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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 90 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. J. RES. 90

 Commending the Barter Theatre on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 4, 2008

   Mr. Boucher introduced the following joint resolution; which was 
      referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION

 
 Commending the Barter Theatre on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.

Whereas the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, presents its 75th anniversary 
        season in 2008, celebrating a vibrant tradition of providing high 
        quality entertainment, educational programs, and a venue for artistic 
        development in Southwest Virginia;
Whereas Barter Theatre was founded in 1933 by visionary Robert Porterfield, who 
        originated the idea of offering people admission to live theater 
        performances in exchange for fresh produce and livestock, inspiring the 
        name, ``Barter Theatre'';
Whereas in 1946, the Virginia General Assembly designated the 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 audiences 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;
Whereas one of the few resident theaters still functioning, the 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;
Whereas Barter Theatre's Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights is an 
        annual 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's many educational programs, such as the Student Matinee 
        Program, the award-winning Distance Learning Program, and the Young 
        Playwrights Festival, give students the opportunity to attend 
        professional theater performances, ask questions of actors and other 
        theater professionals, participate in set design and acting workshops, 
        and learn about the inner workings of a professional theater; and
Whereas Barter Theater is a premiere tourist attraction in Southwest Virginia 
        and one of the cornerstones of tourism for the entire region: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress commends and 
congratulates Barter Theatre on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.
                                 <all>
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