Rocky Runners -- including those who scaled "the steps" with Sylvester Stallone and the Philadelphia cinematographer who made filmmaking history in the original ROCKY 30 years ago -- tomorrow will return to the legendary landmark for a special ceremony to mark the milestone anniversary of the breakthrough film and the launch of Rocky Stories: Tales of Love, Hope and Happiness at America's Most Famous Steps, by Philadelphia Inquirer Pulitzer Prize winners Michael Vitez and Tom Gralish.
On Tuesday, November 21, at 9:30 AM, at the top of the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rocky Runners profiled in the new book will be joined by Garrett Brown, the award-winning creator of the Stedicam, first used in ROCKY, and hear from the book's authors and other special guests. Actress Geraldine Hughes, a member of the cast of Stallone's upcoming ROCKY BALBOA, will represent the actor-director who wrote the foreword to the book. "The steps were magical. Why do people run there 30 years later? I think Rocky has represented something that, when you train for Rocky, you basically train yourself. Because we are underdogs," writes Stallone.
The National Anthem and the Rocky Anthem ("Gonna Fly Now") will be performed by local soloist, Renee Merritt, whose singing career is Rocky-inspired. She works as a buyer at the Aker Philadelphia Shipyard. Following the ceremony, guests will be treated to Philly cheesesteaks and a special new ice cream, "Rocky Balboa Road," courtesy of the Berley Brothers.
