[NEohioPAL]50s come alive on June 19 at Lock 3 Live! in Akron

[reynolds,victoria]

Dear NEOHIOPAL Subscribers ~=20

Before there was Justin Timberlake, Santana and rappers, there was Pat
Boone, The Platters and rebels without a cause.  Before there were CDs
and Nikes, there were juke boxes and saddle oxfords. And while "jazzed"
and "sweet" are current pop-culture phrases, in the '50s, "Grease" was
the word."

Girls, slip into your poodle skirts and bobby socks. Boys, don your
denims and leather jackets. Practice your Hand Jive and hula-hoop,
because on June 19, the Greased Lightning festival at Lock 3 Live! park
includes everything from a costume contest to hula-hoop and bubble-gum
blowing competitions, trivia challenge, and more.=20

If you never learned the Stroll or the Hand Jive, get the moves down at
the '50s Dance School. If Elvis was your idol, compete for a prize in
the Elvis-impersonator contest, or snap your fingers as Jim Barone
brings The King back to life via his version of "Elvis Lives!"=20

Best of all, the Greased Lightning festival features live entertainment
by The Platters ("Only You," "Smoke Gets in your Eyes," "I'm Sorry"),
Cornell Gunter's Coasters ("Yakty Yak," "Poison Ivy," "Charley Brown")
and Beary Hobb's Drifters ("This Magic Moment," "Save the Last Dance for
Me," "Under the Boardwalk").

Known for the unique style of their ballads, The Platters emerged in the
early 1950s at the dawn of rock and roll, and remain one of the
smoothest acts in the business. Cornell Gunter's Coasters mixes the
musical comedy skits and routines created by the late Cornell Gunter, a
member of the original Coasters. Beary Hobb's Drifters continues the
legacy of the late Elsbeary Hobb, the original bass singer for the
Drifters.

Of course, a '50s fest would not be complete without a parade of the
hot-rods and classic cars that punctuated drive-in picture shows on
Saturday nights. So, "with a four-speed on the floor, they'll be waiting
at the door" to see the Classic/Muscle Car and Truck Show on Main
Street. For those who wish to participate in the car show, registration
begins at 11 a.m. Trophies will be awarded to car show winners in
various classes, in addition to a "People's Choice Award."=20

Whether you dress for the fest or come as you are, be there, or be
square!

The Greased Lightning Fest runs from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, June
19 at Lock 3 Live! park and FirstEnergy Stage on Main Street in downtown
Akron, located next to the Akron Civic Theatre. A $10 admission charge
to the festival includes all concerts and entertainment associated with
this event, with the exclusion of inflatable rides for children, where
tokens will be sold. Admission to the festival is free for children
under 48 inches. If you bring a canned food item to Lock 3 park to
benefit the Akron/Canton Food Bank, you can buy one ticket at full price
and get the second ticket for half price.=20

Cash-only tickets are sold at the Lock 3 Live! gates 30 minutes before
show time.  For advance tickets, call the Akron Civic Theatre Box Office
at 330.253.2488 between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday.
Tickets are also available at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall Ticket
Office at 330.972.7570, or through Ticketmaster Centers or
Charge-By-Phone at 330.945.9400.=20

NOTE: Due to popular demand, WKSU's Homegrown Saturday Mornin' at Lock 3
Live! has been expanded this season. Homegrown provides the perfect
outdoor setting in which to shop, experience and enjoy, every Saturday
(except July 3) between 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. When the Homegrown vendors
close shop at 2 p.m., folks can stick around town or come back later for
the festival.

Free parking is available in the O'Neil's Deck (entrance off State
Street), Cascade Parking Deck (enter from Quaker Street) and Landmark
Deck (entrance off Bowery Street). Paid parking is available in the
Summit County Parking Deck (entrance off High Street).

For more information about the festivals at Lock 3 Live! and FirstEnergy
Stage, contact development director Seth Keyes at (330) 535-3179, or
staff writer Victoria Reynolds at (330) 972-2724. For event information
and updates, visit www.lock3live.com, or call the Civic Theatre Info
Line at 330.535.3178.

#   #   #

Lock 3 Live! was founded by the City of Akron and Akron Civic Theatre.
Major sponsors include FirstEnergy and KeyBank, with special thanks to
media sponsor Akron Beacon Journal, and supporters including Akron
Canton Food Bank, CocaCola, Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association,
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Montrose Ford, Montrose Toyota, and WKSU
89.7.