[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 416 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        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 livestock, 
  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 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 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

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
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.