Shows

Barter on Tour

2008 Tour Dates

Keep on the Sunny Side: The Songs and Story of the Original Carter Family Musical is comes to Fun Fest!

Abingdon, Va.— Barter Theatre’s hit and most requested musical Keep on the Sunny Side: The Songs and Story of the Original Carter Family will be performed at Kingsport’s FunFest for one-time only on Friday, July 11th at 7:30 p.m.

Produced by Abingdon, Virginia’s Historic Barter Theatre, Keep on the Sunny Side features Eugene Wolf once again as A. P. Carter. Songs that you love to sing are brilliantly interwoven into what many call “the love story that began country music.” Enjoy an evening of the comfort, simplicity and harmony of yesteryear’s music with Keep on the Sunny Side.

Follow along as local playwright Douglas Pote takes us back to when Sara and A. P. first meet, to the famous Bristol Session Recordings, to Janette’s vow to keep her family’s music alive. It truly is a heart-warming story featuring favorites such as “Gold Watch and Chain,” “My Clinch Mountain Home,” “Church in the Wildwood,” “Will the Circle be Unbroken,” and, of course, “Keep on the Sunny Side.”

Produced as part of Barter Theatre’s Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights, Keep on the Sunny Side: The Songs and Story of the Original Carter Family is significant to this region and helps to tell the story of our musical heritage.

Joining Wolf in this award-winning production are music legend Joy Lynn White as Maybelle and returning actor Jill Anderson, from Barter’s Almost Heaven, appears as Sara. Kimberly Mays, seen in Barter productions of Man of Constant Sorrow, Steel Magnolias and Pump Boys and Dinettes, returns to the Barter Stage as Janette. Musicians Buddy Woodward, of the Dixie Bee-Liners and Barter’s Nicholas Piper round out the cast.

The State Theatre of Virginia, the world famous Barter Theatre is celebrating its 75th anniversary season of producing professional non-profit theatre in the Appalachian Region. Known for outstanding musicals, comedies, dramas, new and Appalachian works and award-winning educational programming, Barter Theatre, Barter Stage II and The Barter Players present programs several times a week, and patrons can see up to five shows in two days in beautiful downtown Abingdon. Don’t miss a moment in Barter’s yearlong celebration!

Who: Barter Theatre
What: Keep on the Sunny Side
When: Friday, July 11, 2008 (performance begins @ 7:30 p.m.)
Where: During Kingsport Fun Fest at Toy F. Reid Eastman
Employee Center
How Much: General Admission Tickets - $10.00 per seat
Reserved Seating Package Available - $ 25.00 per seat