The University Players will present "The Spirit of Christmas," a collection of Christmas plays and stories, tonight and Friday night in the Forrest H. Rose Theatre.

This year proceeds from the annual benefit go to the Cape Girardeau Head Start program.

"'Twas the Night Before Christmas" will be the first story presented. The traditional Christmas poem by Clement Clarke Moore will be performed by George Kraleman as a monologue.

Two short stories, "The Falconer's Christmas" and "Stubby Pringle's Christmas," will be presented in a theatrical format. The former tells how red and green became the colors of Christmas, while in the latter a cowboy experiences a Christmas Eve adventure.

The finale will be "The Seven Gifts," a play first performed in 1929 at the New York Community Christmas Tree.

Abbie Crites is directing the collection.

Tickets are $2, and are available through the Head Start office at 334-5533 or at the theater box office at 651-2265.

Tickets also can be obtained the night of each performance. Seating is general admission.

The show will be presented at 7:30 both nights.