An O. Henry Christmas has been produced in over 300 regional, stock and amateur theatres across the United States and Canada. The play is comprised of two one-act musicals based on the

well-known short stories, The Gift of the Magi and The Last Leaf by the celebrated American author O. Henry. Both stories were written and take place in New York City in 1904.

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Commissioned by Actors Theatre of Louisville, the State theatre of Kentucky, The Gift of the Magi was produced there for 17 consecutive years. The Last Leaf was commissioned by The Barter Theatre, the State theatre of Virginia, as a companion piece. Samuel French, Inc.

publishes the two musicals together as An O. Henry Christmas.

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Though The Gift of the Magi takes place at Christmastime, the great renown of O. Henry and the universal theme of unselfish giving found in both stories have allowed the musical to be produced at any time of the year.

 

The musical requires 6 actors or 4 actors if parts are doubled. It is scored for 5 instruments, piano, cello, harp, clarinet and flute, or it can be performed by piano alone.