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We’ve all had proverbial “stars in our eyes” at one point in our life as we chase our future hopes and dreams. The musical 42nd Street tells the story of a small-town girl named Peggy Sawyer who chases her dreams to make it on Broadway.

This 1980s Broadway musical named after the famed New York City street was based upon the 1932 novel written by Bradford Rope and the subsequent Hollywood adaptation in 1933. This timeless classic is relatable to all who have taken a leap of faith and chased their dreams whether it’s on Broadway or in some other facet of life.

The Story of 42nd Street

The story of young Peggy Sawyer begins as she arrives in the Big Apple from her small town of Allentown, Pennsylvania, armed with her tap shoes and big dreams.

Peggy attempts to audition for a musical named Pretty Lady (yes, a musical within a musical) but never makes it to the stage due to her tardiness at the theater. Saddened but not yet giving up, Peggy joins the chorus dancers for tea and ends up showing them her talents in dancing even the most difficult routines.

Meanwhile, the leading lady, Dorothy Brock, is proving to be a high-maintenance actress who is volatile, unprepared, and embroiled in a love triangle. She makes a mess of dance routines and eyes Peggy as the problem and her competitor in her love woes.

Peggy is eventually cast as a dancer when the showgirls realize they are down one dancer. Unfortunately, during one of the routines, Dorothy trips over Peggy and breaks her ankle.

Instead of canceling the show, producers and chorus members encourage Peggy, in her amazing rise to fame, to take over the leading role and the show will go on as scheduled. Peggy has exactly 36 hours to learn 25 pages, 6 songs, and 10 dance numbers. When the curtain opens Peggy instantly becomes a Broadway star and sees the fulfillment of her lifelong dream.

According to StageAgent online, “Peggy’s rise from showgirl to star is the stuff of show business dreams. 42nd Street is full of crowd-pleasing tap dances, popular musical theatre standards, and show-stopping ensemble production numbers.”

Backdrops for 42nd Street

In order to set the stage for Broadway and the glitz and glam of New York City in the 1930s, you’ll want to explore the many backdrops we offer specifically for 42nd Street The Musical.

NYC Cityscapes

Show the night skyline of the city with this backdrop aptly named Cityscape Backdrop #2419. This black and white background shows off the skyscrapers and buildings of any major city.

If you are looking for more color and the lights of Broadway’s Great White Way then this Broadway Marquis Backdrop #2320 may be the right choice for you. This backdrop shows a city street picturing different Broadway theaters.

Stage Scenes

As Peggy and Dorothy interact on stage and the show is being choreographed, this backstage backdrop may work for your performance. This Bare Stage Backdrop #2581 shows a brick wall with a theater door, a spiral staircase, a catwalk, and scenery flats leaning against the wall.

Or if you are looking for more of a Bare Stage Backdrop #2381. This option may work. It is a backstage wall with a ladder, pipes, and scenery sets leaning against the wall.

For a full listing of our 42nd Street options please visit our show suggestions page.

For over 100 years Backdrops By Charles Stewart has been a leading-edge scenic design and backdrop rental company. Many theater groups, production companies, dance productions, and Broadway shows have featured some of our high-quality backdrops.

Many of our clients choose to buy our backdrops and reuse them for annual performances of shows such as the Nutcracker, or a Christmas Story. Other clients take advantage of our rental options to use a backdrop for a specified amount of time during their performance schedule.

For those clients wondering about our rental options here is the 411 on how this works for our loyal customers.

Rental Prices

Our rental prices are affordable. For our painted backdrops, stripes and solids, the rate is based on how long you will need the backdrop. The current rate is $330 for the first week, $245 for the second week, and $175 for each additional week.

For scrims, our rates go as follows: $425 for the first week, $245 for the second week, and $175 for each additional week. Our legs and tabs rent at $180 per week and our borders are priced at $125 per week.

We ask that backdrops be rented for a minimum of one week and if you have any custom requests, talk to our team for custom pricing or special request pricing.

Rental Terms

In order to rent one of our scrims, backdrops, legs, tables, or borders, we ask that a $100 per drop per week non-refundable deposit is due at the time of order. A confirmation invoice form will be e-mailed on the day you order. The full payment must be received 14 days prior to shipping. If by chance you are ordering the backdrop within that 14-day time window, full payment should be received at the time of ordering.

Please make sure that your order is accurate, including the name of the show, dates of the show, backdrop numbers, and shipping address. The timeframe of a one-week rental is 7 days. The eighth day begins the second week of rental. All drops must be returned on time either in person or via UPS (United Parcel Service) under the shipping program specified by Charles H. Stewart.

Care of the backdrops should be paramount while they are in your possession. Please do not nail, staple, tack, pin, cut, or alter in any way the items on this contract.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to our team if this is your first time renting or if you have questions or concerns about care, shipping, or returning the items on your order. We look forward to working closely with your group!

Into the Woods is based upon a book by James Lapine and music and lyrics by the late Stephen Sondheim. If you love the whimsical components of traditional fairy tales with heartfelt wishes and quests, a lesson to be learned, and creatures who can talk, then Into the Woods is for you!

The story of Into the Woods is similar to many fairy tales, like the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel. In each case, a couple is making a wish, deep in their hearts for something they can not have –- a family, love, or other desire.

In this particular story, the Baker and his wife wish to begin a family. Due to a family curse from a witch, they are unable to get their wish at least until they find multiple things for the witch. To reverse the evil spell, the Baker and his wife must find a red cape, a strand of golden hair, a golden shoe, and a white cow. This scavenger hunt of sorts takes them on a magical journey through the woods where they meet up with other storybook characters to complete their quest.

In the end, each of the characters receives a happy ending and the witch reverses the curse.

The original production won the 1988 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award for Best Musical, and the original cast recording won a Grammy Award. The show was nominated for ten Tony Awards and won three: Best Score (Stephen Sondheim), Best Book (James Lapine), and Best Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason).

Scenes for Into the Woods

As expected, Into the Woods is set in heavily forested woods as well as in the settings of the main characters such as Little Red, Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Cinderella. The woods make for a perfect primary backdrop throughout the performance.

For a densely wooded backdrop try this Deep Woods Backdrop #2477 which shows a dense and lusciously green forest.

For other woodsy options try this Woods Park Backdrop #N0025 which displays a dense woods with a path and brook leading into the forest.

As the Baker and his wife encounter other characters they also change a bit of the scenery. Try this Beam and Plaster Exterior Cut Tab Backdrop #2097 with a Tudor-style house as well as an exterior tab with a practical door.

Check out all 155 of our Into the Woods backdrops on our site as well as hundreds of other backdrops for your next performance.

One of Broadway’s longest-running American musicals, Chicago is a dazzling and satirical look at fame, justice, corruption, and the media machine during the prohibition era. Set in the 1920s during a time of flappers, gangsters, mob crimes, and economic upheaval, Chicago is one of the more beloved musicals for theater groups across the nation. With more than eleven unique backdrop options for this popular show, Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart has you covered in terms of setting the mood and scene for this time period and plotline.

A Little Background on Chicago the Musical

Picture Chicago in the 1920s, during a time of prohibition and speakeasies in basements across the city run by mob bosses and gangsters. Based on a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse and music by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb, Chicago takes the audience into a time when the scales of justice were being questioned.

Specifically, Chicago follows the story of Roxie Hart, a wannabe vaudevillian star who murders her lover and is arrested, despite her attempts to convince her pushover husband, Amos, to lie for her.

During her time in jail, she meets and becomes acquainted with her hero, the famed double murderess and nightclub performer Velma Kelly. When both women acquire the same lawyer, the greedy and lustful superstar, Billy Flynn, tensions come to a head as they vie for the spotlight. This time instead of finding the attention onstage, they’re mugging for the flashbulb of the newspaper reporters.

Even though Flynn ultimately frees the women, another woman shoots up the courthouse and steals the limelight. This effectively ends the careers of both Roxie and Velma.

Backdrop Options for Chicago

Since the main setting is the city of Chicago, cityscapes and skylines are entirely appropriate for this amazing music to come to life.

City Backdrops

Our New York at Night Backdrop #1512 provides a stylized city skyline with a black sky and white city lights.

If you desire a slightly different style, try one of our other city scapes such as this Cityscape Backdrop #2419, which provides a black and white backdrop of city buildings.

Police Station

During scenes where Roxie Hart is arrested and booked for murder, a police station backdrop would help set the mood of this moment on stage. This Police Station Backdrop #0272 shows the interior of the police station showing jail cells, file cabinets, and the police chief’s office.

Courtroom and Courthouse

In the final dramatic scenes of Chicago, the talented Mr. Flynn gets the women acquitted of their crimes in a fiery end with gunfire in the courtroom. This Courtroom Interior Cut Backdrop #0590 shows a wood panel interior with a center cut opening and two large, Corinthian columns.

Visit our site to see a full listing and images of our Chicago backdrops as well as backdrops from many popular shows.

“We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

If that line has you humming, singing, or reminiscing about your younger years when you couldn’t get enough of Dorothy, her sidekick, Toto, and their three friends, Tin Man, Lion, and Scarecrow, know that you are not alone. The Wizard of Oz is a beloved story that can be found in children’s books, on the stage, and on the big screen.

Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart has more than 40 different Wizard of Oz backdrops to choose from including the featured backdrops below.

The Story of Dorothy and The Wizard

Dorothy, a young girl living in Kansas, is swept away when a tornado hits the home of her aunt and uncle. Through the power of the twister, Dorothy and her dog Toto are transported to the magical Land of Oz.

It’s there that she embarks on a quest to the Emerald City with three new friends to see the Wizard, who can return her to her home and fulfill the others’ wishes. On her way there she meets a Scarecrow who wants a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who wants courage. The Wizard asks them to bring him the Wicked Witch of the West’s broom to earn his help.

During her trip to the Wizard, she encounters many challenges including Flying Monkeys and hazards set out by the Wicked Witch of the West.

In the end, Dorothy wakes up in her own bed with Auntie Em and Uncle Henry fussing over her. While they don’t believe her fabulous tale, she doesn’t mind as she is happy to be back in her home once again.

The Land of Oz and the Emerald City Backdrops

From the simple state of Kansas to the opulent city of Emerald, Dorothy goes on quite the journey and our backdrops can create an illusion from one scene to the next.

Starting on the plains of Kansas, this Farm Landscape Backdrop #2379 shows rolling farmlands with a fence, a house, and a blue sky with clouds.

Once Dorothy has set on her way to see the Wizard and meets her three new friends she travels down the famed Yellow Brick Road. Our Wizard of Oz Backdrop BD-1427-FY is a depiction of the story of the Wizard of Oz including Dorothy and Toto and friends.

As Dorothy and friends close in on the Emerald City, the towering buildings made of the gem can be seen in the distance. This Emerald City Backdrop #2507 is a perfect illustration of the Land of Oz with a yellow brick road winding through poppy fields up to Emerald City!

As they enter the inner chambers of the city they meet with the Wizard of Oz who considers granting their wishes, with some requests of his own. This Wizard of Oz Chamber Backdrop #2508 shows an Emerald Green palace chamber where the man behind the curtain hides. It comes complete with arches, flames, and light sconces.

For a complete view of our Wizard of Oz, backdrops visit our show suggestion page on our main website.

The holiday season is fast approaching and that means shopping, songs of the season, and (of course) the most famous transformation of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge from a penny-pinching mean-spirited man to one who embodies the ideals of the season. It’s not quite Christmas without the classic performance of A Christmas Carol.

The story of A Christmas Carol is one that many theater groups and professional thespians perform on an annual basis. Having the right backdrops, lighting, and sound accompaniment can make all the difference in creating the illusion of the Victorian Era in London.

Let Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart create some magic for your stage in our selections appropriate for the time period and storyline. Our backdrop rentals include sleepy, winter London streets inspired by the works of Dickens himself, snow-covered forests, desolate graveyards, and Victorian-inspired interiors. Adding these beautiful backdrops to your production will bring an unforgettable and unmatched feeling of authenticity to your guests, allowing them to get swept up in the magic.

The Story of Scrooge

By now we are all very familiar with the story of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and possibly use his life as a roadmap of how to change our ways when necessary.

The unkind and uncharitable Scrooge begins his transformation on Christmas Eve when he refuses to donate to a worthy cause and is unkind to his employees. Upon arriving home for the evening and heading to bed, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his old business partner Jacob Marley – and then by three ghosts! They are the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future.

Each ghost shows Scrooge the errors of his ways and how his eternity in the afterlife may play out should he not change course. After an evening of learning about the needs of others and how he can save himself, he wakes up on Christmas Day full of excitement and buys the biggest turkey in the shop for the Cratchit family before spending the day with his nephew, full of the joys of Christmas.

Featured Backdrops for A Christmas Carol

With nearly 60 backdrops specific to shows featuring A Christmas Carol, our expansive warehouse is set to ship for your performance. There are so many options to choose from. Here are just a few to get you started.

A Traditional Dickens Street

There are so many to choose from to create the scene of a Victorian Era street in London. Here are two of our favorites. The Dickens Street Backdrop #2543 includes a snow-covered English street with a tavern and a distant church.

Or, should you like a different view, we have the Dickens Street Backdrop #2299 which depicts a snow-covered London street with Tudor-style buildings.

Winter Wonderland Scene

Set in the snowy scenes of winter, A Christmas Carol would not be complete without winter wonderland scenery. The Snow Forest Backdrop #2531 shows fir trees covered in heavy snow against a gray sky.

Graveyard Scene

As Ebenezer’s night continues on, he visits a graveyard to witness the cruelty of the world and how Tiny Tim’s life may end up should he not intervene with help. This backdrop called Graveyard Backdrop #2415 depicts a creepy graveyard where the kay and moon are translucent, but the hills, gravestones, and trees are opaque.

Explore all of our backdrop options for A Christmas Carol and get started setting your stage for a holiday season performance.

Nothing quite says the holiday season like the smell of a freshly cut Christmas tree, the taste of a batch of eggnog, or the sounds of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite ballet playing throughout the home.

This ballet has delighted adults and children alike for over a hundred years in one form or another. While the original 20-minute performance of the late 1800s was not a complete success, the 1960 version has become wildly popular and is now performed by countless ballet companies, primarily during the Christmas season, especially in North America.

The Story of the Nutcracker Suite

The story of the Nutcracker Suite is loosely based on the E.T.A. Hoffmann fantasy story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas Eve and wages a battle against the evil Mouse King.

The ballet opens with a view inside the Stahlbaums home, a large and well-adorned house with the largest Christmas tree imaginable. The children, Clara and Fritz Stahlbaum are dancing around welcoming visitors to their holiday party. The party is festive and happy with family and friends in attendance for the holidays.

When godfather Drosselmeyer, a toymaker, arrives, he presents two life-size dolls to the family. He also gives Clara a beautiful Nutcracker that quickly becomes the hit of the party. Unfortunately, her younger brother breaks the Nutcracker in his youth and excitement of the night. Clara is heartbroken but satisfied when her godfather is able to repair the gift.

After the partygoers leave and Clara falls asleep with her Nutcracker she begins to experience some strange events. She awakes to find the Christmas tree growing and herself shrinking. The scene becomes a fight scene with the toys around the tree coming to life while the room fills with an army of mice, led by the fierce Mouse King. As the Nutcracker also awakens, he leads his army of toy soldiers into battle with the mice. The Nutcracker can fight no longer but is saved by Clara.

The scene shifts to a land of snow where the Nutcracker has become a prince and Clara a princess. The snowflakes dancing around her make for a beautiful scene of snow and winter wonderland.

From there the Nutcracker prince escorts Clara to the Land of Sweets where she is greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Prince tells the Fairy about their daring battle with the army of mice and she rewards them with a celebration of dances.

After her dreamy adventures, Clara awakens by the Christmas tree holding her beloved Nutcracker.

Backdrop Suggestions for the Nutcracker Suite

Since the ballet begins at the Stahlbaums home, a formal home backdrop will serve the performance well. This Conservatory Backdrop #N0451 is a neutral Victorian interior with a center staircase leading up to a conservatory.

As Clara fades off to sleep in the living room under the decorated Christmas tree, this Growing Christmas Tree Backdrop #2245 is a perfect way to make the magic of the ballet come to life.

During Clara’s dream, she visits a snowy landscape as well as the Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy with her prince, the Nutcracker. Both of these backdrops will help set the stage for each iconic scene in the ballet.

The Winter Landscape Backdrop #3242 provides a winter landscape at night with snow-covered mountains and trees.

The Palace of Sweets Backdrop #2544 shows a whimsical palace with frosted cakes inside of candy cane archways.

Want to view more backdrops for the Nutcracker? Check out our full slate of options here.

They’re creepy and they’re kooky

Mysterious and spooky

They’re all together ooky.

They are the Addams family! This popular musical is a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family.

The show is based upon the Addams Family characters created by Charles Addams in his single-panel gag cartoons. These cartoons depict a ghoulish American family with an affinity for all things macabre.

There have been numerous film and television adaptations of Addams’ cartoons, but the musical, which is the first stage show depicting the characters, is based upon the cartoons rather than the television and film characters. The Addams Family is also the first production produced by Elephant Eye Theatricals.

The Story of the Addams Family

The Addams Family may seem a little different than your typical American family. Gomez and Morticia, the patriarch and matriarch of the clan respectively, have been living their ghoulish ways for hundreds of years with no thoughts of changing.

Their daughter, Wednesday, the ultimate princess of darkness, is turning 18 and is suddenly interested in a “normal” young man named Lucas. He, however, is not exactly what the parents or the family expect. He is a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. How shocking!

In reaction to this terrifying news, the family and Uncle Nestor, try to put an end to the budding romance all while keeping the news from Morticia.

One fateful (and rather comical) evening, the young couple joins the family for dinner as Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents meet the Addams family for the first time. Chaos ensues of course and the lessons of love and friendship shine through as the family comes to a resolution to this odd circumstance.

Backdrops for the Addams Family Musical

To set the scene for the Addams Family home one will need a haunted home to set the stage for their ghoulish lifestyle and appearance.

This Haunted House Backdrop #2501 is a great way to present a different style home for a very different type of American family. This backdrop shows a haunted house exterior at night with moonlight, tree silhouettes, and a rod iron fence.

To provide nighttime scenes with a hint of mysteriousness, this Night Moon Backdrop # 2479 provides a night sky with stars, the moon, and a silhouette of trees.

For scenes taking place inside the Addams family home this victorian interior would be perfect for setting the stage for the hilarious dinner with the parents. The Victorian Interior Backdrop #1944 provides a living room interior with a center fireplace, bookshelves, and windows left and right.

For graveyard scenes, this Graveyard Backdrop #2415 provides a view of a creepy graveyard where the kay and moon are translucent, but the hills, gravestones, and trees are opaque.

Want to view more backdrops for the Addams Family? Check out our full slate of options here.

The Lion King is a beloved musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice. This award-winning “Best Musical” follows the story and adventures of the young lion, Simba who is heir to the throne of the jungle kingdom.

One of Broadway’s longest-running shows, The Lion King is beloved by children and adults alike as they follow the “Circle of Life” with awe-inspiring costumes, settings, lighting, and music.

The Lion King Storyline

The Lion King opens with the birth of King Mufasa’s lion cub, Simba, who is heir to the throne. Simba has an innocent youth growing up as a carefree cub until his evil uncle, Scar, plots to take over the jungle kingdom and murders Mufasa while simultaneously making Simba take the blame for the death.

Simba flees Pride Rock to the jungle where he grieves and makes new friends Timon and Pumba. Scar assumes the throne and wants to make Nala, Simba’s young friend, his queen. Nala flees to the jungle as well to seek help against Scar and the evil hyenas.

Simba is encouraged to return to Pride Rock when he hears of the famine and cruel rule of his uncle. Upon his return he challenges Scar and faces his guilt of his father’s death, only to hear Scar admit that he killed Mufasa.

The story ends with Simba rightfully taking the throne and the kingdom coming back to life with food enough for everyone including his new jungle friends.

Lion King Backdrop Options

The Lion King is set in several outdoor environments including a desert, jungle, and tropical forest. Here are a few of the backdrops popular for the production of Lion King the Musical.

Desert Backdrops

Our Serengeti Backdrop #2486 shows an African landscape with a setting sun, red sky, and Acacia trees.

Additionally, we also have the option of a setting sun over the ocean on the coast of Africa that could show the contrasts of climates and environments typical of the Lion King set. This backdrop is called Sunset Backdrop #2405.

The Jungle or Tropical Rainforest

Simba meets two of his closest friends and does his best soul searching in the jungles adjacent to the desert. Here’s one of the potential backdrops you may want to use during this portion of the musical.

Jungle Backdrop #2211 shows a rainforest with palm trees and large tropical plants.

You’ll find lush green vegetation and colorful plants in this Forest Backdrop # 2501. The green grass and foliage create the perfect place for Simba to meet his friends and learn what courage really means in the “Circle of Life.”

Proudly renting theatrical backdrops to the United States and Canada for over 100 years.