John Hedges
ABINGDON, Va. -- John Hedges, a longtime member of Barter Theatre's Resident Acting Company, will be taking his final bow at the venerable State Theatre of Virginia Sunday July 29 in the theatre's current production of Tradin' Paint by Catherine Bush.
Hedges and his wife Melissa, with their two daughters Rachel and Mary, will be moving to Akron, Ohio where he begins his new position as executive director of the Weathervane Playhouse, a large, 72-year-old community-based theatre that produces 12 shows a season in two theatres with educational programming for both children and adults.
In 10 seasons at Barter Theatre, Hedges has performed in more than 60 productions including such favorites as: Lancelot in Camelot, Charlie in The Foreigner, Alfred P. Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Burl Sanders in both Smoke on the Mountain and Sanders Family Christmas, Luther Billis in South Pacific, John Adams in 1776, Chauvelin in The Scarlet Pimpernel, Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street and Whet Butler/Whammy in I'll Never Be Hungry Again.
After producers saw him in Barter's 2003 production of 1776, John was invited to perform at the famed nightclub Don't Tell Mama in New York City.
In commenting on John's departure, Producing Artistic Director Richard Rose said, "John has been a leader in the resurrection of the current resident acting company, has been a devoted team member for Barter and has been a personal friend and colleague. We will miss him deeply and wish him and his family the very best of success and the greatest of happiness in their future."
John conveyed his feelings about leaving the Abingdon area by saying, "I want to thank the patrons of Barter Theatre for their warm support over the years and express my deep gratitude to Rick Rose for the opportunity he's given me to realize myself as a creative artist. The memories of my time at Barter Theatre will be something I cherish the rest of my life. There will always be a special place in my heart for Abingdon and Barter Theatre."
To find out more about the Weathervane Playhouse visit, www.weathervaneplayhouse.com.
