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Nudity draws protest at Barter Theatre

When Barter Theatre in Abingdon decided to run Liquid Moon that featured a nude scene, they opened the door to controversy. Outraged religious conservatives attacked the nudity while state Sen. Phillip Puckett held up a state grant in protest. While some accuse him of being a "local Taliban," nobody seems to question why state funds that are supposed to go to job creation are being used to underwrite a fancy theatre many local residents can't afford to attend. All of the 167 seats were filled. To quote, "Liquid Moon" is about a married middle-aged writer named Ryan, played by Michael Poisson, who falls for a much younger fan named Kelly, played by Elizabeth McKnight." There's a scene where she enters naked. Ryan has a problem marraige, and tries to keep sex out of the relationship with Kelly.

Typical is Rev. Ronald Gilbert Director of Missions Lebanon Baptist Association, October 29, 2003 to Mr. Rose I assume of Barter Theatre:

I am writing to inform you that in the annual meeting of the Lebanon Baptist Association at Cedar Bluff Baptist Church in Atkins, VA, on Friday, Oct. 17, there was a motion made and passed unanimously to send you a letter expressing the displeasure of the messengers present regarding the recent actions of the Barter Theater in displaying public nudity on stage.

The maker of the motion also encouraged the messengers to not attend and support the Barter Theater until such time as the theater changes its policy

It was further added that copies of this letter be sent to state Rep. Joe Johnson, U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher and Senator. William Wampler because of the tax dollars that support the theater. It was also further added that copies be sent to the three local newspapers.

A packed house at Barter's opening of "Liquid Moon"

Extract BRISTOL HERALD COURIER Sep 25, 2003
A woman who asked that her name not be used because she is a Presbyterian deacon said she trusted the Barter not to show gratuitous nudity and that she believed the protesters could be demonstrating against something more important...A handful of protesters paraded in front of the town Municipal Building and the Barter's main stage just after 5 p.m. carrying signs that read "Wear clothes on stage" and "Get filth out of the Barter...protester Billy Fullen said he was driving through town when he stopped to support the protest. "It is just awful," he said. "Why is nudity necessary? Nudity doesn't promote good art. If people want to go to New York where it's laden with filth, they can go there."

Dispute over play content delays decision on Barter Theatre grant

Tuesday, May 18, 2004

By KEVIN CASTLE

ABINGDON - One state senator's concern over a play presented by the Barter Theatre that featured nude actors delayed a vote Monday on funding for a project at the Abingdon theater.

The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission's Southwest Virginia Economic Development Committee will vote later this week on whether to recommend $100,000 toward the Stonewall Square project at the Barter Theatre.

The move to defer came after state Sen. Phillip Puckett, who is a member of the committee, said although he did not oppose the proposed addition to the Barter grounds, he did oppose the choice the state-funded theater made last fall when "Liquid Moon'' graced the Stage II performance area. The play, which was directed by Barter Artistic Director Rick Rose, featured two naked adults on stage during a portion of the performance and was the subject of public protest by several groups when the presentation had an almost 2½-month run from September to November.

"My concern is not against (the Stonewall project), but my vote is against the morality of what I have registered my complaint against (to Mr. Rose)," Puckett, D-Lebanon, said during discussion of a motion to fund the project.

Stonewall Square is a proposed 2.3-acre development that would be located directly across from the Barter Theatre. The development would offer retail space for local crafters, artists and other traditional-type retail establishments that developers say could add 75 to 120 new jobs to the region.

Puckett said his inquiries into why the Barter would present plays that include somewhat questionable material have gone virtually unanswered. "When I first heard of the issue of the nudity in the Barter play, I made my feelings known about that, and I was pretty much ignored," said Puckett.

"I've been to the Barter several times, and I think it is a wonderful place. I don't think anything like (that play) does anything to enhance the Barter or the region for that matter.

"I can't keep the Barter from doing that, and if that is what the Barter wants to do, that's fine. As an elected official, I think it is my responsibility to try and represent the people. The Barter is not even in my district, although I have received more comments on the play than anything else."

Puckett said he had talked to Rose on more than one occasion about the play, but he had not received further communications from him concerning future presentations at the Barter and whether they would contain nudity or any other controversial aspects.

Individuals representing the Stonewall Square project told the committee members that the project and the subject matter of plays at the Barter are two entirely different issues and should not impact funding for the development.

The group is asking the Tobacco Commission for $100,000 to help finance storm drainage infrastructure. The Appalachian Regional Commission is recommending $100,000 in federal dollars for the project, while the town of Abingdon is considering allocating $50,000 toward the project.

At the urging of committee member and senior Delegate Joe Johnson, D-Hyters Gap, the issue will be decided at Thursday's meeting of the full Tobacco Commission, which will be held in Danville.

Local Taliban targeting Barter

Times-News May 22, 2004

Re. "Dispute over Play Content Delays Decision on Barter Theatre Grant," my God, members of the legislature are now trying to exert censorial control over the costume department at the venerable Barter. The local Taliban, it appears, is alive and well in Southwest Virginia. Mullah Puckett should be reminded that we are living in a nation which takes pride in its democratic institutions, and that it is the enlightened 21st century in which we are living, not the puritanical 17th.

Thanks to the artistry of courageous directors like Richard Rose, good theatre is also alive and well in the area. My advice to Puckett and all the other repressed mullahs in the Virginia legislature is very simple: insist, if you must, that your wives and daughters protect their modesty by donning the hijab and chador while attending the Barter, but for heaven's sake please do leave the costuming of the actors to the artistic director.

Charles Lewis
Wise, Va.

Protest something else

I couldn't believe it when i saw all that energy wasted protesting “liquid moon.” how come no one protests the theaters? the movies are full of violence and some form of nudity, but i don't see anyone holding signs there.

If you don't want to see the show don't go. It's that simple. stay home. instead you have your children out there. what nonsense. you don't have to go see the show

There are so many bad things happening in our country right now. We will most likely be sending our troops back to war. A war that was supposed to be over, and yet our troops and England's troops are dying at an alarming rate.

Shame on all of you for picking something so minor to protest when there are so many things where you could have put your energy and children's energy to better use. Shame on all of you!

Anna Proffitt Cook
Abingdon, VA.

Barter Theater awarded $18,000 federal grant

Sunday, November 28, 2004

By Staff report

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. George Allen, R-Va., recently announced that the National Endowment for the Arts has set aside a total of $153,000 to be awarded to six organizations and three individuals in Virginia - including a grant to support a new play at Barter Theater in Abingdon.

These grants will help support projects that involve the creation and presentation of artistically excellent work - both new and established, said Allen. Barter Foundation Inc. received a grant in the amount of $18,000 to support the production of the new play, "The Other Side of the Mountain," by Catherine Bush.

"Virginia is the home to many outstanding artists, and I am pleased that so many of our projects have been awarded funding from the National Endowment of the Arts," said Allen. "By funding the arts we are strengthening our communities through the improvement of our minds, the cultivation of our talents, and the education of our young people." Five other organizations received funding.

Virginia Opera Association Inc., based in Norfolk, received a $10,000 grant to support a consortium project to present "Brundibar" at Richmond's Virginia Holocaust Museum, which is a collaborator for the project.

Richmond Ballet received a $10,000 grant to support the creation and presentation of works that will be performed as part of the Studio Series in Richmond and as part of the company's debut at the Joyce Theater in New York.

Daily Poetry Association Inc. in Charlottesville received a $7,000 grant to support the online publication "Poetry Daily." Signature Theatre Inc. in Arlington received a $30,000 grant to support the adaptation and production of the musical "Pacific Overtures," which will be re-conceived and adapted for a more intimate theater space.

Youth Orchestra of the Americas in Arlington received a grant in the amount of $18,000 to support a three-week residency program for emerging young musicians from the Americas where the orchestra will perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City and Lisner Auditorium in Washington, D.C.

Three individuals in Virginia were awarded literature grants of $20,000 each to write new compositions: Eric Pankey of Fairfax, Sarah J. Kennedy of Fairfield, and Ramola Dharmaraj of Arlington. The three were part of the small group chosen out of hundreds of applicants in the highly competitive process. The funding for this round of NEA grants is pending the final passage through the U.S. House of Representatives and the president's signature.

2004 Kingsport Times-News.

On top of disrupting school over religion, we have a Rev. Poff that wants to ban Halloween as Satanic.

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