Barter Stage II

Barter Stage II

127 West Main Street
Abingdon, VA 24210
276-628-3991

Website: Barter Theatre
Email:

Description:
Welcome to the magic that is Barter Theatre. Our passion can be felt in two unique venues of live performance:
Barter Theatre, able to accommodate 507 patrons, is a grand theatre full of rich history and home to incredible productions.

During the Depression, Robert Porterfield, an enterprising young actor, returned to his native Southwest Virginia with an extraordinary proposition: Bartering produce from the farms and gardens of the region to gain admission to see a play.

So on June 10, 1933, Barter Theatre opened its doors, proclaiming "With vegetables you cannot sell, you can buy a good laugh." The price of admission was 40 cents or equivalent amount of produce. Four out of five Depression-era theatregoers paid their way with vegetables, dairy products and livestock.

Barter Theatre Stage II was constructed in 1829 as a Methodist church. Only the main building of the church was not destroyed by fire in 1914; it was later used by the Martha Washington College as a gymnasium and a storage area.

In 1961, the building was renovated by Barter Theatre as a small theatre, with major improvements made in 1973 and again in 1985, when additions included a lobby and the Jessie Ball DuPont Memorial Theatre Garden. The unique performance space features 167 seats around a thrust stage, with patrons only a few feet away from the performers. Barter Stage II is favored by actors and audiences for its intimate setting.

Tags: Shows

Barter Stage II Upcoming Events:

(1) Wooden Snowflakes

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Disclaimer:
While every effort is made to provide current and accurate information, the information contained herein should not be relied upon as your sole source of information. We suggest that you also refer to information provided by Barter Stage II before making final plans.