All posts by sperling

What’s not to love about the musical Snow White? Between the wicked queen, adorable seven dwarfs, the poisoned apple, the magic of the woods and the tale of a beautiful princess, it’s hard not to fall for the story and (of course) the “happily-ever-after” ending of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. 

Backdrops By Charles Stewart offers 28 unique backdrops that could be used for your next performance of Snow White from the magical forest backdrops where young Snow White meets the dwarves to the castle of the evil queen. 

A Little Background of Snow White 

The story of Snow White follows the structure of a typical fairy tale by the Grimm Brothers. Most fairy tales begin with a “once upon a time,” taking the audience back to a different, often magical time or place. Then, the story focuses on a young hero or heroine who is facing a huge difficulty. In Snow White’s case, the wicked queen (Snow White’s stepmother) is jealous of her beauty, youth and goodness and orders her to be murdered. 

The huntsman who was given the death orders sets Snow White free in the woods. Eventually, the young maiden finds herself in the woods helping seven uniquely named and loving dwarves – Happy, Sleepy, Dopey, Sneezy, Doc, Grumpy and Bashful. She stays hidden with them as they ‘whistle while they work’ and enjoy each other’s company. 

After discovering her stepdaughter is still alive, the evil queen disguises herself as an old woman and makes her way into the forest to finish the job. She finds Snow White and gives her a poisoned apple to eat. Snow White instantly falls into a slumber. Believing her to be dead, the queen escapes. The dwarfs find her when they return from work, and place her in a glass coffin.

Right on cue, a young prince wandering through the woods finds Snow White and breaks the magic of the poisoned apple through a chaste kiss that frees her from the slumber. As the fairy tale concludes, we find that Snow White and the prince live happily ever after. 

Backdrops for Snow White

Since the story of Snow White is set in both a castle owned by the evil queen and the deep forest where the Seven Dwarves live, it is notable that many of the backdrops include options for these two scenes. 

This Forest Backdrop #2587 shows a dense and lush forest where the dwarves live and work. 

dense forest

Another option for a forest backdrop includes this Dense Forest Backdrop #2477 which depicts thickly forested trees, a layer of leaves and sunlight coming through the canopy. 

arches and red carpet with stairs backdrop

For scenes including the wicked queen and her castle, this Palace Interior Backdrop #2483 would be perfect. This particular backdrop depicts an elegant palace interior with a grand double staircase, marble, and chandeliers.

To view all backdrops for Snow White, Visit the show suggestion page under Snow White. 

 

The Tony Award-winning Newsies is a musical based on the 1992 film Newsies, which in turn was inspired by the real-life Newsboys Strike of 1899 in New York City. Young and poor, delivery boys from across New York City made headlines and so will your performance. 

Backdrops By Charles H. Stewart offers 36 unique backdrops that would be perfect for setting the stage for your next performance of Newsies! Let’s find out more about this catchy musical and the themes that are still relevant today.

A Little Background About Newsies, The Musical

While the musical Newsies is based on the real-life story of the Newsboy Strike of 1899, nearly 124 years ago, there are still themes that are relevant in today’s society. Social injustice, exploitative labor practices, the importance of standing up for one’s rights and the ultimate power of hope are just a few of the dominant themes explored in the musical. 

The musical Newsies chronicles the story of the rebellious and somewhat hopeful New York City newspaper delivery boys who are just scraping by financially. When publishing giant Joseph Pulitzer raises newspaper prices at the newsboys’ expense, the delivery boys take action. 

The main character Jack “Cowboy” Kelly organizes a newsboys’ strike. After all, they are already living in poverty and can not even afford the scant wages they make as it is. Jack and his friend David Jacobs serve as the “voice” and the “brains” of the movement respectively, and plan to band together to fight the most powerful. 

Throughout the show, the newsboys put on rousing numbers such as Seize the Day, Once and For All, Sante Fe, and Something to Believe In which will have audiences excited to support the young men. 

In the end, the city and the powerful men who run the newspapers realize the power of the “little guy” and how banding together can change the world, or at least your little corner of the world. 

Our Favorite Newsies Backdrops

Since Newsies takes place in New York City, and in particular the poorer sections where the newsboys live, there are several options to display the living conditions that the young delivery boys live in. 

This NYC Tenement Backdrop #2336 depicts a NYC tenement block in the shadow of the Big Apple. This would serve well during the scenes where the young men discuss their plan of upheaval and show the conditions they survive daily. 

This Newspaper Backdrop #2408 shows the different sections of a good old-fashioned newspaper with headlines and color photos. 

This Newsies Backdrop #3115 allows audiences to view a newspaper-themed backdrop showing papers at the top and the printing factory at the bottom.

To view all the Newsies Musical backdrops offered, please visit the show suggestions page and click on Newsies. 

If you believe that love conquers all or that good will always triumph over evil, then the Disney Musical, Sleepy Beauty will soon become one of your most favorite performances. The musical adaptation of Once Upon a Dream has become one of Disney’s many magical and breathtaking performances. 

Sleeping Beauty is a fairy tale for the ages and tells the story of a king and queen who have a young daughter, Aurora, who is cursed by an evil fairy for 100 years. Let’s explore the themes, storyline and backdrops for this magical performance that will have your audiences reliving their childhood right along with the story. 

The Life of Sleeping Beauty 

The story of Sleeping Beauty is one that most audience members have read or at least heard of during their childhood. The story chronicles the lives of a king and queen and their beautiful daughter Aurora. During Aurora’s christening the woodland fairies were invited to give a blessing to the baby. Each fairy attended and blessed the child except for one evil fairy who felt slighted by the royal couple. In response, she cast a spell that the child would vanish forever upon pricking her finger on a spinning wheel on her 16th birthday. 

Distraught and fearful of their daughter’s tragic fate, the king and queen send their baby off to live with fairies who promise to protect her. They also ban all spinning wheels from the kingdom. A friendly fairy casts an alternative spell that softens the evil fairy’s spell and will allow the child to sleep for 100 years until she is kissed by a prince. 

While living with the fairies, Aurora becomes friends with the woodland creatures and lives a happy and innocent life. She eventually falls for a prince who is lured away by the evil fairy so he can not awaken her with his kiss on her 16th birthday when she will inevitably fall into a deep sleep for 100 years. 

The classic tale incorporates many themes including the concept that love conquers all, good versus evil, and that family is an important source of strength and support.  

Backdrops for Sleeping Beauty 

Backdrops for Sleeping Beauty should incorporate both scenes of the world of fairies and magic as well as a classic French village from the medieval era of the 14th Century. Here are some of our favorites. 

European street backdrop

This European Village Backdrop #2360 depicts a quaint Tudor-style village with buildings in the center of a town and distant mountains. 

This Palace Interior Backdrop #2358 is the perfect backdrop for Princess Aurora’s parents’ royal home. It shows ​​an ornate palace interior with gold chandeliers and purple draperies. 

This Castle in the Clouds Backdrop #2485 is a wonderful way to portray the landscape between the fairy world and the human world in Sleeping Beauty. The backdrop shows a winding road leading from a wooded area to a castle in the distance. 

To show the woodland area where the fairies live, this Forest Backdrop #2587 would be perfect! It shows a dense forest where the sun is shining on the green leaves and mossy ground. 

To view all 47 backdrops for Sleeping Beauty visit our show suggestion page. 

If you love the songs of the Swedish pop group ABBA, you will love the wildly popular musical Mamma Mia. Set on a fictional Greek island and featuring music based on the songs of ABBA including “Dancing Queen,” “Super Trouper” and “Take a Chance On Me,” Mamma Mia is the recipe for a blockbuster hit for your next theater production. 

Backdrops By Charles Stewart offers over 20 high-quality backdrops including beautiful island views, oceanic landscapes, rocky coastlines and an island cottage – home to the bride-to-be, Sophia and her mother Donna. Let’s explore the story and lessons of Mamma Mia and how Charles Stewart’s Backdrops can make your performance come to life. 

mamma miaThe Story of Mamma Mia 

Mamma Mia chronicles the story of Sophie Sheridan, a young bride-to-be who dreams of a white wedding where she is given away by her father as she walks down the aisle. The issue is that she is unsure of who her father truly is as her free-spirited mother, Donna Sheridan, fell into the arms of three men right around the same time making it hard to discern who Sophie’s father is. 

Sophie hopes to identify her father upon seeing the men as they arrive on the island for the wedding festivities. Then she will be able to live out the dream of having her dad walk her down the aisle. She writes to the men (posing as her mother) and invites all three of them to the idyllic Greek island for the nuptials. This move takes her mother by surprise and makes her question her own life as a hotelier and former singer. 

The musical continues as Sophie explores her desire to marry and why she seems to be rushing into the commitment with her fiance, Sky, rather than enjoying her youthful days. Donna explores her past relationships and divulges her hidden feelings toward one potential father to her best girlfriends. 

The musical ends with lessons learned about finding your own identity, learning that families can come in many forms, and that love doesn’t always follow the rules. 

Popular Backdrops for Mamma Mia 

With most of the musical being set on a serene and beautiful Greek island, Mamma Mia’s backdrops include many vistas showing rocky shorelines, beaches, sunsets, water views and Greek villages and buildings. Here are some of our more popular backdrops for Mamma Mia. 

This Rocky Coast Backdrop #2591 shows a rocky beach, rock formations and a beautiful blue sky. 

This Garden By the Bay Backdrop #0684 depicts classic buildings perfect for any European home or Greek village. It has vines on the stone buildings and overlooks a scenic bay. 

This Sunset Sky Backdrop #2491 is just stunning with an orange sunset reflected in the clouds.

Any of these options are perfect for setting the stage for an epic performance of Mamma Mia. Explore all the options for backdrops for this popular show on our show suggestions page. 

 

Most musicals chronicle the main characters’ lives and explore themes that mean something to the audience. Pippin is no different in the goal of relating to the audience. 

The main theme of this musical is the exploration of human fulfillment and the endless search for what makes life worthwhile is the major focus of this time-honored musical. 

Let’s explore the story of Pippin and the backdrops that Backdrops By Charles Stewart offers that can make your production come to life. 

pippinThe Story of Pippin 

Pippin chronicles the life of young royalty during the era of the 8th Century Holy Roman Empire. Pippin is the first son and heir to the throne under the fabled Emperor Charlemagne. In Pippin’s struggle to find the meaning of his life, he travels several routes in his quest.

Pippin first asks his father to allow him to be a soldier with him as he sets off for war. However, he quickly realizes that this life brings no meaning to him. Being a war hero is not the solution to his quest. 

He then heads to his grandmother for advice, who plots a devious plan to rid the empire of Charlemagne. Pippin then confronts his father and stabs him after asking about his many civil crimes against the people of his empire. Becoming king in the wake of his father’s death also does not satisfy his quest to find the meaning of life. He returns to his dead father’s body where he begs for his return to the world of the living. 

Eventually, Pippin finds meaning when he meets a woman named Catherine and her young son. He finds meaning in living a simple life that at first seems beneath his station in life. His quest for fulfillment ends when the acting troupe sets up a “Grand Finale” where Pippin backs out of ending his life and remains in love with Catherine and her young son. 

Backdrops for Pippin, the Musical

Backdrops By Charles Stewart has more than 16 backdrop options for your next performance of Pippin. 

This Great Hall backdrop #1971 shows a castle hall with stone walls, royal flags and columns depicting Emperor Charlemagne’s castle. 

This Castle Corridor Backdrop #2217 depicts a stone castle corridor with a large arched window.

This Woods Landscape Backdrop shows a forest with a clearing showing a meadow, rolling hills, and a blue sky

Explore all of our Pippin backdrops on our show suggestions page. Our team and our backdrops can help make your performance a success!

Join James and his larger-than-life insect friends as they travel from the dismal Painswick Orphanage in London, England across the ocean to the “City That Never Sleeps” – New York City. Get in on the fun as the cast sets sail on an epic adventure across the Atlantic where James learns the meaning of friendship and that friends are the family that you choose. 

Ronald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach is a beloved children’s tale with a musical score by the Tony Award-nominated team of Pasek and Paul. The story chronicles a young orphaned boy, James, and his journey after the tragic death of his parents. 

Let’s take a closer look at his story and the journey he takes with new friends. 

The Background of James and the Giant Peach 

James and the Giant Peach is a musical that is a hit with children and adults alike as it explores the meaning of friendship and family and how life can change in an instant. 

The musical chronicles the life of an English boy who is living in a London orphanage after the death of his parents. James is claimed by his two aunts who are of questionable character and have plans to use him as a slave to help them in their criminal pursuits. 

Once the aunts, Spiker and Sponge, remove James from the orphanage and take him home to Dover, England, the boy quickly realizes that his life has not taken a good turn. The aunts are criminal masterminds who prey on unsuspecting tourists. While the boy may have escaped a dismal orphanage, he has replaced that with an even more squalid life with the aunts. 

In an attempt to get away from the cruelty of his aunts, James takes the advice of a strange man by the name of Ladahhord who gives him a magical potion. With the potion, James creates a gigantic peach near the tree outside. While the aunts see the massive fruit as a chance to make money on the oddity, James ends up finding a door on the peach where he enters and finds human-sized insects. 

The story continues with James, the insects, and the peach headed off on an adventure that takes them into the ocean and toward New York City. After days of floating, fighting hunger and sharks, the crew ends up landing at the Empire State Building where they encounter the aunts who fled England. 

This quirky story and outlandish characters are a joy to watch as James and the strange insects make their way into the world and discover the ups and downs of friendships. 

Backdrops for James and the Giant Peach 

The story of James and the Giant Peach spans from the streets of London, across the Atlantic and onto the iconic New York City Empire State Building. Some of the backdrops you may want to use include these popular ones. 

For scenes at the aunts’ home in Dover England, this Yokum’s Cabin Cut Backdrop #0283. This backdrop depicts the exterior of a run-down wood cabin with a practical door that is covered with a cloth flap that shows trees and hills. 

For scenes in the ocean, this Sky and Ocean Backdrop #2316 shows a simple blue sky, clouds, and ocean backdrop. 

For scenes when the characters arrive in New York City, this Daytime New York Skyline Backdrop #2226 shows Downtown Manhattan with the Empire State Building. 

Explore all of our James and the Giant Peach backdrops on our show suggestions. 

 

Cabaret is an American musical set in 1930s Germany during the Nazi’s fascist rise to power. The musical, which focuses on the seedy underbelly of Berlin nightlife, is based on the 1951 play, I Am a Camera by John Van Druten, which in turn was based on the 1939 novel Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood.

The musical examines the chaotic time of life in Nazi Germany and the oppression of Jews living in Germany and in other European countries during this time. Themes of love, oppression, division and hope are found in the sometimes raucous world of nightclubs in Berlin. 

A Little Background on Cabaret

Cabaret the Musical enjoyed a 1,165-performance run in multiple professional theaters including the Broadhurst, Imperial and Broadway Theaters. The original Broadway production, directed by Harold Prince and choreographed by Ron Field, opened on November 20, 1966. Music was written by John Kander and lyrics were written by Joe Masteroff. The production won eight Tony Awards and inspired numerous subsequent productions around the world as well as the 1972 film of the same name.

Cabaret chronicles the life of Clifford Bradshaw, a struggling American writer looking for inspiration for his next novel who heads to Berlin, Germany. On his first night in Berlin, he wanders into a nightclub where he meets 19-year-old Sally Bowles, a vivacious and talented cabaret performer. Despite the growing peril in the world outside the Kit Kat Klub, Clifford and Sally fall into a dreamlike romance. 

As the turmoil grows in Germany and the environment becomes increasingly more hostile toward those of Jewish descent, Clifford and Sally recognize the danger that surrounds them. They plan an escape to America before it is too late. 

Beyond the storyline of Clifford and Sally, the musical also follows a doomed romance between German boarding house owner Fräulein Schneider and her elderly suitor Herr Schultz, a Jewish fruit vendor. 

Cabaret truly holds up a mirror to what was going on in the world during this tumultuous time and how love and hope can exist in a cruel world. 

Setting the Stage for Cabaret 

The musical takes place within the walls of the “cabaret,” which features nightly song and dance numbers. Backdrops By Charles Stewart offers over 35 options for backdrops for your next performance of Cabaret. 

Here are a few of our popular backdrops that can help set the mood of a raunchy and active nightclub in 1930s Germany as well as the interior homes of Europe during this time period. 

This Awards Show Backdrop #2442 depicts a stage with red drapes, a double staircase and spotlights. This backdrop is a perfect setting of the Kit Kat Klub where Sally and Clifford meet. 

Continuing with the nightclub setting, this Painted Austrian Backdrop #2301 shows a scalloped, red curtain with gold tassels.

For scenes that take the characters to Fraulein Schneider’s guest house, this Victorian Interior Backdrop #2458 shows an ornate Victorian living room with a fireplace, chandelier and Victorian furniture. 

For a complete viewing of the options for backdrops for this musical, visit our show suggestion pages for Cabaret. 

 

Anyone who has journeyed through the chaotic world of middle and high school knows the true angst of being different from one’s peers during a time when conformity is embraced. Finding one’s way through the awkward years can be challenging, but knowing that we should always love ourselves and celebrate our differences is a lesson we all need to learn in life. 

Honk! the Musical and its junior version Honk! Jr. is a powerful show, based on Hans Christian Andersen’s story of The Ugly Duckling. The musical explores the power of words, the cruelty of judgment and the importance of embracing our differences whether they be appearances, abilities, cultures, religions, or heritages. 

Let’s explore this delightful and award-winning adaptation of one of the world’s most beloved fables and the backdrops that Charles H. Stewart offers its clients. 

A Little Background on Honk! the Musical

Honk! the Musical is a musical adaptation of the 1843 Hans Christian Andersen story The Ugly Duckling. It dives into the themes of diversity, tolerance, loving oneself and looking within to celebrate the world’s differences. The script and lyrics are by Anthony Drewe and the music is by George Stiles (of the British songwriting duo Stiles and Drewe). 

Most of us remember the fairytale story of The Ugly Duckling in our youth. This story explores the feelings of a young swan, mistaken for an ugly duckling who is then treated poorly due to perceived ugliness. 

Honk! the Musical follows a similar storyline. Ugly, a young duckling, looks very different from his adorable duckling sisters and brothers. The other animals on the farm notice this difference as well and begin to mercilessly tease him for his appearance. Ugly sets off on an adventure to find his place and his family on the farm. His journey takes him to a pond where he encounters beautiful swans gliding across the water and a barn where a wiley tomcat lives who wants to eat Ugly for dinner. 

Ugly finds his way through this chaotic and sometimes hilarious adventure where he learns to believe in himself and to love his differences. Eventually, Ugly emerges from his ugly stage after the long winter as a graceful and beautiful swan. Honk! is a heartwarming story of celebrating differences. It was the winner of multiple awards, including the 2000 Olivier Award for Best Musical. 

Backdrops for Honk! 

Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart offers more than 20 backdrops perfect for your performance of Honk! the Musical. Set in the countryside on a large plot of land with a pond and a big red barn, this show relies heavily on backdrops that display the outdoors and the interior/exterior of a barn. 

This Farm Landscape Backdrop #2379 shows a rolling hill landscape with fences and a barn in the background. The land is offset by the blue sky and clouds. It is perfect for most scenes to show the countryside setting. 

This Cornfield Backdrop #2315 shows a mature cornfield with a wood post fence and a blue sky. This is an ideal image for Ugly to encounter the sly tomcat out to discover his dinner. 

This Farm Backdrop #1541 shows a traditional farm with a large red barn, a cornfield and a large tree.

Explore all the Honk! backdrops and choose one that best fits your performance. 

 

Inspired by William Shakespeare’s tragic play about Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story touches on many of the same themes such as forbidden love, defying stereotypes, and tribal barriers/family feuding. Unlike the Shakespearian setting of Verona, Italy, West Side Story takes place in a multi-racial, blue-collar section of the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City during a time of gang rivalry in the 1950s. 

The first Broadway performance of this American musical opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on September 26, 1957. Music for this masterpiece was by Leonard Bernstein and the lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. 

While the themes may be similar, the backdrop and style of music are vastly different in West Side Story from its earlier counterpart Romeo and Juliet. Let’s delve into the storyline and backdrops that can help your performance shine. 

The Tragedy of West Side Story

This modern twist on Romeo and Juliet is set in NYC during the 1950s, during a time of great gang upheaval. Two teenage gangs in particular – the Jets and the Sharks – compete for dominance in the New York neighborhood as law enforcement tries to keep control. 

In the middle of the violence, a love blossoms between Tony, former member of the Jets, and Maria, the sister of the leader of the Sharks. The story of the forbidden love follows a similar route as Romeo and Juliet as they find that their gangs can not accept the love match. The performance follows this love affair and is known for its exceptional choreography and lyrics that make the audience understand the tragedy that is unfolding right before their eyes. 

The production was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, in 1958, winning two. To make your performance an award-winning, audience-pleasing show, consider some of the more than 25 backdrops that can make your show spring to life. Being set in NYC, many of the backdrops show a classic look of the Big Apple including scenes that are near bridges, at night under the stars, in back alleys, and on the streets of the city that never sleeps. 

Backdrops for West Side Story

New York Street Backdrop
New York Street Backdrop

This New York Street Backdrop #2512 shows the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City featuring an elevated train, the George Washington Bridge and the skyline of New York in the background.

AlleyCreate a gang hideout and hangout with this Alley Backdrop #1801 which shows a back alley with trash strewn about and an old sofa. It also includes a fence and hanging laundry.

Another gang hideout under the bridge is perfectly shown in this Under the Bridge Backdrop #1435. It depicts the underside of an elevated highway or elevated train showing steel supports and buildings. 

Explore the full inventory of West Side Story backdrops on our site and get started planning your stage for your performance.