TV Host Ben Mankiewicz Joins 'Shawshank Redemption' Event In Ohio

MANSFIELD, OH — TV host and film critic Ben Mankiewicz will take part in the 25th anniversary celebration of "The Shawshank Redemption" in August.

A longtime host for Turner Classic Movies, Mankiewicz will moderate an August 16 panel discussion of the film's cast and crew. That event will take place before a screening of the film in the historic Renaissance Theatre, where the movie premiered in 1994.

On August 17, Mankiewicz will host a ticketed reception inside Shawshank State Prison, where members of the cast will mingle with fans. Tickets for both events are on sale now.

The 25th anniversary celebration will take place over three-days. Guests will be able to visit 16 sites that were used in the film (organizers are calling it The Shawshank Trail). Actors from the film will also be on-hand to meet fans and sign autographs. Members of the cast taking part in the event include: Bob Gunton (Warden Norton), William Sadler (Heywood), Mark Rolston (Bogs), Frank Medrano (Fat Ass), Neil Giuntoli (Jigger), Alfonso Freeman (Red’s Mugshot and Fresh Fish Guy), Scott Mann (Glenn Quentin), Renee Blaine (Linda Dufresne) and Claire Slemmer (Bank Teller).

Throughout the weekend, there will also be background actors staged at filming sites along the Shawshank Trail. Visitors can get autographs and chat with the actors at the stops. There will also be anniversary souvenirs available for purchase, including artifacts crafted from the Shawshank tree.

Many of the events over the three-day weekend will be held at the Ohio State Reformatory (which played Shawshank Prison in the film). Tours of the reformatory will be offered for $25.