H. Con. Res. 416 
Agreed to September 30, 2008
One Hundred Tenth Congress 
of the 
United States of America 
AT THE SECOND SESSION 
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, 
the third day of January, two thousand and eight 
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 live-
stock, inspiring the name, ‘‘Barter Theatre’’; 
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 the-
ater 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 Play-
wrights 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 stu-
dents 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 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
H. Con. Res. 416—2 
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 South-
west Virginia and one of the cornerstones of tourism for the 
entire region: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concur-
ring), That the Congress— 
(1) commends and congratulates Barter Theatre on the 
occasion of its 75th anniversary; 
(2) recognizes Barter Theatre for providing 75 years of 
high quality artistic programs to visitors and the surrounding 
community, educational programs, and a venue for artistic 
development in Southwest Virginia; 
(3) recognizes that Barter Theatre is a valuable educational 
resource, reaching 18,000 students each season through its 
productions on two stages; and 
(4) recognizes that educational outreach of Barter Theatre, 
which includes the Young Playwrights Festival, the Internet 
Distance Learning Program, the Student Matinee Program, 
and the touring company of Barter Theatre, the Barter Players, 
exposes young people to playwriting and performances and 
encourages artistic expression. 
Attest: 
Clerk of the House of Representatives. 
Attest: 
Secretary of the Senate.