Trans-Siberian Orchestra Brings Holiday Spectacular; Last Day for ‘Rudoph the Musical’ (Sun., 12/27/15)

1) In 1993, musician/rock band manager Paul O’Neill hit upon the idea that Christmas tunes could be totally progressive and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra was born. The TSO plays holiday music, traditional and its own, with a Rush level of elaboration and technical skill that has racked up multiple millions of album sales. You probably know the band’s wailing, synth-infused version of “Carol of the Bells.” It’s one of the most hardcore tracks DJs pull out each December. Music like this of course deserves the arena treatment, with a great light show and all, and the TSO makes the rounds at the end of each year. Today, the ensemble comes to Consol Energy Center for two shows guaranteed to make this holiday season seem like the most epic one since the last one. 3 and 7:30 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-3d9gQRlYU

2) In 1939, an artist for the Montgomery Ward department-store chain came up with a new holiday promotional item—a children’s book featuring a character called Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Rudolph turned out to be a keeper. He became the subject of treatments in other media, including the hit song we all know … and, in 1964, an animated TV special that is still broadcast annually. Now there’s a stage musical based on the TV story. The touring production of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical visits Pittsburgh with live actors playing the parts of Sam the Snowman, Hermey the Elf, and other such creatures that the television writers added to Rudolph’s saga. If you were charmed by their antics as a child, consider how your children might enjoy the stage spectacular. Rudolph thinks you might even get a kick out of it yourself. 1 and 6 p.m. Ends today.. Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave., Cultural District.(MV)

3) Citizen Kane – After ranking number one decade after decade, the film world was shocked last year when the British Film Institute demoted Citizen Kane to second place on the list of Greatest Films, replacing it with Vertigo. Not withstanding the fact that Hitchcock is my favorite director, I admit to being a little shocked as well. Vertigo is hardly my favorite from Hitch’s oeuvre, and Citizen Kane is a truly brilliant piece of film-making. It’s one of those films, Casablanca is another, where you forgot how great it is it until you see it again and can’t imagine wanting to see any other movie for the rest of your life. Directed by Orson Welles and written by Herman J. Mankiewicz, (with Gregg Toland’s genius cinematography and Bernard Herrmann’s brilliant score), Kane is loosely based on the life and career of William Randolph Hearst. I won’t reveal what “Rosebud” is, but I will tell you that, according to rumor, Welles and Mankiewicz chose that word for the movie because it was the nickname Hearst gave to a certain portion of his mistress Marion Davies’ anatomy. Happy holidays! (TH) 3 p.m. Row House Cinema, 4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville.

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