2025 Season
SPRING
NOW AVAILABLE
MARCH 8TH – 30TH ON GILLIAM STAGE
The book club started by Ana and her friends has become the subject of a documentary film, and all is going swimmingly until a new member throws the group dynamic into chaos – chaos that’s unfortunately caught on camera! Will these friends survive the revelation of their deepest secrets? The Book Club Play is a hilariously playful testament to the power of literature and its ability to bring us together. Welcome to the club!
MARCH 25TH – APRIL 23RD AT BARTER’S SMITH THEATRE
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” – On a dark night, the Ghost of Hamlet’s father reveals to Hamlet that his death was the result of murder. Now his murderer sits on the throne of Denmark and has taken Hamlet’s mother for his wife. Will Hamlet avenge his father’s death? This production, featuring Barter’s resident acting company, is Shakespeare’s seminal tragedy as you’ve never seen it before!
APRIL 11TH – MAY 11TH ON GILLIAM STAGE
On December 4, 1956, an extraordinary twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley together at Sun Records for what would become the greatest jam session of all time; Million Dollar Quartet is a lively reimagining of that legendary night, told in a riveting string of broken promises, secrets, and celebrations. The score for this production includes classics such as Blue Suede Shoes, Walk the Line, Sixteen Tons, Who Do You Love?, Great Balls of Fire, Folsom Prison Blues, Hound Dog, and more!
SUMMER
NOW AVAILABLE
MAY 24TH – AUGUST 17TH ON GILLIAM STAGE
Fearless optimist Anna, along with her new friend Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven, set off on an epic journey to find Anna’s sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter! Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom. The score includes audience favorites like Let it Go, For the First Time in Forever, and Do You Want to Build a Snowman? Disney’s FROZEN on Gilliam Stage is sure to be unforgettable fun for the whole family!
MAY 11TH – JUNE 1ST AT BARTER’S SMITH THEATRE
Thurgood follows the remarkable career of the man who would become the very first Black Supreme Court Justice in American history, Thurgood Marshall. Starting with his early days working as a young lawyer on the cornerstone Brown v. Board case in favor of overturning existing “separate but equal” legislation, this one man tour-de-force showcases the courage, integrity, and determination that skyrocketed a humble civil rights activist into becoming a true American hero.
THURGOOD is part of Barter’s Black Stories Black Voices series.
Content Advisories: (IL, P, V) – Strong Language and Racial Violence. More information.
JUNE 22ND – AUGUST 9TH AT BARTER’S SMITH THEATRE
After a mining accident renders her unable to move or communicate, fiercely independent Patsy Armstrong is forced to rely on her parents for everything. Then her family learns that Patsy’s injuries may be the result of her own negligence. What really happened that day in the mine? Inspired by the legacy of women coal miners, Mountain Mamas is a story of resilience and redemption which teaches us once again that the truth will always set you free.
MOUNTAIN MAMAS was developed through Barter’s Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights.
Content Advisories: (IL) – Strong Language. More information.
JUNE 14TH – AUGUST 16TH ON GILLIAM STAGE
When a group of Navy lawyers is assigned to defend two Marines accused of murder, they uncover a high-level conspiracy that threatens the very definition of honor. A Few Good Men is a fast-paced, high-stakes play which raises questions about the price of blind loyalty, as well as our own abilities to handle the truth!
Content Advisories: (IL, V) – Strong Language and Violence. More information.
FALL
NOW AVAILABLE
AUGUST 31ST – NOVEMBER 2ND ON GILLIAM STAGE
Marilla Cuthbert and her brother Matthew are determined to adopt an orphan boy to help them run Green Gables, their farm on beautiful Prince Edward Island. But their well-ordered lives take a surprising and hilarious twist when the boy they hoped for turns out to be a redheaded slip-of-a-girl named Anne Shirley, whose wild imagination leads her into countless scrapes, as well as a place in our hearts forever. Anne of Green Gables: The Musical is the perfect way for you and your family to celebrate the “kindred spirits” in your life!
SEPTEMBER 5TH – NOVEMBER 2ND AT BARTER’S SMITH THEATRE
The perfect blend of music, mayhem and murder! In this hilarious 90-minute show, 2 performers play 13 roles — not to mention the piano — in a witty and winking homage to old-fashioned murder mysteries. Called “ingenious” by The New York Times, Murder for Two is definitely a must-see!
SEPTEMBER 19TH – NOVEMBER 1ST ON GILLIAM STAGE
Comfortably nestled into his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful playwright, is struggling to overcome a recent string of failures that have left him flat broke. Then Sidney receives a script from one of his writing students– a thriller that Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway smash. What lengths will Sidney go to make that play his own? Deathtrap promises an evening of twists and turns that will leave you spellbound until the very last moment!
HOLIDAY
NOW AVAILABLE
NOVEMBER 15TH – DECEMBER 28TH ON GILLIAM STAGE
ELF: The Musical brings audiences into the hilarious tale of Buddy, an orphan baby who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and winds up being raised at the North Pole! When Buddy discovers that he is actually human, he embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make people of all ages and backgrounds embrace their inner “elf” this holiday season on Gilliam Stage!
NOVEMBER 22ND – DECEMBER 28TH AT BARTER’S SMITH THEATRE
It’s the time of the Census, y’all! That usually means things are really hopping in the little town of Bethlehem, and nobody’s feeling the heat more than Leah’s husband Saul, the town’s sole innkeeper. While Leah would typically be lending a hand, her failing health prevents her from leaving her bed. But when a young man and his pregnant wife knock on the door, Leah is given a gift that will change her world – and ours – forever. Join us this holiday season for The Innkeeper’s Wife!
Premier Sponsors
Season Sponsors
Additional Supporters
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.
