2008-2009 schedules are out for local theater companies here in Burlington. If you’re looking for feel-good musicals, go with St. Michael’s Playhouse’s summer schedule featuring Barnum, a musical based on the life of Phineas Taylor Barnum; Moonlight and Magnolias; Almost, Maine; and Pump Boys and Dinettes.

For something a little more highbrow, UVM’s Theater just announced its fall schedule of Eurydice, Cabaret and Chekov’s The Seagull.

Then of course, there is the Flynn Center, which has released a sneak peek of its 2008-09 schedule, which has some great offerings in its very diverse schedule, including the Broadway National Tour of Sweeney Todd, Movin’ Out (the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp Musical), the Reduced Shakespeare Company (I highly recommend, they are hilarious!), Henry V, k.d. lang, Chick Corea and the Russian National Ballet Theatre performance of Sleeping Beauty.

So now you have no excuse not to get off the couch and out of the house in Burlington this coming year. If you’re visiting from out of town, be sure to see what’s playing when you’ll be here. Theater makes for some of the most enjoyable nightlife in Burlington, especially for solos. Enjoy!