The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts will present the Folsom Prison Experience at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 18.

The show brings the 1968 recording of Johnny Cash’s At Folsom Prison album to life. The album topped the country charts, broke into the Top 15 on the pop charts, sold more than 3 million copies, and revived Cash’s career. The day of recording was filled with tension, risks, and unforgettable moments inside one of the toughest prisons in the country.

The Folsom Prison Experience tribute blends live concert energy with theatrical storytelling, putting audiences inside the music, pressure, and atmosphere of January 13, 1968. With guards pacing the aisles, the warden overseeing every moment, and a full cast recreating the original lineup, the show offers an inside look at the performance that reshaped Cash’s legacy. The case includes Jay Ernest of the award-winning Church of Cash as Johnny Cash, Kat Perkins as June Carter, Dan Hopman as the warden, Brad Erickson as Hugh Cherry, Ryan Nelson and Zach “Poppa Bear” Norton as the guards, and Bronson Bergeson portraying multiple key roles, all backed by the musicians of Church of Cash.

Co-written by Ernest and collaborator Tom Pickard and directed by Stephanie Long, the show is built on deep research and a commitment to authenticity. Songs from “At San Quentin” also appear in the production, expanding the storytelling and musical depth.

Since its debut, Folsom Prison Experience has performed more than 50 shows nationwide.

At Folsom Prison was ranked in 2003 number 88 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list and ranking at number 164 in a 2020 revised list. Also in 2003, it was one of 50 recordings chosen by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry Country Music Television named it the third-greatest album in country music in 2006. In 2006, Time listed it among the 100 greatest albums.

Tickets ranging from $35.50 to $73.50 are on sale now. The Reg Lenna Center for The Arts box office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and one hour before movies and events. Tickets may also be purchased by calling 716-484-7070 or at reglenna.com. The Reg Lenna Center for The Arts is located at 116 E. Third St., Jamestown.

The Reg Lenna Center for The Arts’ programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.