[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 416 Received in Senate (RDS)]

  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 416


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

           September 27 (legislative day, September 17), 2008

                                Received

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


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

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.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 26, 2008.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.