All posts by sperling

Welcome to the world of sweetness, where candy canes are the size of trees and colorful gumdrops brighten the stage for your next performance. Whether it’s a production of the popular Nutcracker ballet or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, sweets like lollipops, chocolate rivers, cakes, and gingerbread houses will play a prominent role in setting your stage. 

Backdrops by Charles Stewart has dozens of candy-themed backdrops to help your musical, play, dance recital, or ballet come to life. Let’s explore some vibrant, fun candy and sweetness backdrops for your performance. 

Candyland 

This classic children’s board game features colorful stops along the path, including Gumdrop Mountains, Peppermint Forest, Licorice Castle, and the final destination, Candy Castle. Some locations on the board game, such as Chocolate Swamp or Molasses Swamp, are meant to slow players down from reaching the end of the game. Other parts of the game feature shortcuts that help players reach the finish line before their competitors, such as the Rainbow Trail. 

This Candyland backdrop depicts a world with larger-than-life candy canes, a flowing chocolate river, lollipop bushes, and homes constructed out of candy, making it ideal for performances that center around candy or dance recitals with candy-themed music. 

Gingerbread House 

Whether your performance includes the fairytale story of Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm or the holiday favorite The Nutcracker Suite, showcasing a gingerbread house should be a prominent part of your setting. 

This Gingerbread House Exterior Backdrop is an ideal scene-setter, depicting an edible gingerbread house decorated with candy canes, gumdrops, and peppermints.

Or your performance could use this Hansel & Gretel Gingerbread House Exterior Cut Backdrop that showcases a cottage in the deep forest with a cut doorway and window. The oven door is also open so that the witch can be pushed into the oven, as is common in the fairytale ending.

Palace of Sweets

The “Palace of Sweets” or “Kingdom of Sweets” is a setting in the ballet The Nutcracker, where the main character, Clara, arrives after traveling through the Land of Snow. It is often shown as a fantasy land with cakes, cupcakes, a multitude of candies, and sweets of all different colors and sizes. 

This Palace of Sweets Backdrop features a whimsical palace with frosted cakes inside candy-cane archways.

This Palace of Sweets Backdrop features candy cane columns, oversized candies, and chocolates on a pink background. 

Chocolate Factory 

Performing the much-loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? You will need to set the stage to tell the story of a destitute young boy who wins a golden ticket to tour the mysterious and magical chocolate factory of Willy Wonka. 

This Chocolate Factory Backdrop shows the inside of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory with a chocolate flowing river, a chocolate waterfall, and a candy landscape.

Planning your next performance that includes sweets, candies, or desserts? Explore the many fantastic candy backdrops available at Backdrops By Charles Stewart for your next play, musical, ballet, or dance recital. 

 

Faith, religion, and spirituality are at the heart of many plays and musicals on Broadway and in community theaters. Shows like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Footloose, Godspell, The Book of Mormon, The Sound of Music, and The King and I feature distinct references to religion and showcase religious landmarks, such as cathedrals and churches. 

Broadway theater not only features diverse themes of faith and religion, but also explores spiritual journeys and finds common ground between faiths. These themes can range from overtly religious stories, such as biblical adaptations, to character-driven struggles with doubt or the idea that theater itself can be a spiritual experience. 

Religiously themed musicals and plays have the power to inspire, touch, and enlighten audiences with their powerful music and moving messages. Let’s explore some of the more than 25 backdrops appropriate for faith-based performances or stories that are Biblically based. 

Cathedrals & Churches 

Cathedrals and churches have a deep, intertwined history with theater that dates back to the origins of theatrical performances in religious dramas. The architecture of cathedrals also influences modern theater design, while some churches have adapted spaces for performances. 

This Church Interior Backdrop features a Gothic interior with stained glass windows. This backdrop is ideal for Phantom of the Opera, Pippin, and Hunchback of Notre Dame. 

This European Cathedral Exterior Backdrop showcases a European piazza with buildings to the right and left and a cathedral in the center.

This Church Interior Backdrop features a stone cathedral interior showing an altar, arches, and large windows. 

This Church Interior Backdrop is another option for the inside of a cathedral with large stained glass windows.

This Farm Landscape Backdrop features rolling farmland at night, with tilled earth and a white chapel at its center. A 2′ black border surrounds the scene as shown.

Religious Landmarks Around the World 

Religious and historic landmarks around the globe are often the focus of plays and musicals, including locations like Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and India’s Taj Mahal. 

This Bethlehem Tab Backdrop depicts a barn in the desert with the Star of Bethlehem pointing the way to the newborn son. It also represents two camels, signifying the arrival of the three wise men, as mentioned in the Old Testament. 

Jerusalem’s Wailing Wall is considered one of the most significant sites in Judaism. This Wailing Wall Backdrop shows this famous holy ground. 

This Jerusalem Arches Backdrop is another option that shows old stone structures from the Holy Land.

Explore all of our religious-themed backdrops that will support your production. Talk to our team about delivery and scheduling options. 

The vast expanse beyond Earth’s atmosphere contains celestial bodies, including planets, stars, and galaxies, many of which are visible to the naked eye. It is also home to countless meteors and comets that occasionally come into human view as they streak across the sky. Outer space is often the subject of science fiction books, movies, television shows, and stage performances. 

Since the beginning of time, space has captured our collective imaginations. First civilizations, such as the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians, studied the stars and constellations, and many of their religious ceremonies were based on the celestial movements throughout the year. Sailors use the stars to navigate, and farmers use the stars to track the seasons and predict weather patterns for planting and harvesting. Young children (and older believers as well) wish upon a star when it streaks across the sky at night. And millions of humans marvel at solar and lunar eclipses, taking millions of pictures of sunrises and sunsets. 

As a species, this last frontier remains the focus of many of our stories. Theatrical productions and dance performances often feature an out-of-this-world theme, with stars, planets, galaxies, and the vastness of space as their setting. 

Let’s explore some of the more than 25 space-themed backdrops available at Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart. 

Night Sky & Stars 

Looking to the stars is a favorite pastime for many, including many scenes in famous theatrical performances such as the star-crossed lovers in Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet or the 1950s production of Peter Pan, where Peter and Wendy fly among the stars. 

This Night Sky Stars Backdrop depicts a deep blue sky dotted with stars. The gradient changes from deep purple to blue, then to a black sky, and finally to bright white stars. 

Another night sky option is the Mystical Sky backdrop, featuring hazy views of the stars against a black background. 

night moonThis whimsical Night Moon Backdrop features a night sky with stars and a moon, accompanied by the silhouette of trees.

Planets & Galaxies 

This Space Tab Backdrop depicts deep space, showing stars and galaxies that will capture the imagination of your audience.

This Zodiac Tab Backdrop shows a Zodiac chart floating in outer space with planets and stars.

This black and white Space Backdrop showcases the stars, planets, and galaxies in a fanciful celestial display.

This Classic Space Backdrop is on sale for $500.00 and depicts deep space showing planets and landscape from the view of a veranda.

Explore all of the space, planets, and stars backdrops at Charles H. Stewart that are genuinely out of this world for your dance recital or theatrical performance. Visit the category or show suggestion pages on our website and contact our team to schedule a delivery. 

 

Fireworks, parades, pep bands, and backyard barbeques are often the components needed to celebrate our nation’s history. From the joyous annual tradition of Fourth of July extravaganza to the more serious Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day observances, we know how to honor our nation’s past. 

Suppose your organization is holding a concert, dance recital, presentation, or musical or theatrical performance centered around our great nation. In that case, you will want to explore the many patriotic backdrops we have that would be ideal for your event. 

Patriot-style Backdrops 

What backdrop should you use for your American celebration of observance? At Backdrops By Charles H. Stewart, we offer a multitude of options depending on your event, including American flags, fireworks, battleships, the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, the White House, the U.S. Map, and so much more. Let’s explore some distinctive and unique backdrops that will help your performance come alive to celebrate this great nation. 

Stars & Stripes Forever

Known as Old Glory, Stars and Stripes, and the Red, White & Blue, the American flag is distinctive and bold. It is easily recognizable and is a perfect choice for any national holiday event or performance. 

This Liberty Flag Backdrop displays a waving American flag with the Statue of Liberty and fireworks on the left.

Our Patriotic Backdrop is classic but straightforward, displaying vertical stripes of red, white, and blue in this novelty curtain.

This Patriotic Backdrop #3256 shows our stars and stripes as well as a collage of iconic images such as the Statue of Liberty, the White House, and the American Bald Eagle. 

This Patriotic II Backdrop shows a number of American flags waving in the wind against the sky.

Fireworks 

What better way to celebrate America than with time-honored fireworks? These next few backdrops show different versions of fireworks of varying colors and sizes in the night sky. Firework Backdrop #3213

Fireworks Backdrop #3071 

American Landmarks 

The United States of America has some notable and iconic landmarks that celebrate the history and pledge of our nation to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Here are several landmark options, including Mount Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and American battleships. 

Mount Rushmore Patriotic Backdrop 3018, shows the iconic carved images of notable Americans on the slopes of Mount Rusmore with an American flag waving in the distance. 

Declaration of Independence

This backdrop shows the famous document crafted during colonial times as a letter of grievances to King George. 

The White House 

This White House Backdrop displays the South Lawn of the White House. The daytime shot is the epitome of patriotism.

Lady Liberty 

This backdrop of the Statue of Liberty shows her framed by fireworks and a draped American flag.

U.S. Maps 

This USA Map Backdrop illustrates a map of the United States done with license plates for each state.

Explore all of our patriotic backdrops as you plan your performances that celebrate our great nation. 

 

The unique architectural interest, visual drama of the identifiable structures, and stunning sunsets that envelope them are just a few of the reasons why people fall in love with iconic city skylines across the globe. From New York City to Sydney Harbor and from Paris to San Francisco, visitors flock to see these famous skylines. 

Skylines play a pivotal role in many theater productions as the design likeness influences both the visual storytelling and the emotional connection the audience forms with the theatrical production. It provides an immediate reference to where the action is taking place, and in some cases, the time of year or day, depending on whether the action is set during the rising sun or under the glow of streetlights. 

Let’s examine several of Charles H. Stewart’s 28 City Skyline options that can transport audiences from their theater seats to locations worldwide. In addition to stage productions, many of our customers find these skyline backdrops to be popular for dance recitals, school events, presentations, and graduation parties. 

New York City Skylines 

Historically, one of the world’s most recognizable city skylines, New York City can look vastly different depending on the story your production is telling. Choose NYC skylines that feature daytime views, nighttime scenes, skyscrapers, tenements, or the busiest square in the world, Times Square. 

This Daytime New York Skyline Backdrop shows Downtown Manhattan with the Empire State Building during daylight hours. 

Alternatively, New York City at night is an entirely different vibe! This New York at Night Backdrop shows lower Manhattan with beautiful starry skies.

For an Art Deco look of NYC, this NYC Skyline Backdrop is a unique Art Deco-style backdrop that shows the New York skyline with a purple sky and stars.

If your production needs to depict the crowded neighborhoods of a busy city, this NYC Tenements Backdrop shows a daytime view of New York City tenements from the roof perspective. 

Times Square NYCBring your audience right into the action with this Times Square Backdrop that depicts the high traffic, significant action, and bright lights of the famous intersection. 

The Paris Skyline

Have a production that is set in France or Paris? This Paris at Night Backdrop shows the iconic Eiffel Tower and the Seine River.

A View of San Francisco Backdrop 

This San Francisco Skyline Backdrop is currently for sale and depicts a silhouette of the San Francisco skyline, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Trans America Building, and a sunset sky.

Down Under Backdrop 

Heading to Australia for your performance? This Sydney Harbor Backdrop at sunset would be ideal. It shows the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

Explore all of our city skyline backdrops for your next performance. Our team will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have, making your theatrical experience one that you and your audience won’t forget. 

 

The legend of Camelot chronicles the life of King Arthur and his noble Knights of the Round Table. It explores the themes of love, loyalty, an ideal world, good versus evil and the challenges of justice in a utopian society. 

The musical “Camelot” was written by Alan Jay Lerner (book and lyrics) and Frederick Loewe (music). It is based on the King Arthur legend as adapted from the T. H. White tetralogy novel The Once and Future King.

Let’s explore the story of Camelot, its themes and the backdrops we offer here at Backdrops By Charles Stewart.

The Story of Camelot 

Camelot ran on Broadway for 873 performances, winning four Tony Awards. The musical chronicles the life of fabled King Arthur, his wife, Queen Guenevere and the perfect kingdom he establishes. We follow his life from boyhood, where he is a young squire who becomes King after extracting the sword Excalibur from its legendary rock. He creates a world where he and his Knights of the Round Table collaborate to establish a just and equitable society. 

Just as the utopian world is becoming a reality for King Arthur, his world begins to unravel. His beautiful wife falls in love with his most noble, beloved and loyal knight, Sir Lancelot. King Arthur’s illegitimate son, Mordred, also arrives on the scene, causing chaos in the kingdom. 

The story follows the doomed romantic love between Guenevere and Lancelot, as well as the King and his estranged son, both of whom lead to the undoing of everything King Arthur had worked for in his utopian society.

Camelot Backdrops for Your Performance

Along with the Medieval and Renaissance fashion, particularly for royalty and nobility featured in the musical, the setting also includes fairytale castles, thick wooded forests and Renaissance fair locations such as a jousting court. Let’s enter the magical world of Camelot and explore the nearly 30 backdrops we offer for this beloved musical. 

Medieval Castle Backdrops 

This Castle in the Mist Backdrop displays a castle from a distance. It also shows the castle’s reflection in the lake with mysterious haze and mist surrounding the structure. 

This Castle in the Forest Backdrop sets a beautiful scene with a lush forest and mountains with the focal point being the stone castle surrounded by a quaint village. 

For scenes within the castle or in the Great Hall, this Great Hall Backdrop spotlights a medieval stone castle with banners and columns in a large gathering hall within the castle walls. 

For castle scenes that include Sir Lancelot and Queen Guenevere, this Queens’ Bedroom Backdrop is ideal as it shows a stone, medieval castle interior of the Queen’s private chambers with draperies.

All traditional and fairytale castles have festival locations and areas of jousting and entertainment. This Jousting Field Cut Backdrop displays a Jousting field showing a royal sitting platform and colorful tents.

Woodland Scenes 

Camelot takes place in a village surrounded by woods. These woodland backdrops would be ideal for particular acts within the musical. 

This Dark Forest Backdrop depicts the deep woods at night, featuring blue tones and moonlight. 

For more woodland backdrops, visit the deep woods category online. 

For all of our Camelot-inspired backdrops, visit our show suggestion page and search for Camelot. We can’t wait to hear from you! 

Dance recitals are annual performances where dancers, often students from a dance school or studio, showcase the routines they’ve learned throughout a dance season. It is frequently the culmination of months of practice and hard work in the studio.

Dance recitals and exhibitions are an ideal way for dancers to demonstrate their skills, gain valuable stage experience, and celebrate their progress. Recitals typically involve a variety of performances, including group routines, solos, and duets, and are often a highlight of the dance year for students and their families. 

The Benefits of Dance Recitals 

As the highlight of the year for most troupes and studios, dance recitals are beneficial to both novice and veteran dancers. Here are just a few of the benefits your child may experience as a result of being part of their group’s dance recital. 

  • Increased confidence 
  • Collaboration and teamwork
  • Performance skills 
  • Lasting memories
  • Growth yearly
  • Community engagement
  • Discipline and commitment
  • Emotional expression 
  • Love of dance

Our Favorite Dance Recital Backdrops 

Dance recitals, exhibitions and competitions often have a theme on which it is based. It makes designing costumes and backdrops an integral part of the excitement. Backdrops and themes can range from classic fairytale settings to more modern and abstract designs. Other popular themes include “Broadway,” “Decades,” or abstract themes such as “Kaleidoscope” or “Futuristic.” 

Here are some of our popular dance backdrops that could work for your dance recital theme. 

Drapes and Stage Curtain Backdrops 

Many recitals aim to create a red-carpet or awards ceremony aesthetic for their audience. Here are just a few examples that help make the illusion that your dancer is performing for the world on stage. 

This Red Carpet Backdrop creates the illusion of entering a premiere or awards show on the red carpet, complete with red drapes and velvet ropes to hold back the masses. 

This Cabaret Drapes Backdrop features red drapes and spotlights for dancers! It focuses all the attention on the dancers in an elegant, maroon-draped setting.

This Gala Gold Drapes Backdrop features ornate, gold drapes framing a stage with blue and purple spotlights. 

Dance Themed Backdrops 

danceThis Dance Backdrop shows the silhouettes of dancers in front of a kaleidoscope background.

This bright and colorful Dance Backdrop #3270 features a silhouette of a dancer in front of an abstract design and purple spotlights

Colorful Abstract Backdrops 

This fun Rainbow Wave Backdrop displays the colors of the rainbow in a wavy pattern.

circlesThis Abstract Circles Backdrop features contrasting background colors with large circles that can be used for a variety of purposes.

This Celebration Backdrop sets the stage for awards and celebrations of dance with balloons and fireworks set against a night sky.

Get ready for your dance recital by choosing the theme that matches your songs and dances! Backdrops By Charles Stewart has hundreds to choose from in numerous colors, styles, sizes and themes. Get started on your dance recital on our backdrops theme page. 

 

Famous musicals like The Lion King, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia and Hamilton are set in global locations like Africa, France, Greece, and New York City. Plays and musicals are often set in large and small cities worldwide, making it necessary for backdrops to help transport the audience into the world portrayed in the performance. Backdrops By Charles H. Stewart can help your theatrical group set the stage for your performance, no matter whether the stage needs to represent a tropical destination or a famous city. Let’s examine our backdrops, which depict places around the world. 

Let’s look at some backdrops that showcase far-off lands and cities close to home. Here are some of our more popular backdrops from around the world. 

African Backdrops 

Africa’s continent is vast, encompassing the desert cities of Morocco and the famous pyramids of Giza in Egypt. At Charles Stewart, we offer a variety of backdrops to help your performance transport your audience into the desired landscape. 

This African Sunset Backdrop depicts the setting sun over the Serengeti, with images of safari animals such as elephants, giraffes, gazelles, and birds of flight. The backdrop also shows a thatched hut and a small watering hole where the wildlife drink. 

palm trees and red carpet moroccan oasisThis Moroccan Oasis Backdrop offers a unique perspective on Northern Africa. It depicts a lush setting featuring palm trees, flowers, and stucco buildings against a pink sky.

The iconic Pyramids of Giza are visible in this backdrop entitled Egyptian Pyramid Tab Backdrop. The famous Pyramids are shown rising above the desert sand at night.

Italian Backdrops 

Whether you love Italy for its iconic landmarks, such as the Roman Colosseum or the Leaning Tower of Pisa, or you enjoy the rolling hills of Tuscany, our backdrops will transport you to this ancient and beautiful land. 

This Rome Backdrop shows Vatican City and the Colosseum as well as famous Roman Aqueducts in the night sky. 

Traveling north in Italy, you will find the vineyards of Tuscany as shown in this backdrop. This Tuscany Landscape Backdrop illustrates vineyards and a lush, green rolling landscape.

Asian Countries 

This Paddy Fields Backdrop shows a tiered hillside showing paddy fields in China.

This Thailand Backdrop is currently for sale and shows the celebration of Thai culture highlighted by intricate costumes, dragon heads, and a temple.

Another backdrop for sale is this Japanese Screen Backdrop, which shows a Bonsai tree against a traditional lattice screen.

Australia

Head down under with this backdrop. This beautiful Sydney Harbor Backdrop shows a glorious sunset sky with the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

France 

Whether your performance is set in the romantic glow of Paris’s lights or along the cobblestone streets of Parisian Street, we have the backdrop for your theatrical performance. 

This Paris at Night Backdrop shows the night skyline of Paris with the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River.

This French Street Backdrop shows an exterior view of a French restaurant and La Brasserie.  

To explore all of our backdrops depicting famous places, cities and lands from around the world, visit our category section where you can view hundreds of backdrops in our collection. 

Children’s performances are often set in magical and far-off lands. Many fairy tales include imaginative settings like Elsa’s ice castle in Frozen or Neverland in Peter Pan. 

From imaginative settings based on literature and storytelling to make-believe lands based on classic fairy tales, Backdrops By Charles H. Stewart can help you set the stage for a fantastical performance. 

Part of the goal of any musical or play is to draw the audience in and make them feel like they have been transported to another land or time. Fairytales and fantasy literature do just that. Professional backdrops, lighting, and props are just some of the tools used by theater groups to pull audiences into that world. Let’s examine our fairy tale and fantasy backdrops at Charles Stewart. 

Fairy Tale Castles 

One classic setting for fairy tales and children’s stories is a grand castle, whether mysterious and foreboding like the castle in Beauty & the Beast or magical like the one in Cinderella. Castles often symbolize power, dominance, wealth, and security. They can also represent nobility, loneliness or entrapment. From the frigid castle in the musical Frozen to the medieval look of the structure in Camelot the Musical, these buildings bring audiences into the story and action. 

This Fairyland Castle Backdrop depicts a magical palace with a colorful sky and fireworks reminiscent of Cinderella’s castle.

If your performance is set in a cold climate or a fantasy world of mountains and ice, this Ice Palace Backdrop shows a winter landscape at night and focuses on a large snow and ice palace.

Worlds of Make-Believe

Children’s stories often take readers (and, for live performances, audiences) into the creative world of the imagination. From heading down the rabbit hole to Wonderland with Alice to down the yellow brick road with Dorothy in Oz, audiences can be transported to a world of make-believe with the hanging of a professionally crafted backdrop. 

This Alice in Wonderland Backdrop depicts Alice having tea with the Mad Hatter, Tweedledee, Tweedledum, Cheshire Cat and other characters. 

This Candyland Backdrop shows a winding chocolate river flowing through a town made of candy canes, treats and candies.  

This Wizard of Oz Backdrop spotlights the story of Dorothy, her dog, Toto, the Tin Man, Lion, and Scarecrow as they travel to see the Wizard of Oz. 

Once Upon a Time Backdrops 

This Story Book Backdrop is ideal if your performance includes any classic children’s tales or fairy tales. The backdrop shows an open children’s book set in an open field to conjure up your “Once Upon A Times’ and “Happily Ever Afters”.Explore all of our fanciful and imaginative backdrops in our show suggestions section online. We are happy to help you get the setting perfect for your performance.