The buzz of fluorescent lights. The clang of heavy doors. A crowd of “inmates” clap in unison as a black-clad figure steps onto the makeshift stage. He pauses, then delivers that famous line — “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash” — and just like that, the Folsom Prison Experience begins.
But this isn’t the real Folsom. It’s a traveling immersive tribute, taking audience members inside one of the most iconic prison concerts in American history. And for corrections officers, this isn’t just a chance to relive a moment in music — it’s an invitation to experience a dramatized slice of prison history from the other side of the bars.
From the gravel in Cash’s voice to the scripted warden overseeing the “yard,” this production blends music, roleplay and reverence to recreate the energy of that January 1968 day. Here’s what you need to know:
What is the Folsom Prison Experience?
The Folsom Prison Experience is billed as an “immersive tribute drama” — a hybrid of musical theater and interactive storytelling that recreates Johnny Cash’s iconic concert inside Folsom State Prison. Audience members don inmate uniforms, get “processed,” and find themselves surrounded by actors playing prisoners, corrections officers, and even June Carter and the Statler Brothers.
It’s not just a concert; it’s a time machine. The 90-minute show is a faithful, moment-by-moment retelling of the performance, complete with hits like “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Jackson.” The goal: to capture the tension, grit and energy that made the real show legendary.
The Folsom Prison Experience has toured across the country
While it began as a regional show, the Folsom Prison Experience has taken its gritty nostalgia nationwide — hitting stages from Minnesota to Nashville and even landing at iconic venues like the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres and music festivals. At each stop, the cast re-creates the inside of Folsom State Prison down to the smallest detail, bringing Johnny Cash’s outlaw energy to cities that might be thousands of miles from the original prison walls.
Audience reviews consistently highlight the realism of the performances and the emotional weight of stepping into the shoes of a 1968 inmate. The show’s growing popularity continues to prove that this moment in prison history still resonates, especially with those who understand the environment behind the bars.
Johnny Cash’s real Folsom Prison concert
Johnny Cash’s fascination with prison life began early in his career, notably with his 1955 song “Folsom Prison Blues.” However, it wasn’t until January 13, 1968, that he performed at Folsom State Prison. Accompanied by June Carter, Carl Perkins and his band, the Tennessee Three, Cash delivered two concerts for the inmates. These performances were recorded and released as the album “At Folsom Prison.”
The album was a turning point in Cash’s career and in the public’s view of incarceration. The songs were raw, the crowd’s cheers real and the setting unforgettable. It brought humanity to the prison population and earned Cash lasting respect from both fans and inmates. As History.com notes, the live recording launched Cash to the top of the charts and into American cultural mythology.
The legacy of Folsom State Prison
Opened in 1880, Folsom State Prison was California’s second state prison and the first with electricity. Known for its imposing granite walls, Folsom quickly became a symbol of hard time and discipline. Over the decades, it’s housed everyone from petty thieves to notorious criminals — and in 1968, a country music legend.
For those who work in corrections, Folsom remains a storied name — not just because of its history, but because of how it was thrust into the cultural spotlight by one artist with a guitar and a message.
For corrections professionals, the Folsom Prison Experience isn’t just entertainment. It’s a reminder of the enduring intersection between music, media and the prison system — and how one day behind the walls of a prison still echoes decades later.
