Barter Theatre scholarship recipients are, from left (front row), Carrie Smith, Julie Schroll, Emelie Thompson, (back row), Bryan Pridgen and Casey Barrett.
ABINGDON, Va. – Five members of The Barter Players, the young actors company at Barter Theatre, have been awarded scholarships to help fund their training at the historic theatre in Abingdon.
Provided by donors and Barter Theatre alums, the scholarships allow Barter to provide world-class training for The Barter Players and to present programming for children of all ages. Awards are presented based on various criteria including acting experience, desire of training, local residency and audition performance.
This year's winners include Emelie Thompson, the Owen and Ruth Phillips Scholarship; Julie Schroll, the Patricia Neal Scholarship; Bryan Pridgen, the Richard H. Levin Memorial Scholarship; Casey Barrett, the I.B. Dent Scholarship; and Carrie Smith, the Ernest Borgnine Scholarship.
The Barter Players are young professional actors crafting their skills in the environment of the professional residential theatre in southwest Virginia and on tour on the East Coast each year.
The Barter Players bring children and families the joy of live theatre in classic productions that inspire conversation and provoke thought. They perform in up to 16 shows in a contract, work with directors and actors at the top of their field, help to develop new work, get a taste for technical aspects of theatre, have opportunities to design, write and direct and tour the east coast to perform for audiences. Players do it all – acting, building sets, costumes and props, changing sets up to three times a day, laundry, touring, teaching workshops, putting posters up around town, running lights or sound, and most of all, growing as professionals. Many Barter Players continue their careers in the Barter Theatre resident acting company or go on to have successful careers in theatres across the globe.
For more information about The Barter Players, contact Artistic Director Katy Brown at barterplayers@bartertheatre.com. For tickets or more information, please call (276) 628-3991 or visit www.bartertheatre.com.
