Barter Theatre (Abingdon, Virginia). In 1932, in the depths of the Great Depression, unemployed actor Robert Porterfield conceived the idea of establishing a theatre where impecunious playgoers could pay for tickets with foodstuffs in lieu of cash. A year later he opened his playhouse in Southwest Virginia. The group has flourished ever since, although most playgoers now pay for their seats in the customary way. However, a children's theatre still encourages youthful audiences to barter for tickets. Over the years the company has operated two theatres in Abingdon, performed at the Fairfax Theatre at George Mason University, and regularly toured the region. The repertory ranges from classics to modern plays. In 1946 the Barter Theatre became the official state theatre of Virginia, the first such honor accorded an acting company, and in 1948 received a special Tony Award for its contribution to regional theatre. For many years the theatre offered the Barter Theatre of Virginia Award, presented to a notable actor or actress and providing the recipient with a ham, an acre of land in Abingdon, and the right to choose two young performers for the company's intern program. One of the oldest operating theatres in America, the Barter still sets aside performances in which patrons can pay by donations to area food banks.
Barter Theatre
| American Theater Guide: Barter Theatre |
| Wikipedia: Barter Theatre |
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| Barter Theatre | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Name: | Barter Theatre | |
| Formed: | 1933 | |
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| Location(s): | 127 West Main Street, Abingdon, VA | |
| Artistic Director: | 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.
2010 Season
The date is the opening performance.
MAINSTAGE SEASON
Alice in Wonderland (adapted by Rick Rose)* 2/4
The Diary of Anne Frank (adapted by Francis Goodrich and Albert Hackett) 2/19
Always...Patsy Cline (Ted Swindley) 4/23
Annie (Thomas Meehan/Charles Strouse/Martin Charnin) 5/28
The Blue Sky Boys (Deborah Bailey Brevoort)* 6/11
Shake, Rattle and Roll: A Rockin' Tribute to the King (featuring Scot Bruce) 8/21
The Full Monty (Terrence McNally/David Yazbek) 9/17
Sherlock Holmes and the Cast of the Jersey Lily (Katie Forgette) 10/1
A Christmas Story (Adapted by Philip Grecian) 11/19
STAGE 2
Dead Man's Cell Phone (Sarah Ruhl) Dates not announced
Chaps! (Jahnna Beecham and Malcolm Hillgartner) Dates not announced
Tuesdays with Morrie (Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom) Dates not announced
Revolutions (Richard Alfieri)* Dates not announced
Violet (Brian Crawley/Jeanine Tesori) Dates not announced
TBA (most likely Forever Plaid)
Where Trouble Sleeps (adapted by Catherine Bush from Clyde Edgerton) Dates not announced
A Tuna Christmas (Ed Howard, Joe Sears, and Jaston Williams) 11/23
- WORLD PREMIERE
External links
Coordinates: 36°42′44″N 81°58′17″W / 36.71226°N 81.97131°W
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 | Hume Cronyn (American Theater) |
| Mitchell Ryan (Actor, Horror) |
| Fritz Weaver (Actor, Drama/History) |
 | How does barter work? Read answer... |
| What are the advantages of barter? Read answer... |
| What is a barter transaction? Read answer... |
 | Barter theatre in the valley and ridge region? |
| What is a birthright barterer? |
| Why barter was discontinued? |
Copyrights:
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 | American Theater Guide. The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. Copyright © 2004 by Oxford University Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Barter Theatre". Read more |
- What is bartering?
- Was the globe theatre the first theatre?
- Is bartering good?
- Where is the globe theatre- shakespeares theatre?
- Do you have to barter to get into the barter theatre?
- In what region of Virginia is the Barter Theatre?
- What are the problems with barter?
Mentioned in
- Hume Cronyn (American Theater)
- Mitchell Ryan (Actor, Horror)
- Fritz Weaver (Actor, Drama/History)
- Steve Cochran (Actor, Writer, Director, Drama/Crime)
