Officials from Food City and Barter Theatre announce they will be partnering on a campaign to create awareness of Barter Theatre and Abingdon, Virginia as a tourism destination, making it convenient for potential visitors to purchase a season subscription to Barter Theatre’s performances. As part of the partnership, Food City will serve as an outlet for Barter’s 2018 season subscriptions.

“With our Corporate Support Center located in Abingdon, we are extremely proud to be a part of this town, our region, and all of the cultural opportunities it offers,” commented Steven C. Smith, Food City President/CEO.  “This partnership is a way to inform our customers of the wonderful performances at Barter Theatre, and give them an opportunity to experience the professional theatre we are blessed with in our region.” 

Food City will offer 3 Play subscription packages for $99 in their 122 locations. Each package gives the purchaser one ticket to see three separate productions of their choice during the 2018 Season. Shows to choose from include:  Sister Act, Steel Magnolias, The Lemonade Stand, Madame Buttermilk, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Singin’ in the Rain, Great Expectation, Sally McCoy, The Bridges of Madison County; Elf: The Musical, Wooden Snowflakes, The Santaland Diaries.

“We are excited about the partnership with Food City to sell 2018 subscriptions to Barter Theatre’s productions in all their Food City stores,” said Barter Theatre Producing Artistic Director Richard Rose.  “This provides us with an opportunity to share our work with new patrons who have not attended Barter in a wide variety of markets throughout southwest Virginia, eastern Kentucky, eastern Tennessee, and northern Georgia.”

The 2018 Barter 3 Play for $99 will begin being sold in Food City locations beginning June 6, 2018 through September 25, 2018.

About Barter Theatre
Barter Theatre, the nation’s longest running professional theatre, is located in Abingdon, Virginia. The theatre opened in 1933 during the Great Depression. Founder Robert Porterfield offered patrons admission to the theatre by bartering food and livestock. Barter Theatre was designated as the state theatre of Virginia in 1946. It exists today as one of the last year-round professional resident repertory theaters remaining in the United States.  Barter Theatre is funded in part by The Virginia Commission for the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts.

About Food City
Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 132 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, Chattanooga and north Georgia.