KELSEY BAILEY

12/5/18
MEDIA KIT

Fact Sheet

• “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” is coming to Barter Theatre this Christmas!

• This year’s seasonal sponsors are Abington Falls Plaza’s Hearing Center, AT&T, Ballad

Heath, Eastman Credit Union, Ford City, Meade, and the United Company Foundation.

• The show will be located at Barter Theatre, on Gilliam Stage. The address is 127 W.

Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210.

• Tickets are available to be purchased online, over the phone, and in person at the theatre.

(Additional fees by be required.)

• Ticket price is $16 for youth and $18 for adults.

• This play typically runs for about 1 full hour. Showtimes will be:

Sat December 8 10:30 am

Sun December 9 11:15 am
Sun December 9 7:00 pm
Mon December 10 10:30 am
Tue December 11 10:00 am
Wed December 12 10:30 am
Thu December 13 10:00 am
Fri December 14 9:00 am
Fri December 14 11:00 am
Sat December 15 10:30 am
Sun December 16 11:15 am
Sun December 16 7:00 pm
Mon December 17 10:30 am
Tue December 18 10:00 am
Wed December 19 10:30 am
Thu December 20 10:00 am
Sat December 22 10:30 am
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Cooperate Profile: Barter Theatre

Mission: “[Our mission is] Enriching Lives Through Extraordinary Theatre"

(https://www.bartertheatre.com/about/faqs-info/the-barter-mission)

History: Barter Theatre was founded during the Great Depression and was the average cost of
admission was 35 cents in produce, which was plenty in those days. The theatre was able to help
give light and laughter during troublesome times, and still does to this day. The Barter Players
were founded in January of 2000, in order to better serve the area children in children’s theater.
They’ve now put on hundreds of shows and entertained thousands of children and families over
the years.

Products/Services:

• Children’s theatre is offered year around through the Barter Players

• Fields trips can be provided to the theater, or the Barter players love to visit area schools!
• Barter put’s on dozens of plays a year, so there’s one for everyone!

Location: 127 W. Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210

Partnerships: Barter is currently active in both local and regional branches of Boy Scouts of
America, the American Cancer Society and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Recent Announcements:
Barter Theatre is proud to announce the Barter Player’s will be putting on “Santa Claus is
Coming to Town” beginning on November 27th and running through December 22nd. While the
Barter Players normally focus on children’s theatre, this show is sure to entertain all ages, so
bring the whole family, and watch as Pepper McGee, a second grader struggling with enjoying
her Christmas, finds the meaning of hope and magic all over again with Saint Nick himself!
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12/5/18
MEDIA KIT

Pitch Letter

Think of all of the negative information children face and then Are you looking for a

headline that will draw in people of all ages to a place that’s already HUGELY popular in the

area? Look no further than this year’s showings of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” put on by

our very own Barter Players and directed by John Hardy and with music lead by Zacchaeus

Kimbrell! In a time where families are challenged with finding something fun they can all share,

we have the perfect play in which 2nd grader Pepper McGee faces challenges when a new sibling

in the home takes away the attention. An excellent holiday attraction for families of all ages, it is

also offered from varying times of day from November 27th to December 22nd, so any schedule

can be worked around.

We at Barter are happy to assist in any way possible with any needed interviews, photo

arrangements, quotes or any other information that would beneficial. A few alternative angles

could be that we do anticipate selling out of several shows, and the possibility of being forced to

add more could come into play from that. Barter is one of the few remaining year-round

professional resident repertory theaters remaining in the United States. Barter Theatre is also

funded in part by The Virginia Commission for the Arts and The National Endowment for the

Arts, which is plenty of notoriety just by association, but we also have plenty of local rich history

dating all the way back to the Great Depression era of providing light and laughter into people’s

lives. Please feel free to reach back out to us by emailing dirofmarketing@bartertheatre.com or

calling our marketing department at (276) 619-3342 to schedule any appointments or request

more information.
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12/5/18
MEDIA KIT

News Release

Contact: https://www.bartertheatre.com/shows/santa-claus-is-coming-to-town or call (276) 628-

3991

December 6th, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN TO PLAY ALL MONTH-LONG AT BARTER

THEATRE

Join the Barter Player’s as they take believers in Santa of ALL ages down a magical

journey to find happiness within family. Showtimes will run from 9:00AM to as late as 7:00PM

from November 27th to December 22nd. Each showing runs from for about an hour to an hour and

a half, and all showings will be at Gilliam Stage at Barter Theatre in Abington Virginia.

Barter Theatre is proud to announce the Barter Player’s will be putting on “Santa Claus is

Coming to Town” directed by John Hardy and with music lead by Zacchaeus Kimbrell, so bring

the whole family, and watch as Pepper McGee, a second grader struggling with enjoying her

Christmas, finds the meaning of hope and magic all over again with Saint Nick himself! Pepper,

played by Barter Player Zoë Velling, is distraught when a new sibling being added to her home
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MEDIA KIT

makes her feel ignored by her family, so she tasks Santa Claus himself to rescue her Christmas

by asking for special gifts and an adventure just for her that she will never forget! Along the

way, see a teacher desperately searching to give her community the missing Christmas

“pizzazz”, and see Pepper learn that Christmas is about spending time with the ones we love, and

time with family, not red bicycles or any amount of gift.

“We had a great time watching Santa Claus is Coming to Town. This

foster/adoptive mama may have even shed a few tears. I encourage everyone to see it!”

– Golden J. Ranch, attendee

“The Barter Players specialize in children’s theatre, but this show is really

meant for all ages. The turnout is expected to be phenomenal; we anticipate several sell outs!”

-Taylor Blevins, Box Office Attendee

Barter Theatre, the nation’s longest running professional theatre, is located in

Abingdon, Virginia. 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. For more information, call (276) 628-3991- or visit

https://www.bartertheatre.com/.

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 KELSEY BAILEY
12/5/18
MEDIA KIT

Business Feature

Imagine your very favorite Christmas story… it’s a classic, isn’t it? How about your

favorite Christmas song? In both categories, the best ones always are classics, so why not come

and see a new twist on a classic song, especially one that is sure to be a smash hit among

audiences of all ages! You better watch out, and you better not cry, you better not shout and here

is why: “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” a show new to Barter Theatre, begins shows as early

as November 27th and runs all the way through December 22nd due to popular demand! It will be

directed by John Hardy and with music lead by Zacchaeus Kimbrell, written by Abington,

Virginia local Catherine Bush. Bush is one of Barter Theatre’s Playwright-in-Residence and

specializes in children’s theatre. This particular show will be put on by none other than Barter’s

own Barter Players, who usually specialize in children’s theater, however this Christmas they

have an extra special show that will entertain all ages, so it will be perfect for the whole family.

The story describes how one can impact many and gathering the Christmas spirit with a certain

“pizzazz”.

Follow Pepper McGee, played by Barter Player Zoë Velling, as she struggles with the

meaning and value of the holiday when a new family member, a baby sister Lulu, enters her life.

Pepper feels her special place in her parents’ home is lost, and desperately wishes for her old life

to return in time for Christmas, along with her dream shiny red bicycle. Meanwhile, Pepper’s

teacher, Mrs. Wright who is played by Phillip Rast, had planned for her to sing with her well

known angel voice in an extra special performance in this year’s local Christmas parade.

However, due to Pepper’s sudden loss of Christmas spirit, she loses her ability to sing in the
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parade, which may very well end up costing Mrs. Wright her job if she fails to cough up some

“pizzazz”!

The show is estimated to run an hour to an hour and a half long, plenty of time for you

and your family to be swept up in one of Barter’s most magical Christmas plays yet. Audience

member and parent, Golden J. Ranch emotionally stated after seeing it, “We had a great time

watching Santa Claus is Coming to Town. This foster/adoptive mama may have even shed a few

tears. I encourage everyone to see it!” Ticket prices will be $16 dollars for youth and $18 dollars

for adults, with some small fees a possible inclusion. A special bonus and tradition of Barter

Players is being included for this show, in which is a study guide made up of fun and educational

children’s activities related to the show and Christmas is available for download

bartertheatre.com, and it is encouraged for better understanding and enjoyment from younger

ages.

This show may be one of the Barter Player’s very best yet, and is anticipated to see out

for multiple showings, but the good news is that we have times that will work for everyone’s

schedule, so be sure to hop on to our website, www.bartertheatre.com, to purchase tickets today!

If not, tickets can be purchased over the phone by calling (276) 628-3991 or in person as well at

127 W. Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210. Make this Christmas unlike any other you or your

family has ever had before and join the Barter Player’s as they take believers in Santa of ALL

ages down a magical journey to find happiness within family and the Christmas spirit comes to

live from a good old fashioned visit from jolly ole Saint Nick.