'Twas the Night Before Christmas' Set For HMT   Clifton Forge, VA (Nov. 7, 2017) - ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." Thus begins the classic Christmas poem that has become a seasonal staple for children around the world since the 1800s. This holiday season, families can see the story brought to life by the Barter Players in a magical new musical version, presented on Saturday, November 25 at 3:00 pm on The Historic Masonic Theatre stage. It's Christmas Eve, 1823, and it looks like the holidays will not be so happy for Clem Moore, a hardworking newspaper writer. There's no money to pay for his ill wife's medical treatments or even pay his rent, let alone give his family presents, and he has been given an impossible assignment - to write the best Santa Claus story ever written. Just when things are looking far from merry and bright for Clem, "out on the lawn there arose such a clatter" and what follows is a night of magic that not only changes his life forever, but also how the whole world celebrates Christmas. See the Barter Players present the wonder of that fateful night onstage as only they can. "Twas the Night Before Christmas" is collaboration between Barter Playwright-in-Residence Catherine Bush and composer Andy Williams, based on the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clark Moore. Jeff Stern, executive director of The Historic Masonic Theatre says, “Begin your holiday season with this classic Christmas story presented in partnership with Barter Theatre. We are thrilled to have them perform in the John E Hillert Auditorium of The Historic Masonic Theatre. We invite the entire community to celebrate with us”.

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