This May, Serj Tankian will be rejoining his System Of A Down band mates for one of this year’s most anticipated tours. However, before he takes the stage with System, Tankian is conquering a new world: the theater. ‘Prometheus Bound,’ Tankian’s collaboration with acclaimed playwright Steven Sater, is currently in the middle of its world premiere at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Sater believes that Tankian is doing something totally unique. “He’s brought a sound to the theater like you’ve never heard before,” says the playwright. “We’re doing a very ambitious and radical show. We’re taking an ancient, classic piece of theater and wedding it to real rock’n’roll music. I think this show reveals Serj as a composer in ways we’ve never heard before.”

For Tankian, many aspects of working in the theater are totally new experiences. Sitting in the audience while hearing somebody else sing his words is a very different role for a man quite used to being on stage. The shift in perspective took some getting used to.

Tankian also presented his newest poetry collection ‘Glaring Through Oblivion’ on March 29 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Glendale. The collection is a book of Tankian’s original poetry, strikingly illustrated by Roger Kupelian. Unique illustrations punctuate nearly 70 poems - almost none of which have ever been published before. ‘Glaring Through Oblivion’ is Serj’s second poetry book and a complimentary title to Cool Gardens, Tankian’s well received debut collection of prose.