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2025 with The Barter Players

Classic Theatre for Kids of ALL Ages

Pete the Cat

MARCH 25TH – MAY 10TH on GILLIAM STAGE

For Pete the Cat, life is an adventure no matter where you wind up. So the minute the groovy blue cat meets The Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking – except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on planet Earth! But when Jimmy draws a blank in art class during the last week of school, it turns out Pete is the perfect pal to help him out. Together, they set out on a mission to help Jimmy conquer second grade art, and along the way, they both learn a little something new about inspiration. Join Jimmy and Pete on a musical adventure of friendship, all the way to Paris and back in a VW Bus!

Script & Lyrics by Sarah Hammond, Music by Will Aronson / Based on the Pete the Cat series of books by Kimberly and James Dean / Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Corp.

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The Jungle Book

JUNE 10TH – JULY 12TH at BARTER’S SMITH THEATRE

When Raksha the She-Wolf discovers a human baby alone in the jungle, she adopts Mowgli the “man cub” as her own. As Mowgli grows, he is taught the law of the jungle by his mentors Baloo the Bear, Bagheera the Black Panther, and Kaa the Snake. But will their wisdom keep him safe from the clutches of Shere-Khan, the man-eating tiger? This new adaptation is a thrilling adventure for the whole family!

Adapted from Rudyard Kipling’s novel by Catherine Bush

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The Reluctant Dragon

JULY 15TH – AUGUST 9TH at BARTER’S SMITH THEATRE

When the news gets out that a dragon is living in the hills above Trowbridge, the townsfolk are determined to kill it. Then a boy named Darby befriends the beast and discovers that not all dragons are vicious monsters and that some, indeed, have the soul of a poet! But can Darby convince the village before it’s too late?

Adapted by Catherine Bush

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The Call of the Wild

SEPTEMBER 23RD – NOVEMBER 1ST at BARTER’S SMITH THEATRE

In this gripping tale, a heroic dog named Buck is kidnapped from his owner’s home and forced to serve as a sled dog in the Alaskan Gold Rush. In his struggle to survive, he quickly learns the “law of club and fang” while giving his unswerving loyalty to the man who saves his life. In the end, Buck must choose between living in a man’s world and answering the call of the wild.

Adapted from Jack London’s novel by Catherine Bush

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Jingle All the Way

NOVEMBER 25TH – DECEMBER 27TH on GILLIAM STAGE

It’s not easy being the twin brother of Santa’s #1 Helper–and no one knows that better than Jangle the Elf. No matter what job Jangle is assigned to in Santa’s Workshop, his sister Jingle can do it faster and better. Then a letter arrives for Santa at the North Pole, a letter requiring a Top Priority Gift. The trouble is no one–including Jingle–knows how to make it. Will Jangle be able to save the day–and Christmas?

Book & Lyrics by Catherine Bush, Music by Dax Dupuy

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Barter Theatre is supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

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