Trans-Siberian Orchestra's 'The Birth of Rock Theater' Premieres on PBS Beginning March 5th

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Since they first hit the stage 12 years ago, Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) has grown into one of the largest touring acts in the world by doing something completely different from every other group out there. A progressive rock band that incorporates classical, orchestral and symphonic elements into hard rock and heavy metal while delivering a massive light show of lasers, pyrotechnics, moving trusses and video screens all synchronized to music.

Now TSO creator Paul O'Neill, who calls it "Rock Theater," presents the past, present and future of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra through live video and interview segments taken over the last couple of years during their annual Winter Tour which is famed for performing Christmas Eve & Other Stories in its entirety, and from their concert debut of Beethoven's Last Night, filmed in Dallas, Texas, on May 2, 2010. TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA: THE BIRTH OF ROCK THEATER is part of special programming premiering on PBS stations beginning March 5, 2011, a prelude to a national tour kicking off April 2nd. For tour dates in a city near you visit: www.trans-siberian.com

O'Neill's Beethoven's Last Night combines 50% what actually happened with 50% what might have happened to create a fascinating tale of Beethoven's final evening. To pay tribute to the great composer TSO fused together many of his most enduring melodies with new hard rocking instrumentals. They also wrote several originals to create a theatrical experience that, combined with arena rock, takes the art form to unprecedented levels.

O'Neill enthuses, "PBS is an indispensable part of the artistic world. Masterpieces of music, dance and cinema that normally would have been lost and forgotten are saved for future generations to enjoy and be inspired by." Having already spent the past ten plus years partnering with PBS on the special "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve," TSO is thrilled to share the opportunity to bring "Rock Theater" to the masses with PBS.

SOURCE NCM