Trans-Siberian Orchestra rolls out two touring companies for Christmas tour >> Tour dates and concert ticket info >> LiveDaily

Trans-Siberian Orchestra rolls out two touring companies for Christmas tour

Published November 5, 2003 04:06 PM

By Rob Evans / LiveDaily Editor

Repeating a formula that's proven successful in recent years, Trans-Siberian Orchestra [ tickets ] has broken into two touring units for its annual holiday tour.

The fifth "Christmas Eve and Other Stories" tour launches in mid-November, and runs through the holidays. One company handles shows in the East, while the other simultaneously covers the West.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra came into being when producer/songwriter Paul O'Neill and keyboardist Jon Olivia, both of progressive-metal group Savatage [ tickets ], wrote some Christmas songs in the mid-'90s. Those works eventually became the 1996 rock-opera album "Christmas Eve and Other Stories."

The first Trans-Siberian Orchestra holiday tour, in 1999, comprised seven shows, and it has since grown into one of the top-drawing holiday tours in North America.

The New York City-based group's current holiday shows feature a 60-piece orchestra and a full chorus, and its sound combines elements of rock, classical and Broadway.

In 1998, Trans-Siberian Orchestra released its sophomore effort, "The Christmas Attic," and issued its first non-holiday album, "Beethoven's Last Night," two years later. In 2001, the group released the video/DVD "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve."

[Note: The following tour dates have been provided by artist and/or tour sources, who verify its accuracy as of the publication time of this story. Changes may occur before tickets go on sale. Check with official artist websites, ticketing sources and venues for late updates.]

Trans-Sibearian Orchestra--East Touring Company

November 2003
14, 15 - Youngstown, OH - Powers Auditorium
16, 17 - Akron, OH - EJ Thomas Theater
18 - Louisville, KY - Palace Theater
19 - Charleston, WV - Municipal Auditorium
21 - Buffalo, NY - Shea's PAC
22 - Erie, PA - Erie Civic Center
23 - Syracuse, NY - Landmark Theater
24 - Wheeling, WV - Capitol Theater
25 - Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theater
26 - Columbus, OH - Veteran's Auditorium
28 - Baltimore, MD - 1st Mariner Arena
29 - Washington, DC - Patriot Center
30 - Greensboro, NC - War Memorial Auditorium

December 2003
1 - Charlotte, NC - Belk Theater @ Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
2 - Columbia, SC - Township Auditorium
4 - Providence, RI - Dunkin Donuts Center
5 - Rochester, NY - Auditorium Theater
6 - Wallingford, CT - Oakdale Music Theater
7 - Boston, MA - Fleet Center
9, 10 - New York, NY - Beacon Theater
11 - Richmond, VA - Carpenter Center
12 - Hampton, VA - Hampton Coliseum
13 - Wilkes-Barre, PA - Wachovia Arena
14 - Hershey, PA - Giant Center
16 - Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall
17 - Toledo, OH - Sports Arena
18 - Dayton, OH - Nutter Center
19 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena
20 - Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
21, 22 - Cleveland, OH - CSU Convocation Center
23 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mellon Arena Theatre
26 - Albany, NY - Pepsi Arena
27 - Camden, NJ - Tweeter Center
28 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
29 - Newark, NJ - Newark Performing Arts Center
30 - Portland, ME - Cumberland Arena

Trans-Siberian Orchestra--West Touring Company

November 2003
18 - Des Moines, IA - Civic Center Theater
19 - Omaha, NE - Music Hall
20 - Wichita, KS - Kansas Coliseum
21 - Kansas City, KS - Memorial Auditorium
22 - Colorado Springs, CO - World Arena
23 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Arena
25 - West Valley City, UT - E Center
26 - Nampa, ID - Idaho Center
28 - Spokane, WA - Opera House
29 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden
30 - Seattle, WA - Key Arena

December 2003
2 - Sacramento, CA - ARCO Arena
3 - Cupertino, CA - Flint Performing Arts Center
4 - San Diego, CA - Cox Arena
5 - Universal City, CA - Universal Amphitheater
6 - Las Vegas, NV - Aladdin Theater
7 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theater
9 - El Paso, TX - Haskins Center UTEP
10 - Amarillo, TX - Civic Center Coliseum
11 - Austin, TX - Erwin Center
12 - San Antonio, TX - SBC Center
13 - Grand Prairie, TX - Next Stage Theater
14 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
17 - Moline, IL - Mark of the Quad Cities
18 - Rosemont, IL - Allstate Arena
19 - St. Louis, MO - Savvis Center
20 - Madison, WI - Alliant Energy Center
21 - Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center
22 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
23 - Green Bay, WI - Resch Center
26 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Arena
27 - Orlando, FL - Bob Carr Theater
28 - Atlanta, GA - Gwinnett Center
29 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
30 - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theater