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The musical Kiss Me Kate is one of those unusual performances that has a play within a play. The concurrent narratives show the performance of William Shakespear’s comedy, Taming of the Shrew while also following the love lives of director and leading man Fred Graham (who is playing Petruchio) and his ex-wife and co-star Lilli Vanessi (Katherine).

The musical depicts a real-life example of how life imitates art as the characters of Kiss Me Kate play comparable characters in the Taming of the Shrew. The themes of the battle of the sexes and love are also touched upon in both the lyrics and the plot. 

Background on Kiss Me Kate 

Kiss Me Kate, a play within a play, is based on a book by Bella and Samuel Spewack and highlights music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The main plot follows Fred Graham, the director of a Broadway-bound musical version of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew and his ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi who plays the role of Katharine in the Shakespearian play, thus the name Kiss Me Kate. 

Forced to play characters opposite each other in the internal play, the couple professes to hate each other, but are very clearly still in love. Despite their bickering, they reminisce nostalgically about other shows in which they have appeared together over the years. A subplot follows two other players including Lois, a singer in the Taming of the Shrew and her gambler boyfriend Bill (Lucentio). In the middle of all the craziness of the play within the play, Fred declares his interest in Lois by sending her flowers. The bouquet, however, is mistakenly delivered to Lilli who believes the romance has returned to her failed marriage. 

Just when you think the story can not get confusing enough, Lilli learns during a live performance that the flowers were never intended for her. Meanwhile, a pair of gangsters storm the stage in search of Fred (or Bill) who owes their boss money. 

The gangsters force everyone to stay on stage to finish the play to collect on the debt owed. They sing, dance and perform the show-stopping number, Brush Up Your Shakespeare. The show ends as all shows should with Lilli and Fred and Bill and Lois working everything out and going on with their lives happily ever after. 

Backdrops for Kiss Me Kate

Since the musical takes place in two places simultaneously – on a stage and while portraying Shakespeare’s masterpiece, The Taming of the Shrew which is set in the age of the Italian Renaissance. 

While Backdrops By Charles Stewart offers over 51 backdrop options for this musical, here are a few of our favorites. 

back stageThis Bare Stage Backdrop displays a brick wall with a theater door, spiral staircase, catwalk, and scenery flats leaning against the wall thus giving the illusion of being behind the scenes. 

This Backstage Scrim Backdrop is great for scenes between Fred and Lilli or Lois and Bill. It shows a bare stage with a theater door and backstage dressing rooms. 

If your performance is looking for a simple design this Bare Stage Backdrop with a ladder, pipes, and scenery sets leaning against the wall may just be ideal. 

For scenes that are geared more toward the Taming of the Shrew side of the story, a more opulent set should be visible. Many performances attempt to display the feel of a wealthy, upper-class Italian household during the Renaissance period, with opulent décor, large rooms, and hints of societal hierarchy. 

Here are some options that may help as your crew switches from the internal play to the external play. 

This Drawing Room Backdrop illustrates a home that is more lavish and juxtaposed to the backdrops showing the stage background. This particular backdrop shows a Victorian interior with a sitting room, blue draperies and a large wood archway. 

This Garden Backdrop is also an option for the performance as it shows a garden colonnade with a low brick wall, white columns and pink flowers. 

To view all of our Kiss Me Kate backdrops please visit our site and follow the links for show suggestions. 

 

With the spring equinox right around the corner, we are looking forward to the warm days ahead. With spring comes one of our favorite times of the year: concert and recital season! 

Backdrops By Charles H. Stewart loves being a part of your concert or dance recital settings. We look forward to working with so many dance organizations and local and regional orchestras to help create the appropriate backdrop for your event. From abstract to novelty backdrops, we have exactly what your organization needs to create the mood and atmosphere you desire. 

Let’s take a look at some of our most popular backdrops that will help you set the stage for a successful concert or recital. 

Celebration Theme

Should your organization, theater group or dance troupe be celebrating a milestone during your performance or promoting a celebration theme, these backdrops may be ideal for your event. 

Our celebration backdrops include themes such as fireworks, patriotic backdrops, space celebrations, Rio Carnivals, gold sparkles, falling stars, and happy anniversaries. 

This Rio Carnival Backdrop illustrates a festive atmosphere, including fireworks and palm trees, for performances set in the summer or around major holidays. It is also ideal for groups hoping to portray tropical destinations or a carnival theme. 

Our colorful balloon backdrop with clouds and a blue sky is fun and uplifting. Named the Celebration Balloon Backdrop, this option would be perfect for year-end concerts, corporate award ceremonies, parties, dance recitals or retirement parties. 

This Patriotic Backdrop would be ideal for events or performances based around American history or US holidays such as Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day or Independence Day. The backdrop includes images of a bald eagle, the  American flag, the Statue of Liberty and the White House.  

Stars & Sparkles 

For performances that would like to keep the backdrop neutral but with some detail, these stars and sparkles may be perfect for concerts, recitals, and corporate events. 

This Gold Sparkle Backdrop displays a black background with shiny gold falling sparkles. This is a painted backdrop with no metallic material.

Another sparkly option includes this Falling Stars Backdrop. It is a beautiful deep blue backdrop that shows white and gold falling stars.

Abstracts 

Our abstract backdrops range from vibrant colorful backdrops to unique designs. 

This colorful Rainbow Wave Backdrop illustrates the colors of the rainbow in a wavy pattern. 

To view more of our backdrops for your spring concerts, recitals or events, visit our website and choose Rent By Category.

 

Set in 1906 when the Oklahoma Territory had yet to reach statehood, the musical Oklahoma! tells the age-old tale of love, community and the American way of life before the modern age emerged. Based on Lynn Riggs’ 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs, Oklahoma! is most notably known as the first musical written by the famous Broadway duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. 

Oklahoma! originally debuted at the St. James Theatre in New York City on March 31, 1943, and ran for an astounding 2,212 performances making it a box office smash! The masterpiece was awarded a special Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1944 and was nominated for eight Tony Awards and won Best Revival of a Musical and Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Ali Stroker.

The musical has long been a favorite for school musicals and community theaters. The popular lyrics, choreography and set design lend themselves to theaters looking for a crowd-pleasing production. 

The Story of Oklahoma! 

The plot of the musical Oklahoma! follows the love story between spunky farm girl, Laurey, and the two rivals for her affection: Curly, a brash cowboy, and Jud, the hired farmhand. There is also a secondary romance between Will and Ado Annie. While we won’t ruin the surprise of who ends up with who, suffice it to say that love wins out in the end. 

The musical opens on a farm in the Oklahoma Territory just after the turn of the century when the United States is still forming and territories have yet to fully reach statehood. Life on the prairie is tough with farm life keeping citizens busy from sun up to sun down. The story chronicles the rugged landscape and people who find themselves working the land. 

The audience will be delighted with the lyrics and choreography of popular songs such as “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” “People Will Say We’re in Love,” “I Cain’t Say No!” and the exhilarating title song, “Oklahoma!” As the toe-tapping music plays, the audience meets the characters of Laurey, Curly, Jud, Will and Ado Annie as their romances intertwine with the story of the territory fulfilling its requirements for statehood. 

Backdrops for Oklahoma! 

Explore the more than 37 options of backdrops for your next performance of Oklahoma! on our show suggestions pages. Here are a few of our most popular options that could help set your stage for an amazing performance. 

Farm Settings 

Since the musical takes place almost entirely on the plains and prairies of the Midwest, these backdrops that depict woods, farms and plains would be ideal for any school or community theater production. 

This Farm Landscape Backdrop shows a colorful farm landscape with tilled earth, green grass, a beautiful sky and a large tree at the center. A 2′ black border surrounds the scene as shown.

This Farm Landscape is slightly different in that it shows rolling farmlands at night with tilled earth and a white chapel sitting in the center. A 2′ black border surrounds the scene as shown.

Another option for a unique farmscape would be this Farm Landscape Backdrop # 2425 which shows yet another colorful farm landscape with harvested corn, trees and beautiful sky. A 2′ black border frames the scene down the sides and across the bottom and 3′ across the top as shown.

View all of our backdrops on our website and choose one or more for your next production. 

 

We all love a story where the underdog wins or the American Dream comes true right before our very eyes. The story of 42nd Street The Musical chronicles one such story where a young performer gets her big break on Broadway with fantastic results. 

Let’s explore the storyline, themes and backdrops appropriate for this classic Broadway musical often seen as a revival in local and regional theaters. 

The Story of 42nd Street 

42nd Street The Musical is an adaptation of the 1932 novel written by Bradford Rope and the subsequent Hollywood adaptation in 1933. This 1980 Broadway production won many accolades including the Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Choreography and the Olivier Award for Best Musical in London. 

This beloved Broadway production tells the story of Peggy Sawyer, a young performer from a small town in Pennsylvania who travels to the Big Apple in the hopes of making it big on Broadway. With stars in her eyes, naive Peggy is thrust into the sometimes political and seedy side of Broadway when she is late for her first audition for Pretty Lady. 

Dorothy Brock, the show’s leading lady and typical Broadway diva, takes an instant dislike to the newcomer and her positive and hopeful outlook. Peggy is cast in the chorus of the show and quickly becomes friendly with many of the other girls who show her the way of Broadway. 

When Dorothy is injured during the show’s preview, the director and producer scramble to find a talent that can take on the leading role. Peggy and her talent for dance and acting fit the bill and she earns her chance to make it on Broadway. 

While the story of 42nd Street focuses on the life of young Peggy, it is set in New York City during the difficult and desolate Great Depression era of the 1930s. The show captures the vast difference between the glitz and glamor of the Broadway world and the depression of the post-Stock Market Crash world. 

Backdrops for 42nd Street 

The setting of 42nd Street ranges from the streets of New York City to the stage of Broadway theaters. Let’s take a closer look at some of our more popular backdrops that can boost your performance. 

Stage Scenes 

This Bare Backstage Backdrop shows a brick wall with a theater door, spiral staircase, catwalk, and scenery flats leaning against the wall. 

Or, this Bare Backstage Backdrop #2381 which shows a backstage wall with a ladder, pipes, and scenery sets leaning against the wall would be a perfect choice for your production. 

This Pretty Lady Scrim Backdrop shows a vintage Pretty Lady design for use in 42nd Street performances. 

New York City Backdrops 

NYC SkylineThere are several cityscape and NYC backdrops to choose from for your performance of 42nd Street. This Cityscape Backdrop # 2419 would be ideal as it shows a black-and-white version of the skyscrapers juxtaposed with the glitz of Broadway. 

This colorful art deco version of NYC shows a more positive view of the city titled NYC Skyline Backdrop. To view all 57 backdrop options offered please visit show suggestions under 42nd Street The Musical.

Transport your audience back to the Roaring ‘20s with your next performance of Gatsby with backdrops from Charles H. Stewart. The Great Gatsby follows the story of mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his obsession and tragic pursuit of the beautiful former debutante Daisy Buchanan. 

Based on the 1925 novel written by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald that follows a cast of characters living in the fictional towns of West Egg and East Egg on prosperous Long Island in the summer of 1922, The Great Gatsby is a Tony Award and Outer Critics Circle Award-winning musical. 

Let’s explore some of the 20 options Backdrops By Charles H. Stewart could provide for your next production of Gatsby. 

The Story of Gatsby 

The tale of Gatsby takes place in the fictional towns of East and West Egg on Long Island, New York. The musical is narrated by Nick Carraway, a WWI veteran and former Mid-Westerner who moved east after graduating from Yale to pursue a career in bonds. In the post-World War I era, Carraway finds himself living among the colossal mansions of the newly rich. 

Living across the water from Nick in the refined and polished East Egg is Tom Buchanan, an absurdly wealthy yet unfaithful man, and his wife Daisy. Jay Gatsby, Nick’s neighbor, throws lavish parties and stares at the home across the water. Later Nick discovers the love that once bloomed between Jay and Daisy as well as the cheating ways of Daisy’s husband. 

The Broadway musical explores a variety of themes, including The American Dream, class inequities, social upheaval and love. It also examines tragedy and loss in what can only be described as a tragic ending to a sad storyline. 

Backdrops for Gatsby

The settings of The Great Gatsby range from the city streets of New York City and Manhattan to the opulent mansions on Long Island. Gatsby’s mansion and the towns of East and West Egg also figure predominantly in the musical. 

New York City Backdrops 

This NYC Skyline Backdrop shows an Art Deco style New York skyline with purple sky and stars perfect for the Jazz Age musical. 

This Night Skyline Backdrop depicts a city bridge with an illuminated skyline with skyscrapers. The reflection of the city lines on the water adds a nice nostalgic mood to this backdrop. 

The Opulent Mansions

This Gatsby Backdrop is perfect for the musical in that it shows traditional 1920s attire and decor. 

This Palace Grand Staircase Backdrop shows the main foyer staircase with statues and three large windows.

To explore all the Gatsby backdrops, visit our suggested shows page. Find out more visit our contact us page. 

 

If you grew up reading the book or watching the movie The Wizard of Oz, you may have wondered what the land of Oz was like before Dorothy arrived on the scene or what caused Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, to become so wicked. 

Wicked, the untold story of the Witches of Oz, explores these questions and themes of friendship, identity, female empowerment and that every story has two sides. Let’s take a closer look at this award-winning Broadway musical. 

WickedThe Story of Wicked

Loosely based on the story of The Wizard of Oz, Wicked chronicles the lives and relationships between Glinda the Good Witch and Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West. The musical, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and based on the book by Winnie Holzman, takes place in the land of Oz before Dorothy’s arrival. 

Due to her atypical green skin, Elphaba is seen as an outcast in the Land of Oz and the Emerald City. While studying magic at Shiz University, young Elphaba meets Glinda, a witch who is blonde, popular, and viewed as conventionally beautiful. The two witches become roommates and best friends. That is until the man behind the curtain, the Wizard of Oz drives them apart. 

Glinda and Elphaba are at odds over the Wizard’s plan to turn the talking, intelligent animals of Oz into unintelligible beasts. Elphaba wants to fight against the corruption of the Wizard while Glinda is torn between following the rules of Oz or supporting her good friend. 

This two-act musical has taken Broadway by storm winning three Tony Awards, including Best Actress in a Musical, Best Scenic Design, and Best Costume Design. It was also awarded the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lyrics, Outstanding Book of a Musical, Outstanding Director of a Musical, Outstanding Orchestrations, Outstanding Set Design, and Outstanding Costume Design. Wicked additionally was awarded a Grammy for the Best Musical Show Album. 

Setting Your Wicked Performance 

Since Wicked takes place in the Land of Oz and the Emerald City prior to Dorothy’s arrival, backdrops and settings can include the traditional Wizard of Oz backdrops such as the Emerald Palace, the Yellow Brick Road, and the Castle in the Clouds backdrop. 

Emerald Palace 

The home to the Wizard and backdrop to many scenes, the Emerald Palace is a perfect choice for your next production of Wicked. This Emerald City Backdrop is ideal for setting the stage for your performance with the impressive green castle and yellow brick road leading to the structure. 

The Castle in the Clouds option for your backdrop alludes to the distant Emerald City with its mystical view of the castle. 

Forest Backdrops 

Take audience members into the world of Oz with this forest backdrop. The Autumn Forest Backdrop is ideal for performances looking for that iconic pathway as well as a glowing forest area. 

Or consider this Deep Woods Backdrop showing dense woods which shuts out the sun’s rays to add some mystery and suspense to the performance. 

To view all options for your Wicked performance visit show suggestions under The Wizard of Oz. 

 

The world of fairy tales can be fanciful, beautiful and filled with unique characters who teach us life lessons. Shrek is one such character who teaches the audience that we should accept people for who they are rather than judge them by their appearance. 

Shrek the Musical takes us into the world of fairy tales in a one-of-a-kind story of love, friendship and acceptance. Let’s explore the storyline and the backdrops that may be perfect for your production. 

The Story of Shrek 

Like many fairy tales, Shrek the Musical takes place in a “once upon a time” sort of land. More specifically, it takes place in an enchanted fairy tale woods complete with a green slimy swamp, perfect for an ogre like Shrek. 

As a hulking green ogre, Shrek has spent most of his existence being misunderstood, feared and ridiculed. He prefers to live alone in the woods with his swamp and peace of mind. That is until he meets other fairy tale characters including Pinocchio, Cinderella, and the Three Little Pigs. These characters burst on the scene and invade Shrek’s solitary life by the swamp after being evicted by the evil and somewhat height-challenged Lord Farquaad. 

Shrek makes a deal with the cast of characters that they will get their homes back for them in exchange for his quiet home being returned to him. However, when Shrek and Lord Farquaad meet, they strike a counteroffer that includes Shrek rescuing Princess Fiona for the homes of his new friends. 

Shrek suddenly finds himself in uncharted waters (or swamps) as he finds himself feeling differently about the Princess. He begins to explore these feelings as he questions why Fiona always runs off when the sun sets. 

Backdrops for Shrek the Musical 

The story of Shrek and his friends is set in the woods where only fairy tale stories can play themselves out. Backdrops By Charles Stewart offers over 70 backdrops that are ideal for your production of Shrek or the younger equivalent Shrek Jr.

Here are just a few of the backdrops you can choose from for your production. 

Forest & Swamps 

forestIt wouldn’t be a story about a misunderstood green ogre without a mysterious forest and a swamp where he lives. This Forest Backdrop shows the deep woods with lush vegetation, tangled vines and moss growing on every surface. 

This Forest Swamp Backdrop offers a deep woods swamp visual just perfect for Shrek to reside.  There are large tree trunks and ferns adorning the landscape.

For night views of the forest, this Dark Forest Backdrop depicts the deep woods at night with blue tones and sparkling moonlight.

To explore all of our Shrek backdrops visit our show suggestion page. 

 

At some point in our lives, we have all dreamt of having all the candy our heart desires whether it’s the sugary goodness of a lollipop or the creamy chocolate of a candy bar. The story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory explores the life of a young boy and four other children who get just that chance at the Wonka Candy Factory. 

Beyond taste-testing the best chocolate in the world, chewing gum that never loses flavor and meeting a cast of small but energetic characters called Oompa Loompas, Charlie and the crew learn valuable lessons about kindness, karma, life’s economic inequities and the importance of being true to yourself. 

Backdrops By Charles H. Stewart has 12 backdrops designed with this production in mind. Let’s explore them and a little more about the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 

Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryThe Story of Charlie 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the brainchild of British author Ronald Dahl, which was first published in the United States by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. in 1964 and in the United Kingdom by George Allen & Unwin in 1967. Since then, it has been adapted into a film and musical in the form of shows named Wonka, Wonka Jr., and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 

The story chronicles the difficult life of a young boy whose family struggles financially. Charlie and his mother and father live in a small apartment with his grandparents and only one bed. When Charlie’s dad loses his job, things go from bad to worse for the close-knit family. All the hardship has not stopped Charlie from being the kind, curious and helpful boy he was raised to be. 

When word gets out that Willy Wonka, the owner of the nearby chocolate factory is holding a contest where winners who find a golden ticket inside a chocolate bar will earn a tour of the mysterious factory. Charlie’s family can’t afford to spend money on chocolate bars until Grandpa Joe happens to find cash on the ground and decides to spend it on his kindhearted grandson with the purchase of a chocolate bar. As fate would have it, Charlie found the last of the five golden tickets and gained entry to the factory. 

During his time inside the factory, Charlie is amazed by the variety and color of all the candies as well as the diminutive workers (Oompa Loompas). One by one the other children on the tour break the rules and suffer the consequences. In the end, Charlie ends up being the only child on the tour who does as he is asked and is kind enough to win over the eccentric owner. The consequence for Charlie is to be given ownership of the factory and thus save his poverty-stricken family, proving that karma was at play all along. 

Backdrops for Charlie & The Chocolate Factory 

Since there are several key settings in this production, including a mysterious factory both inside and out, Charlie’s home and the streets of his town, there are several backdrops that would be appropriate. 

Charlie’s Home 

Tenement Factory The production begins by drawing a stark comparison between the harsh life that Charlie lives and the magical world of the factory. This Tenement Factory Backdrop shows a dismal street with tight roads and floor and floors of small apartments. 

For productions that are looking for a more rustic aesthetic, the Village Street Backdrop is appropriate. This backdrop shows a row of dilapidated homes on a small street. 

The Factory 

Factory Street TravelerThe central setting for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory includes the inside and outside of the mysterious chocolate factory. This Factory Street Traveler Backdrop shows the exterior of Wonka’s elusive factory. This backdrop depicts a bold, stylized city street portraying a brick building and factory with smoke stacks.

Inside the factory is where the real magic happens and this Chocolate Factory Backdrop is ideal for the production. This backdrop shows the fanciful side of the factory including a chocolate river, chocolate waterfall and candy landscape. 

Explore all of the Wonka, Wonka Jr., and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory backdrops on our site. 

 

Winter in the Northern Hemisphere is known for its freezing temperatures, evergreen trees weighed down by ice, snow-capped mountains, and warmly lit shops to welcome holiday shoppers and travelers in from the cold. Scenes similar to these can be found in many Broadway and Off-Broadway productions including Disney’s Frozen, The Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, Annie, Rent and White Christmas. 

In addition to theatrical plays and musicals that showcase winter settings, there are hundreds of performances of other sorts that could use backdrops of snow, ice, and winter scenes. For instance, many winter recitals, school concerts, choir performances and award ceremonies require backdrops of this snowy seasonal variety. 

Does your organization need to create a winter vibe? Check out our more than 70 winter-specific backdrops that could be used for your winter presentation, recital, musical, concert or ceremony. 

Snowy Mountains 

Many musical performances, such as The Sound of Music or How the Grinch Who Stole Christmas require setting a snowy mountain landscape to ensure the action comes to life for your audience. Our winter seasonal backdrops can help support your actors and storyline become more realistic and genuine. 

This Winter Landscape Tab Backdrop #3511 displays snow-capped mountains, evergreen trees covered in sticky white snow and a landscape of a winter wonderland. 

Other choices of mountainous settings include this Winter Wonderland Backdrop #3192 which shows a wintery scene with mountains, pine trees, and snow-covered terrain. Additionally, the backdrops show falling snow and ice throughout the scene. 

Snowy Villages 

Musicals like A Christmas Carol and many holiday recitals could make good use of a snowy village scene. 

This Snow Village Backdrop #3156 displays a village nestled in the valley of snowy mountains and trees heavily laden with inches of snow. 

For a more European aesthetic, this Dickens Street Backdrop #2543 illustrates a European village with a dusting of snow on the streets and roofs. Shop windows and doors are decorated with wreaths and frosty panes. A church steeple is shown in the background and street lanterns line the snow-covered streets. 

Snowflakes 

For performances of Frosty the Snowman, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer or any winter concert/performance, this snowflake backdrop is perfect to set the stage for your evening of entertainment. The backdrop measures 18×42 and shows large snowflakes on a blue background. 

An Ice Palace 

If you are seeking an ice palace fit for a queen, say perhaps Queen Elsa, this Ice Palace Backdrop # 2469 depicts the interior of a large palace covered in ice along with icy columns and cathedral-like windows. 

To view all of the 78 winter backdrops and winter scenes, visit the Backdrops By Charles Stewart category pages under winter. We look forward to working with you on your seasonal performance.