[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 122, 110th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
[NOTE: Sept. 30, 2008 -  [H.Con.Res.416]   BARTER THEATRE--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;


[[Page 5206]]
122 STAT. 5206


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.

Agreed to September 30, 2008.