110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 416 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Whereas Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, presents its 

75th anniversary season in 2008; 

Whereas Barter Theatre was founded in 1933 by visionary 

Robert Porterfield, who originated the idea of offering 

people admission to artistic performances in exchange for 

fresh produce and livestock, inspiring the name, ‘‘Barter 

Theatre’’; 
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Whereas in 1946, the Virginia General Assembly designated 

Barter Theatre as the State Theatre of Virginia, the first 

theater to receive this distinction; 

Whereas Barter Theatre is a favorite destination for regional, 

national, and international visitors, and its patrons have 

more than doubled over the past 10 years; 

Whereas in 2006, the company’s 2 stages drew 160,000 patrons for live theatrical productions, including comedies, 

musicals, dramas, mysteries, and innovative new works, 

to educate and entertain audiences; 

Whereas, as one of the few resident theaters still functioning, 

Barter Theatre is the longest continuously operating Equity theater in the country; 

Whereas the Barter Players, the touring company of the theater, travel to 8 States each year, performing at schools 

and community venues, augmenting the artistic education 

for all ages; 

Whereas Barter Theatre’s Appalachian Festival of Plays and 

Playwrights is an annual arts festival that celebrates the 

richness of Appalachian history and culture by providing 

a venue where the story of the region, both past and 

present, can be explored and showcased by area playwrights and writers; 

Whereas Barter Theatre has created and implemented an 

award-winning Internet Distance Learning Program 

which teaches students about artistic and technical theatrical elements using a web-based interactive program 

available to classrooms across the region; 

Whereas the Barter Theatre Student Matinee Program provides the opportunity for students to attend professional 

theater performances, ask questions of the actors and 
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other theater professionals, participate in set design and 

acting workshops, and learn about the inner workings of 

a professional theater; 

Whereas the Barter Theatre Young Playwrights Festival offers a contest for local high school students to write and 

submit plays of their own, with the winning plays performed by professionals at Barter Theatre, encouraging 

the development of students’ writing skills and creativity 

and providing training to educators in teaching playwriting; and 

Whereas Barter Theatre is a premiere tourist attraction in 

Southwest Virginia and one of the cornerstones of tourism for the entire region: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That the Congress— 

3 (1) commends and congratulates Barter The4 atre on the occasion of its 75th anniversary; 

5 (2) recognizes Barter Theatre for providing 75 

6 years of high quality artistic programs to visitors 

7 and the surrounding community, educational pro8 grams, and a venue for artistic development in 

9 Southwest Virginia; 

10 (3) recognizes that Barter Theatre is a valuable 

11 educational resource, reaching 18,000 students each 

12 season through its productions on two stages; and 

13 (4) recognizes that educational outreach of Bar14 ter Theatre, which includes the Young Playwrights 

15 Festival, the Internet Distance Learning Program, 
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1 the Student Matinee Program, and the touring com2 pany of Barter Theatre, the Barter Players, exposes 

3 young people to playwriting and performances and 

4 encourages artistic expression. 

Passed the House of Representatives September 26, 

2008. 

Attest: 

Clerk. 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 416 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Commending Barter Theatre on the occasion of its 

75th anniversary.