Santa’s reindeer unionized? Corporate cost-cutting at the North Pole? These and other wacky situations make “The Spirit of Reindeer” a great, albeit early, start to the holiday season.

Perfect for the kids, this funny musical is newly developed by composer Brian Cimmet, formerly of Scarborough, and his lyricist, Erich Goldstein. Three performances of its premiere production will be held Sunday through Tuesday, Nov. 18-20, in Corthell Concert Hall in the University of Southern Maine Gorham campus.

Performances times are Sunday at 8 p.m., and Monday and Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Cimmet will attend the Sunday performance, which will be followed by an opportunity for audience members to meet and ask questions of the composer.

Tickets are $15 for the general public, $10 for seniors and $5 for students. Call the music box office at 780-5555 for reservations. The production is presented by the USM School of Music and sponsored by Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution.