Acclaimed artistic director of Barter Theatre, Richard Rose, will speak to the Athens State University (ASU) students on the importance of regional theater and its role in shaping the community and its economy, Feb.28.

Rose's lecture is part of ASU's Livingston Concert Lecture series at the Sandridge Student Center ballroom.

Barter Theatre in Virginia, founded in 1933, is one of the oldest and longest running professional and regional theatres in the country.

This theatre is credited with having launched the careers of many successful stars, such as Gregory Peck, Patricia Neal, Ernest Borgnine and Kevin Spacey among others.

This theatre became famous world-wide for its issue of play tickets. At that time, due to the 'Great Depression, most of the customers weren't able to pay the theatres' ticket price, which was 40 cents.

Then, Robert Porterfield, the founder of this theatre started allowing people to pay in kind (mostly food stuff) equivalent to the ticket price. Hence, the name 'Barter.'

Due to its popularity, the theatre was chosen as the State Theatre of Virginia, 1946.

Rose, the third artistic director since 1992, has directed, choreographed and written over 135 shows and enthralled the theatre's audience.

He created the Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights, developed new plays, promoted folk arts across the country and increased the viewership of its year-round slate of plays.