The Shawshank Redemption / Desert Theatreworks

September 25 – October 4, 2026 | Blackbox Theatre

Presented by Desert Theatreworks for the 2026-2027 Season

Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane. And hope — as banker Andy Dufresne discovers inside the stone walls of Shawshank State Penitentiary — might just be the one thing that sets him free.

Adapted by Owen O'Neill and Dave Johns from Stephen King's celebrated novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, this gripping stage production brings one of the most beloved stories of the modern era to our Blackbox stage. When Andy is wrongly convicted of a brutal double murder and sentenced to life behind bars, he must learn to survive in a world where corruption runs deeper than the prison's foundations. His unlikely friendship with Ellis "Red" Redding — the prison's resident fixer — and his quiet, decades-long plan to reclaim his freedom make for an unforgettable evening of theatre.

The intimate Blackbox seating puts you inside those walls. You won't just watch this story — you'll live inside it, alongside Andy, Red, and the unforgettable men of Shawshank. This is not the movie. This is harder, closer, more human. And the ending will leave you breathless.

Season opener. Limited 8-performance run.

Run Time: Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes, including one intermission

Parent Advisory: Recommended 16+ — contains strong language, violence including sexual violence, discussion of suicide, and mature prison themes