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2008 SESSION

088937576
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 336
Offered February 4, 2008
Commending Barter Theatre on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.
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Patrons-- Johnson, Abbitt, Albo, Alexander, Amundson, Armstrong, Athey, BaCote, Barlow, Bell, Bouchard, Bowling, Brink, Bulova, Byron, Caputo, Carrico, Cline, Cole, Cosgrove, Cox, Crockett-Stark, Dance, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Englin, Fralin, Frederick, Gear, Gilbert, Griffith, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Hogan, Howell, A.T., Howell, W.J., Hugo, Hull, Iaquinto, Ingram, Janis, Joannou, Jones, D.C., Jones, S.C., Kilgore, Landes, Lewis, Lingamfelter, Lohr, Loupassi, Marsden, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., Massie, Mathieson, May, McClellan, Melvin, Merricks, Miller, J.H., Miller, P.J., Moran, Morgan, Morrissey, Nichols, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Peace, Phillips, Plum, Pogge, Poindexter, Poisson, Purkey, Putney, Rust, Saxman, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Shannon, Sherwood, Shuler, Sickles, Spruill, Suit, Tata, Toscano, Tyler, Valentine, Vanderhye, Ward, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Watts and Wright; Senators: Wampler, Barker, Blevins, Colgan, Cuccinelli, Deeds, Edwards, Hanger, Herring, Houck, Howell, Hurt, Locke, Lucas, Marsh, Martin, McDougle, McEachin, Miller, J.C., Miller, Y.B., Newman, Norment, Northam, Obenshain, Petersen, Puckett, Puller, Quayle, Reynolds, Ruff, Saslaw, Smith, Stolle, Stosch, Stuart, Ticer, Vogel, Wagner, Watkins and Whipple
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WHEREAS, Barter Theatre in Abingdon 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; and

WHEREAS, Barter Theatre was founded in 1933 by visionary Robert Porterfield, who came up with the idea of offering people admission to live theatre performances in exchange for fresh produce and livestock—thus the name “Barter Theatre”; and

WHEREAS, in 1946 the General Assembly designated Barter as the State Theatre of Virginia, the first theatre to receive this designation; and

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; in 2006 the company’s two stages drew 160,000 patrons for live theatrical productions including comedies, musicals, dramas, mysteries, and innovative new works; and

WHEREAS, one of the few resident theatres left, Barter Theatre is the longest running Equity theatre in the country; the Barter Players, the touring company of the theatre, travel to eight states each year, performing at schools and community venues; and

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; and

WHEREAS, Barter Theatre’s many education 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 theatre performances, ask questions of actors and other theatre professionals, participate in set design and acting workshops, and learn about the inner workings of a professional theatre; and

WHEREAS, Barter Theatre is a premiere tourist attraction in Southwest Virginia and one of the cornerstones of tourism for the entire Tri-Cities Region; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend and congratulate Barter Theatre on the occasion of its 75th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Barter Theatre on the occasion of its 75th anniversary as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration and respect for its strong commitment to the development and presentation of high quality live theatre performances.