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When it comes to musicals, Cats is one of the most well-known around the globe. It has hit the stage in 30 countries and 20 different languages! According to the Cats the Musical site, the London production of the show ran for 21 years and 8,949 performances, while the American Broadway production ran for 18 years and 7,485 performances. This made Cats the longest-running musical in both theatre districts for a number of years.

Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based upon the 1939 poetry collection titled Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot, the musical was an immediate hit and held audiences’ attention for decades. It was even revived twice in the West End and once on Broadway to show just how popular the productions were.

The ground-breaking and one-of-a-kind production was the winner of the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical. In 1983 the Broadway production became the recipient of seven Tony awards including Best Musical.

The Story of Cats

One of the most unique storylines on stage, Cats tells the tale of a tribe of felines called the Jellicles. The story follows one night a year when the patriarch of the family, Old Deuteronomy, chooses which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer (their version of heaven) and be reborn into a new life. The event is called the Jellicle Ball and is the basis of the entire performance where each contender is introduced and makes their case to the tribe.

Some of our favorite feline characters include Rum Tum Tugger, Mr. Mistoffelees, Macavity, Jennyanydots, Old Deuteronomy, Grizabella, and Skimbleshanks. Each one is spotlighted as they begin to make their case to the tribe’s leader. In the end, the winner of the prized extra life is the former glamour cat turned disheveled outcast, Grizabella.

Backdrops For Cats the Musical

Cats the Musical is unique not only because it is a story about cats told by cats, but because it takes place in a junkyard mostly under the full moon and cloudy skies. Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart has more than 23 backdrops that are appropriate for this production that can help your theater group set the stage for this award-winning show.

Moon backdrops and sky backdrops are among the most popular for the production of Cats. These options are just a few of the backdrops we have for rent to showcase the night sky, moon, and stars that would be seen from the junkyard where the cats congregate.

This Night Moon Backdrop #2479 depicts the beautiful night sky with bright stars and the moon. It also shows a silhouette of trees.

Or perhaps you would like this Moonlight Serenade Backdrop #2338 that shows the night sky with the moons and stars but more of a cloud cover.

For more of a city backdrop, try this New York at Night Backdrop #2300 which has a more stylized city skyline with a black sky and white city lights.

Check out our full inventory of Cats the Musical backdrops and choose one that is right for your production style. We offer easy ordering and delivery options.

Based on both the novel and 2001 film of the same name, Legally Blonde the Musical follows the journey of a sorority girl and forever optimist, Elle Woods as she travels to Harvard Law School in the footsteps of her ex-boyfriend in hopes of winning him back.

Nominated for seven Tony Awards and ten Drama Desk Awards as well as a three-time Laurence Olivier Award winner, Legally Blonde the Musical is a fan favorite for the depth of characters, storyline, choreography, and music!

Let’s take a look at this beloved musical and the more than 26 backdrops that Charles Stewart has in our inventory geared toward this show.

The Story of Elle Woods

Legally Blonde the Musical tells the story of fashionista and sorority girl, Elle Woods as she suffers a devastating college sweetheart breakup as her ex-boyfriend heads off to law school at the famed Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Elle is determined to show her blue-blooded boyfriend and his family that she is more than just superficial blonde hair, a perky attitude, and gorgeous clothes. She applies to Harvard Law and (to the shock of many) charms her way in.

The musical shows her journey to understanding her self-worth as well as a deep understanding of how the law can help others. During her time at Harvard, Elle befriends some very unlikely characters including a manicurist named Paulette and an accused murderer, Brooke Windham, whom Elle is determined to prove innocent.

This heartwarming story is filled with poignant moments, fantastic dance scenes, and music that you will want to sing along with throughout the performance.

Legally Blonde Backdrops

While we have over 26 backdrops perfect for your performance of this award-winning show, here are a few of our favorites including her time at the sorority house, in the classrooms, at Harvard Law, and in the hair salon with her new Bostonian friends.

This Covent Garden Exterior Backdrop #2423 shows the exterior of a stone theater with large columns and translucent windows perfect for Elle’s time at the sorority house in Los Angeles, California where she spends her time lounging by the pool and visiting with her sorority sisters.

For scenes at Harvard Law school, these two backdrops for both exterior and interior settings will set the stage for the Ivy League appearance of Harvard. This Building Exterior Backdrop #2224 depicts the brick building of a college exterior with white columns indicative of Harvard University.

Additionally, for interior classroom scenes, this School Corridor Backdrop #2351 will help show the classroom setting at Harvard Law.

For more backdrops designed with Legally Blonde in mind check out our show suggestions page where you can find more backdrops for hundreds of shows.

“Tomorrow is a brand new day, and it don’t know white from black! ‘Cause the world keeps spinnin’ ’round and ’round, and my heart’s keepin’ time to the speed of sound.” (Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray)

This quote, as said by Motormouth Maybelle (played by Queen Latifa in the 2007 film adaptation ) in Hairspray, depicts the ultimate issues of racial integration, equal rights, and social justice as discussed in this wildly popular musical. Let’s explore the story of Hairspray and the backdrops that can help your production come to life.

What Is the Story of Hairspray?

Hairspray the Musical, a comedy set in 1960s Baltimore, follows the life of an outgoing and plus-sized teen girl, Tracy Turnblad, as she dreams of one day dancing on the local television dance program called the “Corny Collins Show.” The popular program was loosely based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show.

While initially, Tracy is not very smooth on her feet, she eventually lands in school detention where she becomes friendly with several African American girls who teach her some of their groovy moves. This new connection and friendship eventually land Tracy a coveted spot on the Corny Collins dance show where she is transformed from a relative nobody into a social justice crusader fighting for racial integration and equality on the television show.

As she becomes practically a celebrity overnight, she meets a cast of colorful and amazing characters including the teenage heartthrob Link who was the host Corny Collins, and Motormouth Maybelle played by Queen Latifa.

Hairspray received 8 Tony Awards including best musical, book, score, and direction. The stage production successfully ran for more than six years, closing on January 4, 2009, after 2,642 performances.

Backdrops of Hairspray For Your Production

The scenes and songs of Hairspray follow the 1960s-style dance music and “downtown” rhythm and blues of that era and are set in some comfortable places like Tracy’s bedroom, the high school, the T.V. studio of Corny Collins Show and the hangouts of many teens – the streets of their city.

For the high school scenes and classroom scenes, there are several options to choose from including this Classroom Backdrop #2349 which displays a modern classroom interior with a chalkboard, flag, globe, and a projector screen. This would be perfect for the detention scene.

Although the musical is set in Baltimore, this NYC Tenements Backdrop #2366 shows a city during daylight hours overlooking tenements from the roof of a building.

For scenes at the Corny Collins dance show, this Center Stage Backdrop #2407

depicts floor lights, spotlights, and drapery curtains suitable for the set of the television dance program in which Tracy scores a role.

There are over 33 different options for our Hairspray backdrops. Check out all of them on our site under Hairspray show suggestion.

There’s a new kid in town from the big city and he knows how to dance. What he doesn’t know is that he is about to transform a town as he teaches them how to cut loose dancing. That is until he finds out it is against the law.

Footloose the toe-tapping musical opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on October 22, 1998, with 737 performances just a few years after the movie aired publicly. It was nominated for several Tony Awards. With its Oscar-nominated hit score (the film soundtrack album has sold over 15 million copies worldwide), the celebrated film musical now bursts explosively onto the stage.

The Story of Footloose

The 1998 musical Footloose was based on the film of the same name and is set in Bomont, a small farming town in the Midwest. The story follows the main character Ren McCormack, who has moved to the town with his mother from the big city of Chicago, Illinois. While Ren is prepared to be the new kid in school, what he isn’t prepared for is the local laws that prohibit dancing!

Ren sets out to find out the reason behind the “no dancing of any kind” rule and befriends the daughter of the Reverend (Ariel) who preaches against such abomination. With Ariel’s help, Ren goes about teaching the teens of the town how to dance and trying to convince the adults why it is not a sin. Eventually, Ren convinces the Reverend to let the teenagers dance, and in the process helps the town to heal from a tragedy that affected them all.

Set the Stage For Footloose

CHS has more than 30 backdrops that can help your theater group or school group create the perfect scenery for your production of Footloose.

The small farming town of Bomont is where most of the action takes place in the theatrical version of the show. This small town feel needs a backdrop of farmlands, cornstalks, and the sense that there is nothing to do for miles and miles.

This Farm Landscape Backdrop #2379 shows wooden fences, farmland, and rolling hills in the background surrounded by bright blue skies.

If you want more of a farming feel to your backdrop, this cornfield will do just the trick. Cornfield Backdrop #2315 shows rows and rows of corn surrounded by a farmer’s fence and green grass.

For scenes in the local high school, this Classroom Backdrop #2349 offers a modern classroom interior with a chalkboard, flag, globe, and projector screen.

For the scenes under the stars when Ren teaches Ariel how to truly enjoy dancing, this Night Sky Stars Backdrop # 2560 offers a night sky with a gradient purple to the black sky and bright, white stars.

To explore all of our Footloose-appropriate backdrops visit the show suggestion page under Footloose.

Set in the turbulent 1930s in Austria during the rise of Hitler in nearby Germany, the Sound of Music tells the story of the famous Von Trapp family’s escape from the Third Reich’s expansion across Europe.

The Story of the Von Trapp Family

The original production of the Sound of Music opened on Broadway in 1959 and has experienced several revivals since that time. Based upon real-life events, the story follows a young woman named Maria who was failing miserably in her attempts to become a nun. The Sisters at her convent placed her in a home with seven children who had lost their mother and were being raised by their father, Navy Captain George Von Trapp.

As a governess, Maria was (at first) tested by the children who were mischievous and often ran off the previous governesses. She eventually won over the children with her playful spirit and kind-heartedness.

During her tenure as caretaker for the children, she found herself falling in love with Captain Von Trapp even though he was already engaged to a Baroness named Elsa. The romance makes them both start questioning the decisions they have made, the Barron regarding his engagement, and Maria on her vows to the church.

Their budding romance is overshadowed by the growing threat of German leader Adolph Hitler in neighboring Germany. Austria is about to come under Germany’s control, and the Captain may soon find himself drafted into the German Navy and forced to fight against his own country. The family eventually flees mere hours before the border to Austria is shut down by Hitler.

Backdrops For The Sound of Music

The Von Trapp family’s story is a classic; many still watch this show on television annually. The Broadway production follows a similar storyline and setting in the hills of the beautiful Austrian countryside as well as in the exquisite home of the Von Trapp family.

CHS Backdrops offers more than 40 options of backdrops for your production of the Sound of Music. Take a look at several of the options that we can ship directly to you in time for your spring performance.

This Mountain Landscape Backdrop #3058 depicts a snow-covered mountain top against a blue sky with clouds. We all remember the scene where Maria sings to the children as well as alone on these hills outside both her convent and the Von Trapp family home.

For interior scenes with the family, this Victorian Red Curtain Backdrop #2534 which shows a living room interior with a center fireplace, bookshelves, and windows on the left and right may be perfect.

For scenes in the garden or just outside the home, this Garden Backdrop #1155 with a stone staircase in a garden with balustrades and a large urn could set the scene well.

Explore the entire inventory of backdrops available for your next production of the Sound of Music.

“A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here, in our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is a fiddler on the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn’t easy. You may ask ‘Why do we stay up there if it’s so dangerous?’ Well, we stay because Anatevka is our home. And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in one word: tradition!” (Fiddler on the Roof)

These are the famous first lines of Tevye, the father to three daughters looking to shackle from the traditions of marriage followed by their Jewish Russian parents. Fiddler on the Roof is one of the most cherished and revered productions of all time, Fiddler On The Roof, is known for its unique early-20th-century setting with Tsarist Russia.

Relatable Themes and Lessons of Life

First presented at the Imperial Theater in New York City on September 22, 1965, Fiddler follows the story of a family from Anatevka, a village in Russia in 1905, and how their lives are changing as traditions and perspectives are changing in their world and, closer to home, in their family.

Despite the age of this musical, most viewers can relate to the relationships between Tevye and his wife and Tevye and his maturing daughters. We can all relate to the pull of love and how nothing can keep two people who love each other apart.

Create a Russian Setting

In order to create the setting of pre-revolution Tzarist Russia, Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart has many backdrop rentals to complement this historically unique setting. Here are just a few examples of Russian villages, farmland, rolling hills, town streets, and many more.

Russian Villages

To create the sense of living in the early 1900s, prior to the Russian Revolution, backdrops can show the harsh living conditions faced by many Russians at the time including villages that have been forgotten by the government and a view of the struggle that Tevye has in wanting to marry his daughters off to a man who will not let his dear girls starve to death.

This Distant Village Backdrop #2557 shows a view of a distant village through trees and across a meadow with a translucent sky.

This Tavern Interior Backdrop #2502 shows a rustic tavern interior with a stone fireplace, tables, wooden barrels, hunting trophies, and wagon wheel chandeliers.

For settings requiring a broad look at a Russian village this Village Tab Backdrop #2399 shows a rustic, run-down village street.

For a full list of our Fiddler on the Roof backdrops please visit our website and view our show pages.

The fairytale of Cinderella, as told by Disney, is one of the world’s most beloved fables of all time. The story is so popular that it has become a phrase used commonly in society to describe a rags-to-riches success story in modern times aptly called a “Cinderella story.”

Stories that begin with ‘once upon a time’ often follow a predictable storyline of struggles between good and evil and an outcome that makes everything right in the world. While the story of Cinderella and her evil stepsisters is no different, this story reminds us that a little kindness goes a long way.

The Story of Cinderella the Musical

Cinderella was once a French fairytale called Cendrillon, ou la petite pantoufle de verre (Cinderella or the little glass slipper), and was first published in 1697 in a book written by Charles Perrault. Fast forward a few centuries, Cinderella was remade into a musical based upon this original writing and with music by Richard Rodgers and a book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.

As the story goes, Cinderella was the only child of a nobleman who remarried and she gained two stepsisters and a stepmother from that union. All three women were vain and loathed the kindness and sweetness of Cinderella. They clothed her in rags and made her work the most demeaning chores in the home including washing the floors and cleaning up after her stepsisters. Despite her circumstances, Cindrella continued to be a kind and patient person who was a dutiful daughter and sister.

One day a local prince decided to hold a royal ball. She helped make all the arrangements for her stepsisters and stepmother to attend in lovely ballgowns and jewels. She, however, was not allowed to attend the ball.

As she sat there crying on the evening of the big event, a Fairy Godmother appeared who would help her prepare for the ball because she was such a good girl, sister, and daughter. The magic of the Fairy Godmother transformed a pumpkin, six mice, and her clothing into a royal chariot, six horsemen, and the most beautiful ballgown there ever was right down to the glass slippers adorned on her feet.

As the story goes, Cinderella attended the ball only to have the best night of her life with the young prince. As the clock struck twelve, however, Cinderella’s dream evening came to an abrupt end as the magic wore off. The young prince spent many days trying to find the beautiful girl who stole his heart. In the end, Cinderella’s prince found her and they all lived happily ever after.

Backdrops for Cinderella

Several settings are required for the musical Cinderella to successfully draw the audience into the story. Two of the most important include Cinderella and her stepfamily’s home in what is described as a European-style home near farmlands.

The backdrop called European Village #2553 is appropriate to set the stage for the life that Cinderella was living with her cruel stepmother and vain stepsisters. Specifically, this backdrop includes Tudor-style buildings in the center of a European town and distant mountains.

Another main setting in the story of Cinderella is the palace of the young prince where he holds his royal ball. This Palace Interior Backdrop #2500 shows a royal staircase and purple draperies adorning the large ornate windows.

For a full list of our options for Cinderella backdrops please visit our website where you will be able to sort my musical or show.

The story is “old as time” and the theatrical adaptation of the love story of Beauty and the Beast will captivate audience members young and old. Whether it is your theater group, community theater, or a Broadway performance, Backdrops by Charles Stewart has you covered with more than 50 backdrop options for this Disney favorite.

What Is the Story of Beauty and the Beast?

Beauty and the Beast tells the unlikely and mysterious story of how a fair young maiden meets a grotesque beast and how they eventually fall in love.

The story begins with the plight of a young and arrogant prince who is cursed by a mysterious enchantress until he can love and be loved by another person. His curse is to appear as an ugly and monstrous beast. He has until a magical rose loses its last petal to convince another to love him or he will remain a beast forever.

Many years after he is cursed, Maurice, an inventor from a nearby village, wanders into the woods and accidentally trespasses on the Beast’s property. The Beast immediately imprisons him rather than choosing to help this older man who is simply lost.

Bell, Maurice’s daughter, becomes aware of her father’s predicament and offers to take the place of her sickly father in the prison to save him from what would surely be a death sentence.

The Beast agrees to her promise to stay with him in the castle forever, where she eventually gets to know the Beast for who he really is rather than just what he appears to be on the outside. Their love blossoms and they fall in with the help of some unlikely household items named Mrs. Potts (the teapot), Cogsworth (the clock), Chip, the teacup), and Lumiere (the candlestick).

Backdrops for Beauty and the Beast

Whether you are hoping to portray a European village where young Belle lives or the castle the Beast calls home, we have more than 50 beautiful drops that can set the stage perfectly for your performance. Let’s explore a few of our options.

This Tavern Interior Backdrop #2502 shows a rustic tavern interior with a stone fireplace, tables, wooden barrels, hunting trophies, and wagon wheel chandeliers. This is where we first meet Gaston, a huntsman and suitor for Belle, who continues to pursue her after a gentle rejection.

As Belle and the Beast get to know each other, they spend lots of time in his castle. This Palace Ballroom Backdrop #3102 shows an ornate ballroom with gold leaf, a red ceiling, and large windows.

Or depending on the aesthetic you are seeking, this Palace Ballroom Backdrop #2505

Depicts a grand ballroom with rows of large glass windows, marble columns, and fancy drapery.

Check out all of our Beauty and the Beast backdrops for your next production.

It’s almost hard to believe that it was ten years ago that “Let It Go” became a household song and that the ice princess, Elsa from Arandale, would become a hit overnight. The 2013 Walt Disney World film captured the imagination of the young and old alike with its unforgettable songs, adorable characters, and scenery of a fairytale land nestled in the mountains.

This heartwarming story of two orphaned sisters who learn to become best friends again will delight your audiences and have viewers singing along with your actors. With more than 50 backdrops designed for this film-turned-musical, you will set the scene for your audiences and amaze them with your performance.

What Is The Story of Frozen?

Frozen tells the story of sisters Elsa and Anna who grew up in the beautiful land of Arendale surrounded by regal mountains and lush green grass along the fjords of Scandinavia. While the sisters grew up best friends enjoying magic and songs with their parents, the secrecy of Elsa’s icy abilities was kept quiet from the rest of the town for fear of the magic that lay within her.

Sadly, Elsa and Anna’s parents die in a tragic shipwreck, and Elsa is left to rule the kingdom on her coronation day. Elsa has successfully kept her ice powers a secret with the help of trolls and other magical figures from the woods, but the stress of her coronation day causes her secret to be revealed and her greatest fears come true. As her secret becomes known, she flees the town and heads for the mountains where she conjures a glorious ice castle.

Even though her powers are no longer secret, they are no less potent as her powerful emotions and ice cause the town to become trapped in eternal winter. Princess Anna sets off to find her sister and make everything right in Arendale. She teams up with an iceman named Kristoff, his reindeer, and a snowman named Olaf, to find her estranged sister Elsa and stop the snow from falling.

Scenes and Backdrops of Frozen

As the story of Elsa and Anna’s love for each other unfolds, there are many scenes to set for your audiences including the castle they grew up in, the town of Arendale, and of course, the ice castle set in the mountains. Here are some of our favorite backdrops that will help create the fairytale land in Frozen.

European City Scenes

The city of Arendale is meant to look like a quaint European village with cobblestone streets and distinctly European architectural homes. These options are just a few of the 53 backdrops we have designed for Frozen.

This European Village backdrop #2360 is perfect for scenes when Anna enjoys a walk around town and meets the citizens of the kingdom. The Tudor-style buildings showcase a European town and distant mountains.

This Dickens Style backdrop # 2310 is also perfect for Frozen as it portrays a snow-covered London street with Tudor-style buildings.

Ice Castle and Mountain Scenes

Much of the storyline between Elsa and Anna takes place along the journey from Arendale to the ice castle deep in the mountains. These options for snow-covered woods and the ice castle are perfect for the heart of this production.

This Snow Forest Backdrop #2351 shows fir trees covered in heavy snow against a grey sky perfect for the journey to the ice castle where Anna meets Olaf along the way.

This backdrop aptly called the Ice Palace Backdrop #2469 shows the interior of a large palace covered in ice with columns and cathedral-like windows.

Check out all of our Frozen backdrops here and get started setting the scene for your performance of Frozen, the musical.

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