The Barter Theatre Presents HEAVEN SENT

Heaven Sent, winner of the Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights, comes to Barter Theatre beginning October 8.

When a young, abandoned girl in need of care appears at recluse Samuel Langley's door in the middle of the night, he is revived and begins to find the beauty in life. Be captivated by the story of how a troubled man finds redemption through the simple needs of an innocent child.

"It is a universal story of rejection, isolation, acceptance, love, redemption and the importance of human relationships for any one in any time," stated Mary Lucy Bivins, director of Heaven Sent. Known to Barter audiences for her amazing portrayals in Showtime at First Baptist, Driving Miss Daisy, Lying in State and Death of a Salesman, Bivins has directed Barter's productions of Jimmie Rodgers: America's Blue Yodeler, Miracle on 34th Street, Tradin' Paint and the mini-production of Heaven Sent last summer.

Written by Rick Whelan, author of Barter's Hunchback of Notre Dame, Heaven Sent is a resetting of George Eliot's timeless novel Silas Marner to the Great Depression in Raveloe County, Kentucky. Whelan's Heaven Sent was a winner of the 2007 Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights, Barter Theatre's playwriting festival that celebrates Appalachian writers and the stories of our region. It received a mini-production during the festival in 2008 and was greeted with praise from the audience and reviewers. His most recent play, Kindred Spirits, was read as part of the 2009 festival.

Featuring two of Barter's most beloved actors, Heaven Sent has a talented cast that brings this beautiful story to life. Playing the leading part of the recluse Samuel Langley is Eugene Wolf, who has created many memorable characters during his 13 years at Barter in such shows as Keep on the Sunny Side, Oliver! and LEAR. Tricia Matthews, from the recent The Wizard of Oz and Showtime at First Baptist, performs the role of Mrs. Winthrop. Two young actresses alternate performances as Young Eppie: Savannah Grace Willis of Radford, Va., and Halle Harrison of Abingdon. The cast is rounded out by Gwen Edwards, Nathan Whitmer, Ezra Colón, Julie Schroll, Andrew Hampton Livingston, J. Casey Barrett and Carrie Smith.

The State Theatre of Virginia, the world famous Barter Theatre is celebrating its 76th anniversary season of producing professional non-profit theatre in the Appalachian Region. Known for outstanding musicals, comedies, dramas, new and Appalachian works and award-winning educational programming, Barter Theatre, Barter Stage II and The Barter Players present programs several times a week, and patrons can see up to five shows in two days in beautiful downtown Abingdon. Escape to another world at Barter Theatre!

Heaven Sent is sponsored by Barter Foundation Board of Trustees, Charter Media, Voice Magazine for Women and Bristol Broadcasting Company. Barter Theatre is funded in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Contact Barter's Box Office at (276) 628-3991 or visit www.bartertheatre.com for more information.