Barter Theatre to Open 2016 Season with LYING IN STATE

Opening the 2016 Barter Theatre season is the audience favorite political comedy, "Lying in State." It appears at Barter Stage II beginning February 11.

For a decade, "Lying in State" has been locked away in the Barter Theatre vaults. Now, this madcap comedy returns with an all-star cast, directed by Andrew Hampton Livingston, and provides more laughs than ever before.

A state senator has died in a ridiculous accident and becomes an overnight national hero. Local party leaders are strenuously looking for someone to fill his senate seat. His ex-wife is looking for a bugler to play for his funeral. Buttons, the stripper, and a host of other zany characters are looking for love, votes, the right casket and a big purple squirrel named Mel. Everyone is searching for something.

While "Lying in State" is a political comedy, it is enjoyed by all sides of party lines. Director Andrew Hampton Livingston said, "The best political comedies allow us to laugh at the games politicians play, regardless of party, and remind us that we have more in common than not."

The cast of "Lying in State," includes Mary Lucy Bivins, who will reprise her all too popular role as "Margo." Bivins calls "Margo," whose husband is in funeral Parlor C, one of her favorite roles. Other actors featured in the production include: Tricia Matthews, Michael Poisson, Barrett Guyton, Hope Quinn, David Alford and Zacchaeus Kimbrell.

This fun and exciting comedy is a perfect beginning to Barter's electrifying 2016 season, which will feature productions never before seen in the United States, oversized musicals that will razzle-dazzle you like no other, and even the first-ever regional production of the world famous musical, "Mamma Mia!" featuring the music of ABBA.

"Lying in State" is made possible by corporate sponsors TruPoint Bank and Farris Funeral Service. Barter Theatre is funded in part by The Virginia Commission for the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts.