WLIW21 Airs Premiere RAIN Beatles Tribute, 8/14

New York metro area public television station WLIW21 will air a special premiere presentation of the acclaimed Beatles concert RAIN - A Tribute to The Beatles on Saturday, August 14 at 9:30PM with an encore on Sunday, August 15 at 1:30PM. The 90-minute program will also feature in-studio interviews with two original band members of RAIN - Joey Curatolo (‘Paul McCartney') and Steve Landes (‘John Lennon'). This special airs prior to the Broadway engagement of RAIN- A Tribute To the Beatles On Broadway which begins previews October 19 at the Neil Simon Theatre for a limited 11-week run. During WLIW21's broadcasts, viewers who support the station with a suggested donation can receive tickets to the October 22 performance of RAIN live on Broadway and attend a post-show meet & greet!

Together longer than The Beatles themselves, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance that's as infectious as it is transporting. From the early hits to later classics that The Beatles never got the chance to play live, this adoring tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends!

For the creators of RAIN - the original band - Joey Curatolo (vocals, bass, guitar, piano), Joe Bithorn (vocals, lead guitar, guitar synthesizer), Ralph Castelli (vocals, drums, percussion), Steve Landes (vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica) -- all of whom performed in the hit Broadway touring productions of Beatlemania -- and Mark Lewis (founder, keyboards, percussion), the music is first and foremost. For more than two decades, RAIN has distinguished itself by focusing on details, always being faithful to The Beatles with the ultimate goal of delivering a perfect note-for-note performance. All the music is performed live, with no pre-recorded tapes or sequences. RAIN approaches The Beatles music with the same respect a classical musician treats Mozart. They worked hard for many years, studying each song, each note, movement and nuance...both vocally and musically.

RAIN is presented on Broadway by Annerin Productions, Magic Arts & Entertainment/Tix Productions and Nederlander Presentations, Inc.

RAIN begins previews at the Neil Simon Theatre on October 19 with the official opening on October 26, for a limited 11-week engagement. The performance schedule will be Monday at 8PM; Tuesday at 7PM; No shows on Wednesdays; Thursday through Saturday at 8PM with a matinee Saturday at 2pm; Sunday at 3PM and 7PM. Tickets range from $25 to $120 and are available online at www.ticketmaster.com, by calling 877-250-2929.

New York public media company WNET.ORG is a pioneering provider of television and web content. The parent of THIRTEEN, WLIW21 and Creative News Group, WNET.ORG brings such acclaimed broadcast series and websites as Need To Know, Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose, Secrets of the Dead, Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, Visions, Consuelo Mack WealthTrack, Miffy and Friends, Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps and Cyberchase to national and international audiences. Through its wide range of channels and platforms, WNET.ORG serves the entire New York City metro area with unique local productions, broadcasts and innovative educational and cultural projects. In all that it does, WNET.ORG pursues a single, overarching goal - to create media experiences of lasting significance for New York, America and the world. For more information, visit www.wnet.org.

For more information visit www.raintribute.com