We’re crammed backstage in dressing rooms
The curtain will rise very soon
The show starts at an hour past noon
In our heads we’re humming Nutcracker tunes

We all run around and around
Someone cries, “I lost my blush!”
I yell loudly, “where’s my brush?”
And we won’t stop shouting until it’s found.

Finally, it’s time for the show to start
We’re all nervous, but we’ve done this before
We go over the steps to the score
I hope my heart won’t break apart.

It’s intermission, the first act’s done
In conversation, we engage
But when it’s time to return on stage
We can only start what we’ve begun