Nicholas Piper is the Associate Artistic Director of Barter Theatre in charge of New Play Development and the director of Barter’s Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights. A graduate of the University of Tennessee, he began his career at Barter as an intern before becoming a founding member of Barter’s First Light Theatre (now The Barter Players). Also a member of Barter’s Resident Acting Company, recent favorite roles include: Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol), Chris (The Play That Goes Wrong), Warden Stammas (The Shawshank Redemption), George Bailey (It’s A Wonderful Life), Atticus Finch (To Kill A Mockingbird), Narrator (Every Brilliant Thing), Georges (La Cage Aux Folles), Jack (Maytag Virgin), Crumpet (Santaland Diaries).  Recent directing credits at Barter include: Million Dollar Quartet, Grandma Gatewood Took A Walk, Ring of Fire, Keep on the Sunny Side, Airness, and Madame Buttermilk. He was recently awarded the AAME award for outstanding contribution to arts in the region. Nick is so very grateful to be a member of this community along with his wonderful wife, Wendy, and their two beautiful daughters, Lucy and Maggie.