barter". The original ticket price for a play was 40 cents, or the equivalent in goods. In 1946, Barter Theatre was designated the State Theatre of Virginia. Today, Barter is one of the last year-round professional resident repertory theatres remaining in the United States.
After Porterfield's death in 1971, Rex Partington was named the artistic director, serving from 1972-1992. Since 1992, Richard Rose has served as the Barter Theatre's third artistic director.
Many well-known stars of stage, screen and television have launched their careers at Barter, including Gregory Peck, Ernest Borgnine, Patricia Neal, Ned Beatty, Hume Cronyn, Gary Collins, Frances Fisher, Kevin Spacey, Larry Linville and Wayne Knight. On The Lot winner Will Bigham acted at Barter Theatre for many years before pursuing a film career alongside his wife Catherine Gray.
17 Productions Bringing You Adventure, Love, Magic, and Laughter!
BARTER THEATRE
Alice in Wonderland (adapted by Rick Rose) Begins February 4
The Diary of Anne Frank (adapted by Francis Goodrich and Albert Hackett) Begins February 19
Always...Patsy Cline (Ted Swindley) Begins April 23
Annie (Thomas Meehan/Charles Strouse/Martin Charnin) Begins May 28
The Blue Sky Boys (Deborah Brevoort) Begins June 10
Shake, Rattle and Roll: A Rockin' Tribute to the King (featuring Scot Bruce) Begins August 20
The Full Monty (Terrence McNally/David Yazbek) Begins September 17
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily (Katie Forgette) Begins October 1
It's a Wonderful Life (based on the Frank Capra film) Begins November 19
BARTER STAGE II
Dead Man's Cell Phone (Sarah Ruhl) Begins February 12
Chaps! (Jahnna Beecham and Malcolm Hillgartner) Begins February 26
Tuesdays with Morrie (Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom) Begins April 30
Revolutions (Richard Alfieri) Begins May 13
Violet (Brian Crawley/Jeanine Tesori) Begins June 18
The Woman in Black (Stephen Malatratt)Begins September 3
Where Trouble Sleeps (adapted by Catherine Bush from Clyde Edgerton) Begins October 9
A Tuna Christmas (Ed Howard, Joe Sears, and Jaston Williams) Begins November 23