My cousin recommended stopping at the Barter Theater as the perfect break while my wife and I were driving from DC to Asheville, NC. We're so glad we listened! We caught a production of The Da Vinci Code, and it completely blew us away. For a small town, this place is incredible. The quality of the performance was top-notch, the theater itself is charming, and they run roughly six different productions a day across morning, afternoon, and evening shows. The tickets were very reasonably priced, making it an easy and enjoyable detour. We'll definitely be back next time we're in the area and only wish we had planned to stay longer. If you're anywhere near Abingdon, Virginia, do yourself a favor and make time for a show at the Barter Theater. You won't regret it! read more

Barter Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Abingdon, Virginia

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Had a fabulous evening watching Guys and Dolls at historic Barter Theater. What a great cast and a beautiful venue. Truly a treasure! read more

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The ushers were very helpful . They were friendly and very knowledgeable. The selection of plays are such a wide variety . The actors and actress's were friendly and very approachable . I would definitely attend again next time I am in town ..cc from AL.. read more

Great historical theater in a small town. The building is very well maintained and clean. Book Club physical was a fantastic production read more

Barter Theatre - Book Club Play - Performing Arts Near Me - Abingdon, Virginia

Pickleball - in a word DISGUSTING. Featuring gays, vulgar language and innuendos, and subject matter. Makes a mockery of precious gospel songs and heaven. So surprised and disappointed with the Barter. Jaye read more

June 13th, 2:00 showing of The Savannah Sipping- was a delightful show! The acting was spectacular! We loved the way the actors so enjoyed the acting of each other; frequently laughing together. At first the play opens with the characters relating on a very quick and easy, albeit, simplistic level. After intermission we witness their friendships really take shape. They deepen and widen into real conversations and trust. The age range in friendships ensured that we (my friend group) each related in some way to the characters. We cried, laughed and hugged each other tight as we contemplated life's future adventures together. read more

Impressive performance in a beautiful historic building. Loved our experience! Worth the drive to be entertained with such a high-quality play! read more

Barter Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Abingdon, Virginia

What a place!!! The theater is beautiful and harkens back to earlier years. The staff are all incredibly friendly from the crossing guard to will call to ushers, everyone was wonderful. We saw two shows on this trip and both were excellent. The talent they have with their resident actors is impressive. I wish we lived closer we would definitely have season tickets. I highly recommend this theater!!! read more

Barter Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Abingdon, Virginia

We saw the most AMAZING show there. It was a performance of Million Dollar Quartet... Just talking about it gives me chills. As a Memphian, I REALLY appreciate all the care they put into recreating the studio and how wonderfully the actors embodied their characters. I will say the Barter will now be a must stop place when we come to town. read more

My friends live in this area and made sure that we saw a show during my visit last week. We went to see Frankenstein. First, I sincerely appreciated the fact the theater takes COVID-19 precautions quite seriously. The ticket people and ushers made sure that every guest was vaccinated and wearing a mask. They'd also staggered the seating to ensure groups stayed together, but were a little separate from other parties. The theater itself is quite pretty, really well maintained, and pristine staying (I believe) true to its original 1933 decor. The seats were quite comfortable as well. As for the show? Wow. Sean Maximo Campos was brilliant as the monster. It's clear he worked hard to do the physically grueling role; his contortions and learning to speak and walk as the monster were truly jaw dropping and awe inspiring. All of the acting was well done. The entire cast is truly professional. The storyline (an adaptation by a local playwright Catherine Bush), narration and music, too. This isn't small town theatre. This is more like off-Broadway. It's no wonder it's won national accolades and awards. It was one of the stages that Gregory Peck and so many other famous Hollywood actors such as Ernest Borgnine, Hume Cronyn, James Tolkan, Francis Fisher, Wayne Eliot Knight Ned Beatty, exercised their acting chops. If you're anywhere near Abingdon, or which is very exciting, want to watch on demand from the comfort of your home (for a mere $15), please do so. I intend to watch from afar in the future. read more

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Love, love, love Barter Theatre's production of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES!!! Fabulous acting, singing, staging - you name it! It's better than Broadway! read more

Outstanding performance and staging of Mountain Mamas! Acting was superb, set was carefully done.

What could you not like about Barter Theatre . . ok one tiny thing . . . the old seats are very historic and cool looking but they are not comfortable and it's pretty cramped . . . but the shows they produce are always grand! If you aren't my age (I mean you aren't in your 60's, the seats are probably no problem but Barter does attract a lot of older people so they might want to do something about the seating - you might be able to just add some light cushioning? ) read more

Always a great experience! Quality productions, friendly staff, and clean and welcoming atmosphere!

Wow, wow,wow "The Elf" the play was awesome!! This was my first time here at Barter Theatre it will not be my last. The theater was easy to find, parking an ease and the town of Abingdon is beautiful. The actors were so great, the story followed the movie that my family has watched over and over. My wife and I were both mesmerized watching it the entire play. Each of the characters were so into it, the scenes changed and the flow was amazing. This theater is very comfortable, including the seats were comfortable with plenty of leg room even for a big guy like me. The atmosphere was awesome the only draw back is the wait for the restroom at the intermission but still not bad. I would suggest you eat before coming to the show. The first set lasted approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes with the 2nd set lasting about 40 minutes it does have a person pretty hungry at the end of it. read more

Barter Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Abingdon, Virginia

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Classic theater with top notch actors. Grab a glass of wine and enjoy the show. There's a lot of history here with one tradition celebrating the farthest travelers to see the show. If your in town or need a night out the barter is the place to break away from the norm We went to the Barter this December and my little boy got sick about 20 minutes into the show. The staff was so understanding and Mrs. Carol was so sweet. They cleaned the mess and was more worried about us missing the show than anything else. The theater actually reimbursed our ticket price for another show at a later date. This is a top notch theater, with top notch staff members. read more

Barter Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Abingdon, Virginia

Founded by Robert H. Porterfield and located in the cozy, charming downtown of Abingdon VA, Barter Theatre is a cultural gem. Porterfield staged his first productions in a two story barn, just up the hill from his home in Saltville, Virginia, when he was only seven. I've been going to Barter for well over 15 years and have seen over 75 productions to date. The talent on display here is among the best that you will find at any regional theatre in the US. Showcasing a diverse array of skills, the thespians that comprise Barter's Resident Acting Company hail from all parts of the US. In the early days of Barter, Porterfield routinely held auditions in his fourth floor nyc apartment, for the upcoming summer season in Abingdon. Today, Barter still regularly holds auditions in NYC for resident actors. More to follow soon, as this review is a work in progress. read more

We really wanted to like this.... And we tried hard to like it. Kinda corny and if you are more than row 3 from the stage you are basically listening on your radio. If you expect a revue of the 60's doowop it will be a long, hot night. Lots of folks seemed to enjoy it so it must have just been us... read more

What a great theater this is and we weren't actually in the original Barter building. The play we attended took place in the annex theater - the Barter Stage II. Abingdon is a cool town in general and the Barter is the crown jewel. The play - Church Basement Ladies was very well done and at times very hilarious. The Barter Stage II is comfortable but the steps might pose a challenge to folks who have mobility difficulties. I would book a seat on the floor if this is the case. read more

Growing up in East Tennessee, one gets used to community theater, one where I usually knew someone who was in the production (sometimes it was my sister), but Barter Theatre is different. It is a professional theatre that dates back to the Depression. The name comes from the fact that they would allow local farmers to barter for admission. The productions that they have are some of the best I have seen in a very intimate theatre. It is an amazing night of theatre in Southwest Virginia. from the website "Today, Barter has a reputation as a theatre where many famous actors first performed before they went on to achieve fame and fortune. Barter's best known alumni includes: Gregory Peck, Patricia Neal, Ernest Borgnine, Hume Cronyn, Ned Beatty, Gary Collins, David Birney, and Larry Linville." read more

The singing was great. The storyline was a bit lame & too hometown. The production at the Moonlite Theatre was really impressive. My complaint is if it's billed as Bebop at the Doowop, why am I listening to Dolly Parton and carol king? So disappointing, we were ready to dance in the aisle read more

Visited the Barter Theatre for "Stonewall Country." If was my first visit and I had heard great things from family and friends. The lobby is small and contains the ticket office and a gift shop that sprawls. I imagine for really popular shows the lobby can get quite crowded. The inside of the theater is very attractive and the seats are comfortable. The size of the theater basically means there isn't a "bad seat" in the house. The production was very good. The singers/actors/instrumentalists were all extremely talented. I thought the price of the ticket was about $8-$10 too high, but that's just a small matter. It's likely that I would return to the Barter for another show. read more

Watched 9-5 and it was great. Hadn't been there since I was a small child on school field trip. I brought my daughter, niece and Sister that I hadn't seen in 25 years and what a night we had! We laughed and laughed and it sure was a great bonding experience we all enjoyed together. I definitely recommend going! You won't be disappointed! Great cast and show and so glad to see the Barter Theater is thriving! read more

We strolled by The Barter on a trip to Abingdon and, on the advice of a friend, stopped in to take a look. The manager took the time to provide us a tour of the theater and share the history with us. Very nice people here and much appreciated! Wish we would have had the opportunity to attend one of their productions. read more

Hands down the best theatre in VA. I had never been to Abingdon, Va, so my husband and I decided to make a weekend trip up to experience the theatre and the historic town. I am sure glad that we didi! The theatre offers packages for show tickets and a hotel, which is a great deal and very affordable. We went to see Dial M for Murder and we were not disappointed. The theatre was so charming on both the outside and the inside. The theatre is small and cozy, making the audience feel very connected to the actors and the show. I cannot wait to make another trip up and enjoy another amazing production. The 2014 lineup looks to be another great season for the Barter Theatre! read more

First show at this historic theatre! You can tell the amount of history this place holds as soon as you enter the doors. Down a hallway they have the head shots of all the famous actors who have performed here over the years. Such great care and attention to detail has kept the masterpiece created by the founder Bob Porterfield in top shape for everyone to enjoy for many years. Definitely will recommend this theatre to anyone I may know visiting the area! read more

Barter Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Abingdon, Virginia

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Hard a great time seeing Camelot. The lady at the ticket counter was very helpful with our tickets. The attendants that were there working were very helpful and pleasant to talk too. The one lady that seated us was very informative and took the time to welcome us and all. Thank you to her! The cast were great and I actually enjoyed the play. Was a little worried about seeing this one. Wasn't sure how it was going to be and it was very captivating. I wished I lived closer for I would be attending here on a regular basis. There are two theaters so is you want to see a play in the historic building ask and make sure it's not in Stage II. Also the seats are small and very close together, but comfortable. read more

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Great place to enjoy live theater!! Very historic, but well maintained. The staff was very friendly and helpful, even dealing with a packed house. Wonderful acoustics - we saw Mamma Mia and enjoyed the venue thoroughly. read more

We wish we could give this review more stars. We went to see White Christmas over the weekend and it was so awful. The singing, dancing, costumes and ratty wigs were an insult to Irving Berlin. It was extremely bad and hard to sit through. This is to say nothing of the patrons who ignored two requests at the start to turn their phones off. Their phones going off disrupted the already bad show. We have seen shows at the Barter in the past and they have been good. It seems the theatre is slipping in every way. A side note: Why on Earth don't people dress appropriately for the theatre anymore? We don't expect tuxedo and evening gowns, but ripped jeans, t-shirts and ball caps? Really? There should be a basic dress code instead of allowing people to "come as you are". read more

This is a great place to see a live stage show and relax. This is a place with lots of history. The seating is comfortable with a clear view of the stage. There is also a souvenir shop full of wonderful little gifts. read more

Awesome entertainment! The resident actors and actresses do a great job! The Barter direction and production teams often take a great show, works with it, and makes it -still a great show, but with an only Abingdon Barter twist!! Very comfortable theater and seats. read more

So far this season we've seen Bright Star, Madame Buttermilk, and most recently, Ain't Misbehavin' (The Fats Waller Musical). We drive about 100 miles each way, and have had season passes of some form for the past few years. As we age and our family obligations increase, we've had to be more selective in our viewing. This year we each have a six-show booklet, and if we want to go beyond six shows, we purchase single tickets. Right now we are on target to see eight shows, but if we lived in town, we would watch every show, and some of them more than once! All I can say is, "Go! Watch! Listen! Enjoy!!" read more

Six of us to see the David Sedaris Xmas Elf show. Very good.

I thoroughly enjoyed the production of Wizard of OZ at the Moonlight Drive Inn. The play was well acted and was a very professional production. What really impressed me was the organization of the social distancing procedures. From first entering the drive inn to the end of the play, all precautions were taken and carried out by ushers, staff, and actors. I felt safe the entire time...Thanks for a wonderful evening! read more

We went to see White Christmas & it was the best play with singing, dancing, comedy, more dancing, laughter, etc. The play was set after WW2 in Vermont. Bob & Phil, the main characters were very funny and super talented! All the actors & actresses really seemed to enjoy their job. It was a very happy musical with audience singing along on White Christmas & Happy Holidays. Great tribute to our Veterans also. The set design was beautiful! Hats off to a great cast. Especially Phil- he had the biggest smile & was so funny! Really enjoyed this show!! read more

This season at the Barter Theatre has been awesome so far!!! I saw the return of "Mamma Mia", which I saw twice last season--such a fun show!! I also enjoyed "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks"-- superbly done show by two incredible actors--perhaps the subject matter was not for everyone, but I thought it was an excellent way to showcase how people whose beliefs/lifestyles are vastly different can actually have discussions and be open to re-evaluating their pre-conceived notions about others. I took my husband to see "A Midsummer Nights Dream"-- we both loved it. I saw "Savannah Sipping Society" and went twice to "Footloose", both very entertaining and well done. I am looking forward to the upcoming shows--the talent in this theatre group is incredible. Abingdon is fortunate to have such a fine gem in the Barter. read more

I have been a long time patron of The Barter. Thanks to their refusal to refund my money for a production they cancelled (I understand why it was cancelled) I will NEVER step foot in their door again. read more

First time at the Barter and we were not disappointed. The Producer was excellent. Can't wait to go again.

The Barter Theatre IS the STATE THEATRE of Virginia. This is professional theatre staffed by members of the Actor's Equity Association and associated with the League of Resident Theatres... compare to Flat Rock Playhouse (NC). These venues feature performances done by REAL career actors. This is Not ALL local amateurs playing at theatre although occasionally there are children or local performers in some casts. The Barter is a two venue complex (Main Stage & Stage II) with a variety of season performances for all ages and given almost year round. The 82-year history of Barter is colorful, and the theatre has grown tremendously under the direction of the two latest artistic directors... the late Robert Porterfield and currently Richard Rose who has guided Barter for 23 years since Mr. Porterfield's passing. Two fine gentlemen of immense talent and LOVE for Barter & its patrons. Well done! We have been to Barter so many times over the years & LOVE IT EVERY TIME! (Same goes for Flat Rock.) The most recent performance was the premiere theatre-stage performance of "Blind Man's Tale" (TheBlindMansTale.com) which was briefly described as the fictional account of the blind man's life AFTER being healed by Jesus. A new show from Gary Richardson... author, director, & featured storyteller. The show is brand new and had only been performed before two church audiences (in Tennessee & Florida) by invitation during the "finishing touches" phase of its development. I was unsure what to expect... and upon arrival at the performance I was surprised by previously unstated details about the presentation. I had wondered HOW 90 minutes of theatre could be developed on this theme and remain credible. Hmmmm??? Well, turns out TBMT is a MUSICAL with voluntary interactive audience participation! HUH? How else would I describe what we saw: Bluegrass Gospel Musical Revival Sing-a-long! (LOL... Mitch Miller still stirs imaginations. Who?) The cast in addition to Gary Richardson, Storyteller: John thomas Oaks... vocals, banjo, keyboard Marc Imboden... vocals, guitar Rob Harris... vocals, guitar Tony Dingus... vocals, dobro Bobby Brennan... vocals, bass The bios on these performers are quite impressive... much talent and entertainment industry experience. KUDOS, gentlemen, for what turned out to be a moving, exceptional, enjoyable evening that still is very much on our minds! WELL DONE, indeed. And bless you, Richard Rose for daring to throw away boxes completely. read more

I love Barter! Saw a show today at Stage II. It was intimate and enjoyable. I will say it may not be for everyone - it is a small space where the audience and performers are very close. The biggest problem are the other attendees. Talking during the show, phones ringing and pinging and inappropriate clothes- but that is not the Barters fault. read more