Take a Trip to Barter for LEAVING IOWA

"Leaving Iowa," which has been performed in front of sold out theatres all over the country and in Canada for years, is finally coming to Barter Stage II June 10.

A comedy about those infamous family vacations we all remember from our childhood, "Leaving Iowa" follows Don Brown, a middle-aged writer who is on a journey full of memories of his nearly torturous childhood vacations while he tries to find the perfect place to bury his father's ashes. "Leaving Iowa" is a perfect show for anyone who has found themselves driving alone and recalling fond memories of family trips from their childhood.

The cast of "Leaving Iowa" includes Rick McVey, Michael Poisson, Wendy Piper, Tricia Matthews (pictured) and other members of Barter Theatre's resident Acting Company.

Director Nick Piper said he feels the family vacation holds an interesting spot in the history of a family. He recalled his own long-distance trips, full of fast food car wrappers, squabbling siblings and the ever-famous threats to "turn this car around."

"Leaving Iowa" is a tribute to those wonderfully awful vacations that we all know well, and have provided us with those awfully wonderful memories," Piper said.

Corporate sponsor, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, makes "Leaving Iowa" possible at Barter Theatre.

Be sure to get your tickets to upcoming Barter Theatre productions, with tickets for every show starting at $20. Call the Barter Theatre Box Office at 276-628-3991 for more information.

About Barter Theatre

Barter Theatre, the nation's longest running professional theatre, is located in Abingdon, Virginia. The theatre opened in 1933 during the Great Depression. Founder Robert Porterfield offered patrons admission to the theatre by bartering food and livestock. 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.

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