Scenery First
Scenery First is a Pennsylvania-based custom scenic design and fabrication company that builds theatrical sets, museum installations, cruise ship scenery, retail displays, and event décor for enterprise clients across the US.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersSharon Hill, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Scenery First does
Scenery First, Inc. is a privately held, custom scenic design and fabrication company founded in 1992 by Michael Barone and headquartered in a 29,000 square foot facility in Holmes, Pennsylvania. The company designs and manufactures theatrical scenery, painted backdrops, custom props, museum installations, cruise ship entertainment sets, retail and hospitality displays, trade show booths, and high-end special event décor. Its core technical capabilities span multi-material in-house production — including wood, steel, aluminum, plastic, fabrics, and foam — with specialized disciplines covering scenic painting (including backdrops up to 40' by 80' on Scrim fabric), welding, sculpting, sewing, and custom carpentry. The company operates a single integrated service line rather than a modular platform, delivering projects from design consultation through fabrication, on-site installation, maintenance, and training.
The business model is project-based B2B custom manufacturing with quote-driven pricing. Revenue is generated through one-time design fees and fabrication costs on bespoke projects, with revenue streams organized around theatrical scenery, props and displays, and installation/maintenance services. The go-to-market is sales-led, driven by portfolio marketing through the company website, client testimonials, and direct referrals; clients include Philadelphia Theatre Company (affiliated since 1998), FJM Productions, Carnival Cruise Line, QVC, NFL Films, Neiman Marcus, Hershey Store Times Square, and multiple presidential museums including the International Spy Museum, Richard Nixon Presidential Museum, and Museum of the American Revolution. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is determined per project based on scope, materials, and complexity.
The company operates regionally across the US Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest, with international exposure through cruise ship deployments. Ownership remains with founder Michael Barone — no institutional investors, no parent company, and no external funding rounds are disclosed. The company has expanded its physical footprint six times since 1992, most recently in October 2019, reflecting steady, internally-financed growth.
Scenery First firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Scenery First
- Legal name
- Scenery First, Inc.
- Website
- https://sceneryfirst.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Scenery First is a Pennsylvania-based custom scenic design and fabrication company that builds theatrical sets, museum installations, cruise ship scenery, retail displays, and event décor for enterprise clients across the US.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Scenery First industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Theatrical Scenery Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (541850), Graphic Design Services (54143)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Scenic Fabrication & Set/Stage Carpentry (MPAGAKAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Event Fabrication & Scenic/Set Build (Custom Builds, Installations) (BPAFAGAK), Production Design & Art Department Services (Sets, Props, Scenic) (MPADAFAG), Event Signage, Props & Custom Installations (HSACAOAG)
Keywords
Where Scenery First is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sharon Hill
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Scenery First business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Scenic Design & Manufacturing: Project-based custom manufacturing of theatrical scenery, sets, displays, and special event décor. Revenue generated through design fees and fabrication costs for bespoke projects.
- Props and Displays: Custom prop fabrication and display creation for theatrical, corporate, and retail clients.
- Installation and Maintenance Services: On-site installation, maintenance, and training services for delivered scenic elements.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Scenery First product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Scenery First designs and manufactures theatrical scenery, custom displays, properties, and high-end special event décor for theater companies, cruise lines, museums, retail/hospitality venues, and corporate event clients. The company provides end-to-end scenic design and fabrication services using multi-material production capabilities (wood, steel, aluminum, plastic, fabrics, foams), hand-painted scenic backdrops up to 40' by 80', and complementary on-site installation, maintenance, and training services.
Product overview
Scenery First, Inc. is a scenic design and manufacturing company that designs and manufactures theatrical 3-dimensional scenery, 2-dimensional scenic drops, custom displays, high-end special event décor, custom props, and custom furniture. The company operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Their core products include Theatrical Scenery & Sets, Painted Backdrops & Scenic Drops, Custom Props & Properties, and Special Event Décor. These products are delivered through specialized divisions including Theatrical Production Sets for theater companies, Cruise Ship Scenic Production, Museum Installations, Scenic Environments for retail/commercial spaces, Trade Show & Convention Displays, and Corporate Entertainment Sets. The company also provides complementary services including Installation, Maintenance, and Training. Founded in 1992, the company serves theater, cruise line, museum, retail, and event industries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Theatrical Scenery & Sets Designs and manufactures 3-dimensional theatrical sets and scenery for theater productions, including custom-built stage environments with elements such as palm trees, platforms, and architectural pieces.
- Painted Backdrops & Scenic Drops Custom hand-painted scenic stage backdrops using paints and fabrics including Ultra Violet paint and Scrim fabric, ranging from realistic to modernistic designs, with backdrops as large as 40' by 80'.
- Custom Props & Properties Hand props and custom properties for theatrical productions, events, and displays, including soft sculpture and fabric props.
- Special Event Décor High-end special event décor including draperies, scrims, festoon borders, theatrical curtains, and custom furniture for corporate events and celebrations.
- Cruise Ship Scenic Production Scenic design and installation for cruise ship entertainment venues, including modular scenic elements for production shows on vessels such as Carnival Inspiration (Studio VIP production).
- Museum Installations Design and creation of museum installations including exhibit components, scenic elements, and interactive displays for institutions such as International Spy Museum, Richard Nixon Presidential Museum and Library, Museum of the American Revolution, Statue of Liberty Museum, and Louisiana Children's Museum.
- Scenic Environments (Retail & Commercial Displays) Retail and commercial scenic environments including holiday displays, themed installations, and decorative sets for locations such as Galleria at White Plains (Santa's Workshop), Neiman Marcus Dallas (holiday windows), and Hershey Store Times Square.
- Trade Show & Convention Displays Custom displays and exhibition booth scenic design for trade shows and conventions.
- Corporate Entertainment Sets Scenic design and sets for corporate entertainment events and company productions.
- Philadelphia International Flower Show Exhibits Large-scale floral exhibit design and creation for the annual PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, including iconic structures like the Eiffel Tower centerpiece.
- Installation, Maintenance & Training Services On-site installation services, ongoing maintenance, and training for scenic elements and sets delivered to clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- Built over 20 shows for Philadelphia Theatre Company since 1998
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Scenery First
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Scenery First technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Scenery First partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Scenery First competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Moss: Fabric scenic structures, custom exhibits, and event environments. Overlaps with Scenery First on fabric scenic drops, draperies, and custom event décor for museums, trade shows, and brand activations.
- DisplayWorks: Custom retail and brand-activation display fabricator. Directly comparable to Scenery First's retail display practice (Neiman Marcus holiday windows, Hershey Times Square, Galleria at White Plains Santa's Workshop).
- Tait Towers: Scenic, staging, and automation fabricator for concerts, theater, and experiential events. Directly comparable to Scenery First as a multi-material scenic production house, though at meaningfully larger scale and with deeper automation capabilities.
- Sparks: Custom exhibit, trade show, and museum fabrication house. Comparable to Scenery First's museum installation and trade show/convention display product lines in both customer base and craft.
Broad incumbents
- Production Resource Group (PRG): Large global production services company covering scenic, lighting, video, and rigging across entertainment and live events. Broader portfolio than Scenery First, but with overlapping scenic-fabrication capabilities serving theaters, cruise lines, and corporate events.
- 4Wall Entertainment: National entertainment production services provider offering scenic, lighting, and rigging rentals and fabrication. Adjacent to Scenery First's event and theatrical scenic work but at greater scale and with broader inventory.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Scenery First social profiles
Digital presenceScenery First financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Scenery First leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Scenery First funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Scenery First M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Scenery First
What does Scenery First do?
Scenery First designs and manufactures theatrical scenery, custom displays, properties, and high-end special event décor for theater companies, cruise lines, museums, retail/hospitality venues, and corporate event clients. The company provides end-to-end scenic design and fabrication services using multi-material production capabilities (wood, steel, aluminum, plastic, fabrics, foams), hand-painted scenic backdrops up to 40' by 80', and complementary on-site installation, maintenance, and training services.
Is Scenery First a public or private company?
Scenery First is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Scenery First founded?
Scenery First was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Scenery First based?
Scenery First is headquartered in Sharon Hill, United States, in the North America region.
How does Scenery First make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom Scenic Design & Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are props and Displays and installation and Maintenance Services.
Who are Scenery First's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Moss, DisplayWorks, Tait Towers and Sparks. Broad incumbents are Production Resource Group (PRG) and 4Wall Entertainment.
Does Scenery First have an API?
No public API is recorded for Scenery First.
What industry is Scenery First in?
Scenery First's product category is Theatrical Scenery Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAKAG, Scenic Fabrication & Set/Stage Carpentry, with a secondary code of BPAFAGAK, Event Fabrication & Scenic/Set Build (Custom Builds, Installations). Its NAICS code is 541850.