(Front to back) Kailey Kyle, Garrett Summitt, Marissa Emerson and Chris White in 'A Wrinkle in Time' (provided photo)
The Barter Players are the acting company at Barter Theatre, Abingdon, Virginia, that specializes in producing children’s plays.
They audition more than 1,000 actors annually between their local auditions, UPTA (national professional audition conference) and video submissions — often for fewer than 10 positions. They look for actors with great skills who are interested in daily growth and approaching everything with a heart of service.
Barter Theatre has relationships with Emory & Henry University, Emory, Virginia, and East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee.
“We have hired many Barter Players from both Emory & Henry and East Tennessee State University. We have a longstanding partnership with E&H. Their theater majors can engage in professional internships, mentoring and workshops with Barter throughout their college career. They have the opportunity to attend professional rehearsals, participate in talkbacks with the actors and crew after Barter performances and serve as understudies in Barter Theatre productions. ETSU has a fantastic internship program where students can apply to spend a summer working in their department of interest at Barter (box office, costumes/wardrobe, lighting, props, scenery, sound or stage management and acting). These hands-on learning opportunities can set these students up for success in any professional theatrical environment,” says Sarah Van Deusen, artistic director for the Barter Players.
Barter Players usually stay with the company between one and five years. There is no time limit, but the position is aimed at early-career artists. The Players perform five productions in house at Barter Theatre each year, where they see about 25,000 audience members each year. They produce three national tours each year, one in the spring and two during the winter holidays. They tour all over the Eastern Seaboard and Midwest, appearing in state-of-the-art presenting houses in major metropolitan areas as well as “cafegymnatoriums” in the coalfields of West Virginia. They expect to serve over 50,000 audience members across 17 states with this year’s tours.
Barter encourages these actors to use the same tools no matter the production they’re working on.
“Whether it’s Shakespeare or Cinderella, we believe every audience is worthy of excellent art. I believe children are the best audience in the world; they are incredibly honest and imaginative. If you create a work of art that is worthy of their attention, they will engage with it deeply.
“We believe that excellent live theater ignites imagination and inspires bravery in these young people, leaving a lasting impact long after seeing a performance. I can speak to this impact firsthand, as my introduction to professional theater was the Barter Players touring to my school. During my middle and high school years, the Barter Players toured to my school annually, and I eagerly awaited their performances. Even though the shows were not technically complex, I was completely transported into their created world. With only a handful of crates and benches, and their deeply committed acting, they somehow transformed the space to ancient Thebes in ‘Oedipus Rex,’ the battlefields in ‘The Red Badge of Courage’ and the brutal Alaskan frontier in ‘The Call of the Wild.’ I was hooked. If everyone on stage believes in the moment, the audience will too,” Van Deusen says.
This season, all the Players’ shows were developed in-house at Barter. Catherine Bush, James Hendley and Kailey Kyle adapted new plays for this year’s season. The Players create a high volume of new works because they believe in speaking to the imagination, creativity and bravery of the young people in their audience. They refuse to talk down to them. They believe this is why they have a following among children and adults.
For every production the Players do in Smith Theater, they offer a sensory friendly performance.
“These are designed for our patrons with heightened sensory needs to enjoy live theater in a welcoming environment. We have trained staff and volunteers to assist audience members as needed, and we work closely with professional consultants, including the TDF National Autism Friendly Performance Training Program, to make these shows accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
“For every show the Barter Players do — both in house and on the road — the Players go out before and after every show to meet the audience, as well as offer complimentary talkbacks. In bookending the performance experience with personalized engagement, we hope to connect with our audiences in a more resonant way that lingers long after the performance itself,” Van Deusen says.
Many of the actors continue their career with Barter after leaving the Players. Katy Brown, Barter’s producing artistic director, came up through the group and served as their artistic director. Van Deusen started her career as an intern with the Players before her senior year of college.
“I know I am not alone in saying this: My time as a Barter Player completely changed my life. Not only does the program celebrate lifelong learning, but it also makes clear how we can serve others through this art form. It is a deep privilege to create theater that leaves a lasting impact on the heart of a young person,” she says.
For more information, visit www.bartertheatre.com.
