''Twas the Night Before Opening . . .

I was at home snuggled in bed
While visions of Playbills danced in my head
When out on the lawn, there arose such a din
I looked out and saw 18 eyes staring in.
It''s not every day such a vision will appear
A miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer
And there was St. Nick,
his beard white as snow
"After this stop, to The Great White Way
we shall go!"

Over the city, alight with the scene
Of holiday fever, in gold, red and green
Past the Shubert! The Minskoff! My
heart it was lifted,
As over the Music Box Theatre we drifted
Too much excitement to bear from up top
I said to St. Nick, "Oh please may we stop?
I want to see ''Cats,'' ''Les Miz,'' ''''Miss Saigon''
I want to see ''Dolly'' before it moves on
I want to see ''Show Boat'' and ''How To Succeed''
I started to beg and I started to plead
I want to see ''Master Class,'' ''Grease'' and ''Fool Moon''
I must see them quickly, I must see them soon."

"Now hold on my dear, there''s nothing to fear
The theatre''s eternal. It shall always be here."
And then in a twinkling, my house was in view.
I thanked Mr. Claus and his eight reindeer, too.
"Happy holidays to you and those you hold dear,
And because of your noble behavior this year,"
I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight
"You have tickets to ''Phantom'' for next Wednesday night!"

-- By Jennifer Lanter
(with apologies to Clement C. Moore)