Barter Theatre’s fall season features three plays in repertory, a play for children and adults from the Barter Players and related special events.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” is on the Gilliam Stage from Sept. 2 through Nov. 4. It is adapted by Christopher Sergel from Harper Lee’s novel.
Young Scout and her brother Jem live in the sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama, with their widowed father, the lawyer Atticus Finch. Life is wonderful – until the facade of the seemingly peaceful town begins to crack when a young Black man is accused of a terrible crime. Driven by an unshakeable moral conviction, Atticus defends the man in a trial that sends waves of violence through the community. This hard-hitting work explores prejudice, compassion and the courage to do what is right. Content advisories include racial slurs, discussion of sexual situations, onstage violence and gun shots.
Related events include “What Really Happened to Tom Robinson” and “Harper Lee and Me.”
The Tom Robinson event is Sept. 8 following the 8 p.m. performance. Atticus was told that Tom Robinson was killed trying to escape – but is that really true? How does that story fit with what we know about Tom from the book? How does this story change when viewed from a Black perspective? Join the Black cast members of “To Kill a Mockingbird” and special guest Adam Dickson, adjunct instructor of political science at ETSU and supervisor of the Langston Centre in Johnson City, Tennessee, as they discuss the context, history and themes surrounding racial inequality and injustice in the book, the play and the world at large.
“Harper Lee and Me” is Oct. 10 after the 2 p.m. performance on the Gilliam Stage. As soon as she won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for her novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” stories and rumors began to circulate about Alabama’s most famous writer, Harper Lee. The time has come to set the record straight. Join Producing Artistic Director Katy Brown as she talks with Wayne Flynt, Auburn University professor emeritus of history and author of “Afternoons with Harper Lee,” his latest book detailing his friendship with the author. Flynt will be sharing stories and memories of one of the most fascinating personalities of all time.
“Misery” is on Barter’s Smith Theatre stage through Nov. 4. William Goldman adapted the play from Stephen King’s novel. “Misery” follows successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon, who is rescued from a car crash by his “number one fan,” Annie Wilkes, and wakes up captive in her secluded home. While Paul is convalescing, Annie reads his latest book and becomes enraged when she discovers the author has killed off her favorite character, Misery Chastain. Annie forces Paul to write a new Misery novel, and he quickly realizes Annie has no intention of letting him go anywhere. The irate Annie has Paul writing as if his life depends on it, and it does. Content advisories include profanity, strong onstage violence and gun shots.
Barter offers a related event, “A Spooky Little Girl Like You,” Oct. 31 following the 7:30 p.m. performance at Barter’s Smith Theatre. In “Misery,” a novelist is kidnapped by a crazed fan and held hostage until he writes her the book of her dreams ... the perfect Halloween story. Come connect after the show as Barter continues the theme with another spooky story told by Flora Joy. Joy is described as the “mother” of storytelling in our region, and is responsible for creating the Master’s in Communication and Storytelling Program at East Tennessee State University. She extends your Halloween horror with a short tale guaranteed to send shivers up your spine, followed by a discussion with Betty Ann Polaha from the Jonesborough Storytelling Guild of why the art form of storytelling is so important to our area.
“Clue” comes to the Gilliam Stage Sept. 15 through Nov. 5. Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie and classic board game, “Clue” is a hilarious comedy-meets-murder mystery. The tale begins at a remote mansion, where six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party where murder and blackmail are on the menu. When their host turns up dead, they all become suspects. Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock and Colonel Mustard race to find the killer as the body count stacks up. “Clue” is the comedy whodunit that will leave both cult-fans and newcomers in stitches as they try to figure out...who did it, where and with what.
Barter Connects hosts a Whodunnit Costume Contest Sept. 23 following the 2 p.m. performance on Gilliam Stage. The contest is held in Barter’s Smith Theatre lounge (across the street). What’s Halloween season without a costume contest? Barter Connects invites this matinee audience to come to the show dressed as their favorite “Clue” character and stay for a post-show discussion with Barter resident costume designer Lee Martin as he describes the why and how of his design for the show. Martin will be joined by Anna Buchanan, curator of contemporary fine art and craft for William King Museum, who will discuss how she picked the costumes displayed in their recent “Best of Barter” exhibit. Afterwards, the costumed characters join the panelists on the stage, where Martin and Buchanan judge the winner and present them with a Clue board game signed by the cast.
The Barter Players present “Where the Red Fern Grows” Sept. 6 through Nov. 3 at Barter’s Smith Theatre. Billy Colman is a young boy growing up in the Ozark Mountains during the Depression. His family can’t afford hunting dogs, so Billy saves his dimes and pennies for two years to buy Ol’ Dan and Lil’ Ann. Billy teaches his pups everything they need to know about raccoon hunting. In return, these beloved hunting hounds teach Billy about friendship, faith and life itself.
For more information, visit www.bartertheatre.com.
