The Flynn, in various guises, has been a major presence on the Burlington performing arts scene since it began as a vaudeville house in 1930. It was a single-screen movie theater in the middle years of the century, and was saved from the fate of so many other grand old movie houses (conversion or demolition) by Merrill Theatres president Merrill Jarvis in 1972, who bought the place, installed a moveable movie screen, and made the Flynn an option for live performing arts again. Two years later, the Lyric Theatre Company performed its inaugural musical, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; since then, the Lyric has been doing two musicals a year at the Flynn.

An ownership transfer to the nonprofit Flynn Theatre for the Performing Arts Ltd. in 1980, coupled with several successful fundraising drives, spurred a top-to-bottom renovation and restoration that was ultimately completed in 2000. The Flynn Center now incorporates the original, fully-restored (complete with original proscenium arch) main theater, along with the smaller, more intimate FlynnSpace, two dance studios and the Amy E. Tarrant Gallery, an extension of the Flynn’s lobby that functions as an exhibition space.

The Flynn’s seasonal offerings are widely eclectic. Some of the highlights of the upcoming 2011-2012 season include Joan Rivers, Hugh Masekela, Bernadette Peters, and Spamalot!