A Multi Million Dollar Deal Is In The Works For A Tri Cities Iconic Treasure To Grow. Barter Theatre In Abingdon Is The Nation’s Longest Running Professional Theatre In Existence. Now The Theatre Has Been Invited To Open A Second Location In Mount Airy, North Carolina. Last Month, The City Of Mount Airy Unveiled Plans To Use 12 Million Dollars To Develop An Old Industrial Site Into A 500-Seat Theatre, Complete With A Hotel And Retail Space. Barter Artistic Director Richard Rose Said Mount Airy’s Tourism Market Is About Twice The Size Of Abingdon’s.