Shows
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The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead05/10/2013 - 08/10/2013 An utterly enthralling play about how the decision of a moment can have far-reaching, and startling, consequences. When Rhonda Russell’s husband announces he is leaving her, it sets in motion a series of events that no one could predict. As the story unfolds, seven different characters reveal new details about that fateful day at the mall, each played by Barter audience favorite Tricia Matthews. This show contains mature themes and language. Not recommended for ages 17 and below. |
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Les Miserables05/18/2013 - 08/11/2013 From the first soaring notes to the final triumphant chorus, Les Mis is a musical experience you will never forget. Pursued by the righteous policeman Javert, convicted felon Jean Valjean seeks to find redemption and protect the innocent orphan Cosette. Songs like “On My Own,” “Who am I?” and “One Day More” have made Les Mis an international smash hit for over two decades. Barter’s thrilling original production features a cast of 26 and a live musical ensemble on stage. Bring your family to the theatrical event of the year! |
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The Pied Piper of Hamelin05/28/2013 - 06/23/2013 Once upon a time, there was a legend of a mysterious man who could charm animals with his music. When the town of Hamelin becomes over run with rats, the villagers seek him out and ask him to play his magical flute to save the town. But when the mayor of Hamelin refuses to pay the piper for his services, the town will learn a lesson they will not soon forget. Don’t miss this childhood classic! |
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Southern Fried Funeral05/30/2013 - 08/10/2013 When Dewey Frye drops dead in the middle of a Rotary meeting, half the town of New Edinburgh Mississippi turns out for his funeral, whether his widow Dorothy wants them to or not. And goodness knows she already has her hands full, with feuding daughters and a no-good brother-in-law to deal with. Laugh-out-loud funny, this big-hearted comedy offers an affectionate look at Southern family, manners and traditions. |
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A Streetcar Named Desire06/06/2013 - 07/27/2013 Fading southern beauty Blanche shows up on her sister’s doorstep, upsetting the precarious balance of her marriage. Blanche’s genteel pretensions and fantasies set her on a tragic collision course with her brother-in-law Stanley. Tennessee Williams’ shattering prose and steamy realism are as electrifying today as when the play debuted in 1947. |
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The Gin Game06/19/2013 - 08/11/2013 Weller and Fonsia are neighbors who strike up an acquaintance over a game of gin rummy. But a simple game soon becomes a battle of wits, as long-buried heartaches and secret resentments are revealed, and their rivalry builds towards a dramatic conclusion. An immediate classic, winner of multiple Tony Awards and the 1978 Pulitzer Prize, The Gin Game has been called a “perfect play…A stunning piece of theatre” by the The Boston Globe. This show contains mature themes and language. Not recommended for ages 17 and under. |
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Cinderella06/25/2013 - 07/21/2013 The most magical of all the fairy tales will be brought to life by the Barter Players this summer, complete with glass slippers, the fairy godmother, the handsome prince and, of course, those horrible step-sisters. Don’t miss this enduring tale of love, romance and adventure live onstage this summer. |
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Mother Goose: The Musical07/24/2013 - 08/11/2013 Old King Cole and his merry subjects are preparing the kingdom for the arrival of that most magical storyteller, Mother Goose. But mischief is afoot, and His Majesty must discover the cause before it's too late! Come join in the fun as Old Mother Hubbard, Jack and Jill, Humpty Dumpty, and even Little Miss Muffet go on an adventure in this zany musical mash up of your favorite nursery rhymes. |
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AFPP Mini-Production: Hanging Mary07/30/2013 - 08/10/2013 In Erwin, Tennessee in 1916, a circus elephant named Mary was hung by the neck, having been sentenced to death for the murder of Red Eldridge. Be the first to see the brand-new and highly theatrical tale of this significant regional story and become part of the development process for Barter’s planned 2014 production. Part of Barter's Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights (AFPP). *each year Barter chooses a play from the previous year's AFPP to present as a mini-production. This only means minimal technical elements such as set, costumes, etc. The play will ususally be presented as a world premiere at Barter the following year. |
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Good Ol' Girls08/16/2013 - 09/07/2013 A catchy musical about strong southern women. When life gets tough, good ol’ girls just keep right on going - and when life gets challenging, well, they just burst into song! Inspired by the stories of two best-selling southern writers, and quilted together with the music of chart-topping country pop songwriters, it’s a toe-tapping, life-affirming show. |
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Thicker Than Water09/03/2013 - 10/06/2013 One of the most talked-about shows from Barter’s 2012 Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights. So compelling, so powerful, you will want to discuss this show for weeks following. Using the real words from court transcripts, police interviews, and media coverage of the Andrea Yates trial, the show weaves a story of America in search of answers for an action not so easily explained. What is it in human nature that allows such a horrific thing to occur in the first place?
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The Ghost in the Meadow09/10/2013 - 11/16/2013 When two sisters relocate from Manhattan to an old farmhouse in upstate New York, they begin to suspect that they may not be alone in the house. With the help of their friend Julian and an experienced psychic, they discover that their dream home has an evil history dating back to the Civil War. If you liked The Woman in Black, you’ll love this chilling mystery that will have you on the edge of your seat. |
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Kiss Me Kate09/14/2013 - 11/17/2013 Fred and Lilli are a divorced couple who can’t live with each other and can’t live without each other in this hilarious musical romp. Fred is directing and producing a new musical version of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew– if he can convince his leading lady (and ex-wife) Lilli to cooperate. Relive the classic 1948 musical, with its stunning choreography and perfect Cole Porter tunes, in a production only Barter can bring you. Full of laughter, wit and romance, Kiss Me Kate is a musical delight that will have you humming long after you leave the theatre. |
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Little House on the Prairie09/25/2013 - 11/20/2013 Join the Ingalls family as they leave the Big Woods of Wisconsin and head west into Indian Territory to seek adventure and a new way of life. It’s a beautiful and faithful retelling of the beloved book and a celebration of the settling of the American west as only Laura Ingalls Wilder can tell it. |
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Dial 'M' for Murder09/26/2013 - 11/16/2013 Washed up tennis pro Tony Wendice thinks he has hatched the perfect plan to get rid of his wealthy wife Margot. But when the murder is botched, the story takes an unexpected turn, and the audience is left breathless as Tony tries to out maneuver the police and Margot’s suspicious lover. A classic thriller that has been a hit on stage and in film. |
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A Visit from Scarface10/08/2013 - 11/16/2013 From the comedic duo who brought us Don't Cry for Me, Margaret Mitchell; Dracula Bites, and Elvis Has Left the Building! |
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Sanders Family Christmas11/22/2013 - 12/29/2013 It's Christmas 1941, and your favorite gospel-singing family has returned to the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church for a Saturday night sing. The Sanders Family will keep you laughing, clapping, and singing along with bluegrass and country favorites, Christmas carols and hilarious Yuletide stories. |
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Another Night Before Christmas11/26/2013 - 12/22/2013 Twas the night before Christmas . . . and there's a burglar in the house! Or is it someone more familiar - someone with a twinkling eye, perhaps? A cynical social worker is about to have her humbug attitude turned upside down in this truly endearing and hysterical musical comedy. A modern-day Christmas comedy to make you laugh ’til you jiggle like a bowlful of jelly. |
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'Twas the Night Before Christmas12/03/2013 - 12/22/2013 ...And all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. It's Christmas Eve and Clem has no money to give his family presents or even to pay his rent. He puts his children to bed, believing there is hope for a Merry Christmas. Then out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, and a truly magical night begins that Clem and his family will never forget. See Clement Clark Moore's poem brought to life on stage as only the Barter Players can. It's pure Christmas magic. |
Did You Know...
Barter Theatre was founded in 1933 during the Depression, and its name came from bartering produce from the farms and gardens of the area to gain admission to see a play.
