Barter Players to Present THE VELVETEEN RABBIT & JUNIE B. JONES This Spring

The Barter Players, Barter Theatre's performance group for children, will stage "The Velveteen Rabbit" and "Junie B. Jones: The Musical" this spring.

"The Velveteen Rabbit" is a story children of all ages love. As the Velveteen Rabbit dreams of becoming a real live rabbit, the wise old Skin Horse tells him he will only become real "when a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you." This moving and joyful production, based on the Margery Williams book, has been adapted for the stage by Catherine Gray.

Barrett Guyton, the director of "The Velveteen Rabbit," said, "It's because the Velveteen Rabbit loves the boy so much, with such abandon, that this story ends so magically." Guyton continued, "Love makes the impossible possible. Love saves them both."

"The Velveteen Rabbit" has been touring in schools across the east coast since January, but on April 10 it will come home to Barter Stage II for a brief run ending April 25.

"Junie B. Jones: The Musical," based on the books by Barbara Park, will begin showing at Barter Theatre on April 28.

This fun production begins on Junie B.'s first day of first grade and a lot of things have changed. Junie's friend Lucille doesn't want to be her best friend anymore, and on the bus, Junie B. makes friends with Herb, the new kid at school. Junie is also having trouble reading the blackboard and her teacher, Mr. Scary, thinks she may need glasses. There's a lot to write about in her "Top-Secret Personal Beeswax Jounal!" This lovable character and her fun-filled songs ensure that "Junie B. Jones: The Musical" will capture any child's heart.

Susanne Boulle, who previously directed "The Cat in the Hat" for The Barter Players, is returning to Barter to direct "Junie B. Jones: The Musical." Katy Brown, the Artistic Director of The Barter Players, said Boulle, "has the most incredible imagination, and people are going to be blown away."

When asked about, "Junie B. Jones: The Musical," Brown said, "I could not be more excited about this production. Junie B. Jones is one of the most fun characters in all of children's fiction."

The Barter Players, who will appear in both "The Velveteen Rabbit" and "Junie B. Jones: The Musical," are: Sean Michael Flattery, Hope Quinn, Annie Simpson, Kelly Strand, Joseph Matthew Veale and Michael Vine.

Children will have a chance to meet their favorite character in person after each performance. The Barter Players will appear in the lobby of the theatre after each of these performances.

Later this year, The Barter Players will be performing "Old Turtle and the Broken Truth," "The Jungle Book," "Rapunzel," "A Wrinkle in Time" and "Frosty."

"Junie B. Jones: The Musical" is made possible by sponsors Mike and Debbie Quillen and their grandchildren. Barter Theatre is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

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