Young Audiences

Where there's children, there's creativity.

The Barter Players

The Barter Players are a group of professional theatre artists who perform for young audiences at the theatre April through December and in schools during their January through March East Coast Tour. The troupe presents high energy and original productions that capture the imagination, intelligence and sophistication of today's youth while providing the best in the classic literature and beloved story adaptation. The Barter Players have been acclaimed nationwide as one of the finest theatres for young people anywhere. In the grand tradition of Barter Theatre, The Barter Players perform with a unique combination of education and entertainment, plus the commitment to bring world-class theatre to young people of all ages and backgrounds.

Find out about...

• The Barter Players at the theatre.
• The Barter Players on tour.

The Barter Players Sponsors

• Alpha Natural Resources, Lead Sponsor
  • Berry Home Centers, Inc.
  • Dr. Timothy E. Collins, Pediatric Dentistry
  • Kidsville News
  • V. Blake McKinney, Attorney at Law
  • Dr. Todd Pillion, Pediatric Dentistry of Bristol
  • Universal Fiber Systems LLC

 

 

The Barter Players in Abingdon

Edgar Allan Poe: Master of Macabre by John Hardy
April 1-26; Barter Stage II
“I am Edgar Allan Poe!” This widely acclaimed play brings you not only the drama of Poe’s best-loved stories and poems, but also a look inside the life and mind of the “King of Horror.” Audiences will experience the spine-tingling storytelling of Poe as they get to know the storyteller himself. This superb collection of tales is a performance of eerie intensity and spectacular staging guaranteed to chill and thrill!

Miss Nelson Has a Field Day by Harry Allard, adapted by Joan Cushing
April 30-May 24; Barter Theatre
If you loved Miss Nelson when she was missing, just wait till you see what happens to her once she’s found! Her students, the Smedley Elementary School Tornadoes, are the worst team in the little football league, and they need all the help they can get as they prepare for the big game. Their only hope is a visit from that infamous substitute teacher: Viola Swamp. Join them on a hilarious musical romp that takes you from the classroom to the gridiron.

Sleeping Beauty adapted by Catherine Bush
June 3-June 28; Barter Stage II
The Barter Players bring to life the most celebrated of all the princess tales. At Princess Aurora’s christening, she is cursed by an angry fairy, and all seems lost. Only the skill of the good fairies and the love of a certain handsome prince can change this curse into a blessing. Bursting with magic, mystery and romance, this play is sure to delight the dreamer in us all.

The Frog Prince adapted by Catherine Gray
July 2-19; Barter Stage II
When the princess loses her golden ball down the well, only a little frog can help her. But when the frog asks for a kiss in return, the princess goes to great lengths to avoid him. The result is a fun and funny look at what happens when we get what we think we want.

The Brementown Musicians a new musical by Gwen Edwards and Ben Mackel
July 23-August 9; Barter Stage II
A donkey, a hound, a cat and a rooster set out to be the Town Musicians of Bremen after their owners decide they are too old be of any use to them. Along the road to Bremen they make good music, capture some bandits, and discover that with the help of good friends, life can have new meaning. Don’t miss this brand new musical full of laughter, fun and friendship.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt, adapted by Mark Frattaroli
September 11-November 15; Barter Stage II
Based on the award-winning novel, the story follows Young Winnie as she leaves her grandmother’s house for an adventure in the woods. There she meets Jesse Tuck whose family has a secret: they have stumbled upon a spring whose waters grant immortality. The family strives to hide themselves and the spring from the sinister Man in the Yellow Hat who is desperate to discover the origin of their perpetual youth. It is left for Winnie to discover that the only thing that is truly everlasting is love.

The Elves and the Shoemaker the new musical based on the old story by Gwen Edwards and Ben Mackel
December 3-December 20; Barter Theatre
The Shoemaker is struggling to keep his shop open during the Christmas holidays. He is old and tired, and his loving daughter worries that he will not be able to do the work he has promised in time. She makes a Christmas wish for him, the purest wish ever wished, and, sure enough, some small friends come to lend helping hands. The Shoemaker, his daughter, and even the elves come to find Christmas in a whole new way as they give and receive the gift of friendship during the holiday.

 

More Information

Study Guides - All of our productions are built to go hand-in-hand with your school’s SOL or TCAP curriculum. Please call for information on study packets with SOL and TCAP listings for each show, as well as information on our award-winning online educational game.

Click to see more on our other educational tools
(e) Learning Game
Performances
Hands-on Experiences
Talkbacks
Tours

For more information on The Barter Players, contact Katy Brown, Director of Barter Players, at 276-619-3327. For tickets contact Barter's Box Office at (276) 628-3991. For Group Information, contact Group Sales at (276) 619-5406 or groupsalesrep@bartertheatre.com.

Meet the Barter Players

The Barter Players are a group of young actors from all over the country who are dedicated to growing as artists by bringing the best and bravest theatre to the young people of this region.

 

Ezra Colón	Chandler Davis	Philena Gilmer
Ryan Henderson	David McCall	Julia VanderVeen

Artistic Director

Katy Brown (Artistic Director of The Barter Players; Associate Director of Barter Theatre) is in her ninth year here at Barter. Her directing credits include The Last Five Years, A Thousand Cranes, Around the World in 80 Days, Scott Momaday’s Children of the Sun, Green Gables: The Musical, A Walk in the Woods and this spring’s production of The Quiltmaker. You have also seen Katy on stage in roles such as Phebe in As You Like It, Rose of Sharon in The Grapes of Wrath, Olivia in Twelfth Night and Suzanne in Picasso at the Lapin Agile. During her time here, she has worked as a teacher, choreographer, dramaturge and administrator; she also helped to create Barter’s internationally acclaimed on-line game for students. Katy is grateful for all the different jobs she has the opportunity to learn and do each year, particularly in her duties as the Artistic Director of The Barter Players – a wonderful group of actors whose growth and dedication never cease to make her proud.