Mansfield, Ohio is eagerly planning and preparing for a unique celebration, the 20th anniversary of the filming of The Shawshank Redemption.
In 1994, a film adapted from the little-known Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption premiered in Mansfield at the Renaissance Theatre and enjoyed modest commercial success. The Shawshank Redemption was nominated for seven Academy Awards. In 1995 Warner Bros. shipped 320,000 rental copies of the film throughout the United States and that is when the film’s popularity really took off. It became the top rented film in 1995 and has become one of the most popular movies of all time.
One of the stars from the film who is slated to join in the festivities is Bob Gunton, the actor who played Warden Norton.
“The magic of this movie has truly worked its power over people all around the globe. From Australia and Morocco to Canada, France and even Poland, people recognize me as the Shawshank Warden,” said Gunton.
The celebration will take place Labor Day weekend. Locals and visitors alike can follow the Shawshank Trail, a tour of 14 locations from the film. Many of the locations will have special tours and events for the weekend including reenactments, autograph signings with celebrities, guided tours and photo opportunities.
Ohio State Reformatory, which starred in the film as Shawshank State Prison, will offer tours. Wagon tours at Malabar Farm State Park to Pugh Cabin (Opening Scene) and past the Shawshank oak tree will also be offered. In addition, the following self-guided tours are offered 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (some for a nominal fee):
- Bissman Building (Brewer Hotel and Portland Daily Bugle)
- Shawshank Oak Tree drive-by photo opportunity (tree is best viewed on Malabar Farm’s property, located across the road)
- Huntington National Bank (Maine National Bank scene)
- Revivals 2 Thrift Store (Trailways Bus Station)
- Wyandot County Courthouse (Andy Dufresne’s Trial)
- Shawshank Woodshop (prison woodshop, reenactment and tours)
There are two events that will have limited capacity and tickets are projected to sell out. To attend the screening of the film, or the special cocktail reception it is recommended that tickets be purchased soon.
On Friday evening, August 30, the Renaissance Theatre, which hosted the premier of “The Shawshank Redemption,” will offer a 7 p.m. special showing of the film, replicating its 1994 premier.
On Saturday, August 31 from 7-9 p.m., the main event is a Shawshank Reunion cocktail reception in the Ohio State Reformatory Central Guard Room. Guests will enjoy live music, hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and special guided prison tours. Parking $2. Tickets can be purchased at www.mrps.org/events/shawshank-reunion-party-. Also on Saturday, the same tours are offered again throughout the day with a few minor time variations.
Many local restaurants and retailers are excited to welcome guests for the weekend and are offering souvenir and food specials in honor of the movie. A saunter around downtown Mansfield could yield an entire Shawshank-themed meal. Start with a Prison Break Soda at Richland Carousel Park, stop in at Ed Picken’s Café on Main for a Shawshankwich or Two Cousins Pizza for some Redemption Pizza Pie, and have a Prison Candy Bar from Squirrel’s Den washed down with some Ixtapa Shawshank Coffee at Relax, It’s Just Coffee.
The Richland County Convention and Visitors Bureau has made it easy to plan and enjoy the weekend’s festivities and you can find a complete schedule, travel packages and more here: http://www.mansfieldtourism.com/what-to-do/the-shawshank-trail/shawshank-reunion/20-year-reunion-information
