A benefit concert reading of The Gifts of the Magi, with book by Mark St. Germain, music by Randy Courts and lyrics by Mark St. Germain and Randy Courts, will be heard 7:30 PM Dec. 19 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in Greenwich Village. The two short musicals are adapted from O Henry's stories "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Cop and the Anthem."

The Lortel is at 121 Christopher Street.

"Premiered in 1984 by New York's Lamb's Theatre Company, this charming holiday show is a heart-warming, captivating musical treat, based on two beloved short stories by the immortal O. Henry," according to production notes. "It was an annual city event for many years. This holiday season, Prospect Theater Company revives the work in a special concert performance, which will benefit their 2005-06 season of all new musicals."

As part of the 2005-06 Prospect season, in February 2006 Prospect will present the New York premiere of St. Germain and Courts' next new musical, The Book of the Dun Cow, based on the National Book Award-winning novel by Walter Wangerin, Jr.

Ticket may be purchased by mail directly from Prospect Theater Company, 520 Eighth Ave., 3rd floor, Suite 307, NY, NY 10018; checks may be made payable to "Prospect Theater Company." Tickets can also be purchased by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200, by visiting www.TicketCentral.com, or in person at the Lucille Lortel Theatre box office. Orchestra seating is $40 per ticket. Rear orchestra and balcony seating is $20 each.

For more information, visit www.ProspectTheater.org.