MANSFIELD — The 30th anniversary celebration of “The Shawshank Redemption” movie is designed for the film’s legion of fans around the world.
But it’s also a family reunion of sorts for the cast and crew that created the film that earned seven Academy Award nominations and is IMDB’s top-rated movie of all time. In 2015, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.
“Shawshank” was principally filmed in Mansfield and around north central Ohio, largely focused on the former Ohio State Reformatory.
Several members of the cast and crew are returning for the Aug. 9 to 11 celebration, including director Frank Darabont, Bob Gunton (Warden Norton), William Sadler (Heywood), Gil Bellows (Tommy Williams) and Mark Rolston (Bogs Diamond), as well as many behind-the-scenes actors.
Shawshank30 details
Details are found at Shawshank30.com and will be updated as events are added on those sites, as well as on social media. Tickets are now on sale and events schedules are available at shawshanktrail.com/event-schedule and events are expected to sell out.
Taking place in Mansfield, Ashland and Upper Sandusky, guided and self-guided tours of the prison and other Shawshank filming sites are available, including guided Shawshank Bus Tours Thursday Aug. 8 at noon and Friday at 10 a.m. and noon.
Tour stops on the Shawshank Trail include Ohio State Reformatory, Shawshank Museum, Renaissance Theatre, Shawshank Woodshop in Upper Sandusky, Pugh Cabin at Malabar Farm State Park, the bank in Ashland and other sites in and around Mansfield.
Also coming back is Ben Mankiewicz, popular host of Turner Classic Movies, who will lead a panel discussion with members of the cast and crew.
“Cast members are coming, which is going to be really great for the fans to see,” said Jodie Snavely, special projects director at Destination Mansfield-Richland County, who helps to spearhead the event with Dan Smith, associate director at The Ohio State Reformatory Preservation Society.
“A lot of them that came for the 25th anniversary are coming back,” she said.
“They are very excited about coming back. They’re excited to see each other, share their stories and of course, see the fans and all that great stuff,” Snavely said.
The complete schedule has been released for the celebratory weekend, including free events and other events that require tickets.
(Below is a PDF file with the complete schedule of events for the upcoming 30th anniversary celebration of the release of the “Shawshank Redemption” movie.)
One highlight of the weekend will be the panel discussion led by Mankiewicz at the Renaissance Theatre, 138 Park Ave. West, where the film premiered in 1994. It is scheduled on Aug. 9 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
This event will feature a discussion session with 12 returning cast and crew members, including Darabont, several lead actors, and key supporting characters.
The movie will be shown at 6:30 p.m. at the Renaissance, one of several times fans can catch the film during the weekend.
That panel discussion and viewing requires tickets, available for purchase here.
Earlier on Aug. 9, at Theatre 166 next to the Renaissance, will be a “Behind the Scenes and Beyond” panel discussion with Kokayi Ampah, the location manager for “The Shawshank Redemption.”
This event from 10 to 11 a.m. will offer a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes and beyond to learn how Mansfield and the surrounding areas were meticulously selected and became the iconic locations that brought the film to life.
The Q&A event is free, but tickets are required.
Ampah, whose extensive career in location management is highlighted on IMDb, will share his experiences and insights on how these locations made the story of Shawshank feel authentic and impactful.
There are also two “background actor” panels scheduled at Theatre 166 on Aug. 10 at 10 a.m. and Aug. 11 at 9 a.m.
“Get insider information from those who were there and hear first-hand stories about their experiences on set. This panel will include a lively Q&A session where you can ask burning questions about what it was like to work around the amazing cast, what they did during their downtime, and hear anecdotes like one actor jokingly saying they were paid in cigarettes and suntan lotion,” according to organizers.
This event is also free, but tickets are required.
Another event firmly on the schedule is the 10th annual Shawshank Hustle, a 7K road race that begins on the grounds of OSR, runs into downtown Mansfield through Central Park, and then returns to the finish line at the prison.
There were about 3,000 runners in the race during the 25th anniversary of the film’s release and a similar number is expected this year, according to Snavely.
This year’s race starts Aug. 10 at 8 a.m. on the grounds of OSR. It continues into downtown Mansfield and through Central Park before finishing back at the prison.
