Backdrops by Charles H Stewart

What Backdrops by Charles H Stewart does

Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart is a family-run, privately held theatrical backdrop rental company founded in 1893 in North Andover, Massachusetts. The company rents and sells painted theatrical backdrops, drapes, legs, borders, scrims, and strips to community theaters, school drama departments, television and broadcast productions, professional regional theater, and special-event organizers across the United States and Canada. Its core inventory exceeds 1,500 backdrops (with over 2,000 accessories in total) organized by category (Decades, Exterior, Interior, Kids, Novelty/Dance, Seasons) and by show (Mamma Mia!, Beauty and the Beast, Phantom of the Opera, Hello Dolly!, Gypsy, and others). The firm also offers custom backdrop design and fabrication services and recently absorbed the Dreamworld Backdrops collection via acquisition.

Revenue mechanics are built on a transactional rental model with per-production fees, generally around $500 for standard backdrops and as low as $150 for smaller specialty items, supplemented by one-time backdrop sales and bespoke custom-creation professional services. Go-to-market is direct-to-customer, with local pickup at the North Andover warehouse and nationwide US/Canada shipping coordinated through website catalog requests and phone/email orders. Distribution relies on a multi-channel digital presence (website catalog, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn) and email promotions.

The company is privately held by the Stewart family with 1-10 employees, no outside institutional investment or funding rounds, and no disclosed parent or holding structure. Operations are based at a single warehouse facility at 115 Flagship Drive in North Andover, MA, and the firm emphasizes its 130+ year heritage and New England roots as primary brand assets.

Name

Backdrops by Charles H Stewart

Legal name

Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart

Website

https://charleshstewart.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1893

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart, founded 1893 in North Andover, Massachusetts, rents and sells 1,500+ hand-painted theatrical backdrops, drapes, and scrims to community theaters, schools, television productions, and event organizers across the United States and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theatrical Backdrop Rentals and Stage Scenery

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

akta.pro primary industry

Scenic Fabrication & Set/Stage Carpentry (MPAGAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Decor Props & Themed Set Rentals (HSACAFAK), Pipe & Drape, Backdrop & Room-Divider Rentals (HSACAFAJ)

Keywords

• Theatrical backdrop rentals
• Painted stage scenery
• Custom scenic backdrops
• Theater drapes and legs
• Stage scenery supplier

Headquarters

HQ city

North Andover

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Theatrical Backdrop Rentals: Primary revenue stream from renting painted theatrical backdrops, drapes, scrims, and scenic elements to theaters, schools, and event producers. Rental fees are typically per-production with delivery/return logistics handled by the company.
2. Backdrop Sales: Sale of selected backdrops from inventory for productions that prefer ownership over rental.
3. Custom Backdrop Creation: Custom backdrop design and fabrication services for productions requiring unique scenic elements not available in the standard inventory.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Backdrops by Charles H Stewart rents hand-painted theatrical backdrops along with related stage scenery (legs, borders, drapes, scrims, strips) to theaters, schools, drama clubs, television productions, and event producers across the US and Canada. The firm also produces custom-commissioned backdrops to specification and offers a selection of backdrops for outright purchase. Inventory exceeds 1,500 pieces drawn from themed collections such as Dreamworld Backdrops.

Product overview

Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart operates as a theatrical backdrop rental company offering a comprehensive catalog of over 1,500 painted backdrops, drapes, legs, borders, scrims, and strips for stage productions, school plays, and events. The core offering centers on rental services for theatrical backdrops organized by category (Decades, Exterior, Interior, Kids, Novelty/Dance, Seasons) and by musical/show (Mamma Mia!, Beauty and the Beast, Phantom of the Opera, Hello Dolly!, Gypsy, Bye Bye Birdie, and others). Additional offerings include custom backdrop design services, a growing selection of backdrops for sale, and the recently acquired Dreamworld Backdrops collection. The company serves theaters, schools, and event planners throughout the United States and Canada from their North Andover, Massachusetts warehouse.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatrical Backdrop Rentals Short-term rental of hand-painted theatrical backdrops and related stage scenery to theaters, schools, drama clubs, TV productions, and event producers across the US and Canada.
• Custom Theatrical Backdrops Bespoke scenic painting service that produces hand-painted backdrops to a customer's specification, using techniques such as the "practical cuts" method for flexible scenic looks.
• Backdrops for Sale Outright sale of selected hand-painted theatrical backdrops from the firm's catalog for buyers who prefer to own their scenery rather than rent.
• Dreamworld Backdrops Collection Themed collection of backdrops within the firm's rental and sales catalog, presented as a curated set of designs for production buyers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving the theatrical industry for over 130 years (established 1893)

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Dreamworld BackdropscoreOthersAcquisition of Dreamworld Backdrops has expanded the company's inventory and selection of theatrical backdrops, adding to the overall product offering.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Production Resource Group (PRG): Global leader in entertainment and event production services including scenic, lighting, and video solutions. Comparable as a supplier to large-scale theatrical and broadcast productions, though vastly larger and broader in scope.
• Dazian Fabrics: Long-standing theatrical and event fabric rental/sales company serving Broadway, television, and live events. Comparable as a fellow soft-goods scenic provider, though broader in product line (fabrics, draperies) and with larger event/hospitality exposure.
• iWeiss Theatrical: Theatrical equipment and scenic services company offering rigging, draperies, and stage machinery. Comparable as a B2B scenic infrastructure provider to theaters and event venues, though broader and more capital-intensive.

Direct peers

• Great Scenic America: Theatrical scenic studio specializing in hand-painted backdrops, scrims, and draperies for theatrical productions across the U.S. Closest direct competitor in the hand-painted backdrop rental niche.
• Rose Brand: Long-established theatrical fabrics, draperies, and scenic elements supplier serving Broadway, regional theaters, schools, and event producers. Highly comparable to CHS in offering rental and sale of scenic soft goods, with deeper commercial/Broadway penetration.
• Mainstage Theatrical Supply: Theatrical supply retailer and rental provider serving schools, churches, and community theaters with scenic and costume elements. Comparable as a community/school theater rental specialist, though more diversified across costumes and lighting.
• Tom Cat Backdrops: Specialty backdrop rental and sales company serving theatrical productions with a curated painted-backdrop catalog. Comparable direct competitor in the rental-only backdrop space serving similar mid-market theater customers.
• Sculpture & Scenic Studios (formerly Pittsburgh Scenic): Custom scenic fabrication and backdrop shop serving regional theaters, theme parks, museums, and commercial clients. Comparable in offering hand-painted and built scenic elements, with stronger custom build-out capability.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CHSbackdrops
• Facebookfacebook.com/backdrops
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/backdrops
• Instagraminstagram.com/chsbackdroprentals
• Pinterestpinterest.com/rentbackdrops/_created
• Xx.com/chsbackdrops

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Backdrops by Charles H Stewart