Barter Theatre News

Barter Youth Academy offers innovative theatre education classes that teach students teamwork and creativity in a fun, fast-paced environment! Classes are offered for students ages 5-18 with locations throughout the tri-cities: Abingdon, Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City!

Barter's 20th Annual Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights (AFPP) is set for January 23-26, 2020 at Barter's Smith Theatre.

Casting is set for Studio Theatre's production of Pipeline, playwright Dominique Morisseau's searing drama about the school-to-prison pipeline and a mother desperately trying to keep her son from becoming ensnared in it. The production runs January 15-February 16, 2020 and is directed by Awoye Timpo. Starring are DC theatre favorite Justin Weaks (Studio's Curve of Departure) as high school student Omari and Andrea Harris Smith making her Studio debut as his mother, public school teacher Nya. In its recent People Issue, Washington City Paper's called Weaks a 'standout,' going on to say: 'D.C. theater audiences love Justin Weaks. ...Weaks came to D.C. for a job about four years ago, not expecting to stay. But he kept getting cast in shows, and lucky for local theatergoers, he's still here.'

North Carolina Theatre, the region's premier nonprofit professional theatre, has announced casting for its February production of Kinky Boots, playing February 11-16, 2020 at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh. Eric Woodall is NC Theatre's producing artistic director, and Broadway performer Nathan Peck will direct and choreograph the production.

The Old Globe's 2020 Summer Season brings to Balboa Park an extraordinarily talented group of artists who will delight audiences with their unique takes on four great works of theatre. The season incudes a classic American musical, a new adaptation of a 20th century thriller, and two of Shakespeare's masterworks on our outdoor stage.

Barter Theatre opens four Christmas productions this season! On Gilliam Stage see the classic holiday musical, a?oeWhite Christmas,a?? and bring your favorite young hearts to see a?oe'Twas the Night Before Christmas.a?? For something a little more edgy and wild, check out a?oeJacob Marley's Christmas Carola?? at Smith Theatre or a?oeThe Santaland Diaries.a?? There's something for everyone this holiday season at Barter Theatre.

Today, Penny and Sparrow announced their first tour of 2020 alongside a live video for the song “Stockholm” from their new, critically-acclaimed album Finch. The tour will make stops in New York, Nashville, Chicago and more, with tickets on sale this Friday, November 22. Find a full list of tour dates below or on their website.

Saturday, November 16 beginning at 6:30 The Martha Washington Inn & Spa will host a celebratory night for Barter Theatre providing opportunity to raise support for the future of the theatre. There will be live entertainment by Ivy Road, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. The night will involve exciting and unique auction opportunities.

Barter Theatre announces the 2020 season packed with hit musicals, classic literature, new works, and everything in between. As always at Barter Theatre there is something for everyone in the 2020 season. 

In conjunction with the unveiling of Barter Theatre's 2020 season, Richard Rose today announced his plans to retire from the organization on December 31, 2019. Rose is leaving his post as producing artistic director after a long and storied career, including 27 years of dedicated service at Barter Theatre and over 150 productions directed. He is known throughout the region and the country as a bold and innovative leader who propelled Barter Theatre to unprecedented success and acclaim.

Barter Theatre will announce the upcoming 2020 season on October 24 at 10:00 am on Gilliam Stage at Barter Theatre. This event is free to the public. Tickets must be reserved through the box office at 276-628-3991.

Barter Theatre's Young Playwrights Festival is an annual event that cultivates and celebrates the talent of high school students. The purpose of this Festival is to encourage the development of students' writing skills and creativity, with the added benefit of discovering talented playwrights in our region.

59E59 Theaters will welcome the NY premiere of EVERYTHING IS SUPER GREAT, written by Stephen Brown and directed by Sarah Norris. Produced by New Light Theater Project and Stable Cable Lab Co. in a co-world premiere in conjunction with Theatre Lab FAU, EVERYTHING IS SUPER GREAT begins performances on Friday, November 22 for a limited engagement through Saturday, December 14. Press Opening is Tuesday, November 26 at 7:30 pm. The performance schedule is Tuesday a?" Friday at 7:30 pm; Saturday at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm; Sunday at 2:30 pm. Please note, there are no performances on Wednesday, November 27 and Thursday, November 28; and no matinee performance on Saturday, December 7. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison). Single tickets are $25 ($20 for 59E59 Members). Tickets are available by calling the 59E59 Box Office at 646-892-7999 or by visiting www.59e59.org. The approximate running time is 90 minutes with no intermission.

a?oeThe Loopholea?? is a play based on a true story about two seemingly-innocent sisters from South Caroline who rob the U.S. Department of Defense of over $20 million dollars. The play gives an interesting look at the lengths people will go to justify doing something wrong.

a?oeThe Producersa?? is hilarious and brilliant, a classic Mel Brooks comedy! Patrons are in awe of the beautiful costumes and set; while the choreography and music is breathtaking and full of laughter. See a?oeThe Producersa?? on Gilliam Stage, starring Sean Maximo Campos, Rusty Allen, Ashley Campos and more.

Barter Theatre has announced a new fundraising event, What We Do For Love, celebrating and featuring Barter's resident acting company. The informal event is set for Oct. 6 at Food City Corporate Support Center in Abingdon, with a reception at 5:30 p.m. and a buffet dinner and performance beginning at 6 p.m. Event proceeds benefit Barter Theatre's Annual Fund for Artistic Excellence.

Governor Ralph Northam announced that Barter Theatre received $5,000 from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) Marketing Leverage Grant Fund program. In total, VTC awarded more than $965,000 for 44 tourism marketing projects across the state to help increase visitation and revenue for Virginia's localities through tourism.

BLK BOX PHX is proud to be offering three Actors' Equity Association contracts for their upcoming production of BAUER, the visceral and visual true story of forgotten modern artist Rudolf Bauer, struggling with his fading place in the history of art. Congratulations to Brian Runbeck, Maria Amorocho Weisbrod & Shana Rebilas Bousard. BAUER is written by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Elaine 'E.E.' Moe, member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Society.

The Washington Stage Guild returns to the Nobel Prize-winning George Bernard Shaw, with a new production of the first play by GBS ever presented by the Stage Guild, Candida. Subtitled a?oeA Mystery,a?? in it, a preacher and a poet are in love with the same woman. The former is her husband, the latter wants to woo her away, and both are shocked by her ultimate choice and the reasons for it. 

Barter Theatre is excited to announce the second annual College Playwrights Festival (CPF) This festival is geared specifically towards undergraduate college students. The College Playwrights Festival takes place January 2020, hand-in-hand with Barter's Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights. CPF will take place Jan. 16-19, 2020 with public readings of the finalists Jan. 18-19, 2020 at Barter's Smith Theatre.