Stage Directions • April 2019 • Resources: Backdrops

Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart has been a fundamental resource to the world of backdrops and design, offering 120 years of expertise. As of January 2019, Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart acquired DreamWorld Backdrops. DreamWorld Backdrops holds an extensive collection of original, airbrushed, and digitally printed backdrops and has been a dynamic force in backdrop business in the U.S. since its inception in 1999. Its reputation for superior quality backdrops along with personalized service has made it a leader in its field. Now owned and operated by Charles H. Stewart, the acquisition of DreamWorld Backdrops is groundbreaking. With 400 additional backdrops now in the inventory, Stewart is ready to deliver an even wider variety of backdrops to clients. The intricate backdrops are designed to accommodate most high-quality productions for theaters, schools, dance recitals, and corporate events.

Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart was opened in 1893 and operated continuously as a family-run business, first under Charles Stewart and then his son, Stanley. In 1990, the Christo family bought the business after a five-year apprenticeship under Stanley’s tutelage and has run it ever since. The addition of DreamWorld Backdrops supports the family’s belief, and this is evident through a quote from Stanley in a 1983 Boston Globe article. He summarized the backdrop business when he said, “In our warehouse, you see 900 boxes filled with backdrops; what I see is life in those boxes—live performance, artistic expression, and background support for some of the greatest shows you’ll ever see.”

The idea of "Life In Backdrops" is the epitome of this new life and new growth for Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart. Busier than ever with the acquisition, the Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart inventory is now home to roughly 2,000 hand-painted backdrops. This allowed Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart to continue the dream of supporting theater, the arts, and communities alike.

TheatreWorld Backdrops provides hand-painted muslin backdrops in a variety of visual presentation formats. Their expansive, rapidly growing rental inventory (1,900+ units) spans four sizes of backdrops, which virtually guarantees they can meet your imagery needs in any indoor venue. In fact, for the 2018/2019 season, TheatreWorld has added over 50 brand new designs to their rental inventories, including backdrops designed specifically for popular new releases, like Disney’s Newsies, Mamma Mia, and Freaky Friday. They also released several new designs to support old favorites, such as Elf and The Little Mermaid.

This past year, TheatreWorld also added several new members to their customer service and logistics teams. They undertook major updates to their technology support systems and began implementing scanning in every step of their operations. With these changes, TheatreWorld is positioned to continue providing top-quality, personalized service to their clients. Also remember, if you are considering custom backdrops, TheatreWorld would welcome the opportunity to work with you. Please visit their website to see photos of past custom backdrop projects, to learn more about their services and to see TheatreWorld’s ‘Signature Series’ Scenic Backdrops which offer enhanced levels of detail, colorization and visual dramatics.

Did you know that in 2018, Turning Star was approached by a NASA contractor to treat fabrics used for material containment on cargo missions to the International Space Station? Of several companies contacted, Turning Star was one of the few that could perform the work to NASA specifications, and was ultimately chosen to flame retard materials for use in the high-oxygen environment. There really isn’t a fabric that surprises Turning Star!