110 HJ 90 IH: Commending the Barter Theatre on the U.S. House of Representatives 2008-06-04 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

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

That Congress commends and congratulates Barter Theatre on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.