NEEDTOBREATHE TOUR
IFR 15oz. Encore Velour, Black; IFR Illusion, Silver and Black Chrome

We were completely blown away by these photos from tour manager extraordinaire Dustin Reynolds of NEEDTOBREATHE in concert. Using a mix of our dynamic rental curtains, their concert design team was able to create fresh and unique appearances for each part of their show. Our Chameleon (color-changing) LED Stardrop drapery worked as the perfect upstage backdrop for them to hang downstage our Illusion Ribbon Drape Kit made from dozens of flowy strands of pewter and chrome-colored satiny fabric. The tour’s lighting designers had a field day with all of the cool and imaginative looks they were able to fashion by merely shining some colorful and dramatic lighting onto them throughout their concerts, giving this fabulous band an original stage design to perform with in venues of all sizes.

Darkroom Creative, “The Crossing”
Fabric: FR Heavy Wt. Muslin, Natural

Master stage designers Darkroom Creative were looking to give The Crossing’s concert a stunningly dramatic look, but still keep things quick and easy for their installation team. The fabric they chose was FR Heavy Weight Muslin, which is one of the most versatile theatrical fabrics in the business, and also takes colorful lighting effects like an absolute dream. These smooth, flat muslin curtains were sewn with durable, reinforced grommets along the top for ease of hanging. Then their team simply winched up and layered these curtains on their stage and lit them up with a variety of gorgeous theatrical lighting effects to create a beautiful and majestic stage design.

GT Pro, Mosaic Conference
Fabric: FR Superknit, White

Sometimes when helping our clients think “outside the box” on their unique stage design, we end up building them custom drapery to help make it look like their stage is actually INSIDE of a box. We were contacted by event designers GT Pro, who were working with stage designer Chase Hall, to produce the main stage design for the Mosaic Conference–a wildly popular three-day yearly conference being held at the iconic Theatre at Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. They decided to have us help them create three sides of a crisp, white “box” that they could project engaging videos, inspirational imagery, and colorful lighting onto throughout each segment of the summit. They started by having us build them an extremely large, all-white drape with minimal vertical seams and a smooth, flat surface. Using fabulous 192″ FR Superknit substrate, we were able to construct this larger-than-life 40’h x 80’w single drape for this production design.

Next, we consulted with Chase on ways to best way to fashion the sharp corners that would really bring home the stage design’s exceptionally distinct look. He and his team ended up installing virtually invisible aircraft cable on the stage floor and the top of the truss structure, making sure it was good and taut. Once tension was applied, it created the appearance of perfectly tight corners. Measuring, inspecting, cutting, and sewing multiple panels of fabric that were 40′ high by 16′ wide is no small endeavor, and keeping it clean for the entire production process was quite an impressive feat in and of itself-but as you can see the end results were absolutely incredible!

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Luthor College
Fabric: FR Crystal Poplin, Digitally Printed; FR Blackout Lining, White

We were genuinely inspired by this innovative theatrical drape design by the wonderfully musical folks at Luther College. They contacted us wanting a backdrop where they could make it appear that the “sun was rising” as the concert carried on, in order to coincide with their concert entitled “Awake! And Greet The New Morn”. This was no small task for their talented lighting designers, and so they needed us to help build them exactly the right curtain so they could carry out this unique design vision. They first provided us with a custom graphic design of a charming tree-lined meadow with a gentle creek flowing through it. We then printed this image onto translucent FR Crystal Poplin, and sewed hand-cut FR Blackout Lining behind the hillside areas in order for their lighting designers to be able to fully accentuate a “rising sun” with clever rear lighting effects. By blocking out any extraneous rear lighting being shone onto the drape, they were able to really emphasize the “sky” element of the design and give their audiences a thrill watching the sun slowly rise throughout the production. Simply sensational!

Project: St. John’s School
Fabric: Silver Crushed Satin

For St. John’s School, we used a combination of rental and purchased goods to help them create a one-of-a-kind stage design for their musical. They wanted to recreate one of the scenes from Curtains, The Musical, so we suggested on our Silver Crushed Satin Legs from our Silver Satin Collection of specialty rental drapes. Along with those drapes, the client wanted to dress up the stage with smaller pieces of the same fabric, and so they decided to purchase unsewn yardage of the exact same Silver Crushed Satin fabric to add extra embellishments to certain parts of the stage. Since the fabric reflects light so beautifully, the set designers were able to give the stage various looks by changing lighting schemes and intensities throughout the show. The change of lighting on the drapes helped give the show an exciting and dramatic feel.

Project: Rock Ridge High School Performing Arts
Fabric: Black 15oz Encore Velour

We loved working with Rock Ridge High School for their production of Mary Poppins. For this show, they wanted an eye-catching drape that would help them create the appearance of a night sky, so they decided on one of our Stardrop LED Rental Drapes. These drapes consist of Blue-White LED lights on a rich backdrop of Black Encore Velour. Our Stardrop LED drape is quick to install and extremely easy to operate, making it the perfect backdrop for this production. The school was able to easily control the intensity and speed of the flickering “stars” or have the lights stay completely on or off. The Stardrop gave the production a dramatic “starry sky” effect, along with the rich black velour material also offering a “void” for scenes that needed to stay dark.

Project: Rosemont Theater
Fabric: Silver Satin

For the Rosemont Theater project, the client wanted drapes that would help frame the proscenium, without covering the projection screen that they planned to hang across the middle of the stage. We recommended our 40’h x 10’w Silver Satin Shirred Drapery Legs from our Silver Satin Rental Drapery Collection to hang behind the screen. Our Silver Tassel Tiebacks were used to evenly pull the drapes to the sides, giving them a “tableau curtain” effect. Since Silver Satin reflects light beautifully, the lighting designer decided to project colorful theatrical lighting onto the drapes during different parts of the event.

Project: The Avett Brothers
Fabric: White Voile and White Poly Silk

White Voile Specialty Rental Drapes were used in a very notable and effective way by indie folk-pop group The Avett Brothers. Using White Voile Legs and Swags to help create a truly rockin’ look from our Delightably White rental drape collection, these drapes were layered and lit up to be as ultra-cool as the band playing in front of them. The News Observer showcased the band beautifully, and ultimately showcased our specialty rental drapes too. Using these white voile drapes along with a dramatic Kabuki Solenoid Drape reveal for their New Year’s Eve show, The Avett Brothers were able to create the extraordinary look they were going for.

Photographs By:
Scott Sharpe, News Observer
Leon Goodwin
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Project: Wilco
Fabric: FR Spider Stretch, Aluminum Mesh

White FR Spider Stretch, a fabric traditionally used for lighting and shadow effects, was sewn into a family of half and whole swags in varying heights, widths, and fullnesses, along with two sets of legs, to create an off-kilter balance of drapery that can be lit with varying colors and even projected on, to create a gauzy romantic feel. Upstage, a metal mesh drape provides another layer of texture and contrast to the stage design.

Photographs By: Jeremy Roth

Project: Stage Center LA production of Aida
Fabric: IFR 15oz Encore Velour

Recently, Rent What? Inc. had the honor of working with Stage Center LA (which stands for Louisiana), who performed Elton John and Tim Rice’s timeless broadway musical “Aida“. In order to make a beautiful backdrop of stars for several important scenes in the production, they used one of Rent What’s 30′ x 15′ Stardrop LED drapes. These incredibly versatile and inherently flame retardant rental drapes can be “rotated” to have either side be the width or the height with grommets and ties on both sides. This offered our clients a lot of flexibility with how they could be hung, and allowed them to help create the exact look they were going for. Show photographer Michael Boyd captured everything perfectly, showing just how beautiful the drape worked in their production.

Project: Celtic Woman
Fabric: Voile / White; Poly Silk / White

While Celtic Woman is a touring production, it showcases a group of 5 very talented singers in a theatre style presentation. The design was specific and unique, calling for absolute accuracy in developing swagged legs and drapes to perfectly mimic designer renderings. As the show was designed in England we needed to offer comparable American textiles that would look and light like the UK fabrics being called out. This classic design with a contemporary twist showcased our custom sewing abilities beautifully.

Project: Jennifer Hudson
Fabric: 15oz Encore Velour / Black;
Satin / Silver; 8oz Supervel / Grey

This tour drew entirely on pieces from Rent What? Inc’s “Silver Satin Series” rental inventory. The specialty stage scene for Jennifer Hudson was sophisticated and affordable for a new artist on her first tour. Of the many pieces available in the Silver Satin Series, an Austrian backdrop, giant contemporary swags and velour legs offered full upstage coverage. Downstage was a bi-parting traveler track and main stage drapes, also rental pieces from Rent What?.

Rent What? is proud to feature quality stage curtains and backdrops made by Sew What? Inc.

Project: GRIDWORKS for Princess Cruises / Ruby Princess
Fabric: IFR 26oz Velour / Custom Dye

Once again we had the privilege of working with Gridworks, one of the premier providers servicing the audio/video needs of the cruise line industry. This most recent project was for Princess Cruise’s Ruby Princess while in dry dock. Gridworks team of installation experts had visited the ship some months prior to dry dock, and were armed with the measurements for a fast changeover and successful replacement of the drapery elements in both the Princess Theatre and Explorers Lounge.  All elements were sewn from Inherently Flame Retardant velour. Aside from the obvious and most featured Austrian Drape there were over 20 other items dressing the stage – including several scrims, a leno, a muslin cyclorama and plenty of masking drapes, legs and borders.

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Photo By: George Davidson

Project: Dancing With The Stars Tour
Fabric: 8oz Supervel / Atomic Red

How could you not love this show! One of our most prized “drapery performances” – our drapes are the star of this touring stage. By utilizing 8oz Supervel, an inherently flame retardant fabric which is light weight and yet durable, we brought designer Butch Allen’s vision to life. Let’s face it – nothing says Broadway like red velour and lots of swags!
By the way – all the elements drop into hampers and pull out for tie off at the next venue – everything was made to be installation friendly.

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Photo By: Jesse Sandler

Project: John Mayer at the Nokia Theatre
Fabric: Silver Poly Satin

Both the producer and designer knew “what” they wanted for the live DVD recording of John Mayer at the Nokia Theatre. Only problem was – they could not “find” it as a rental. Their decision to custom make a drape to suit their needs was made only 3 days before the show was to be filmed. Needless to say they were thrilled to learn that Sew What? could not only make the 30’ x 60’ Austrian Drape in time, but could do it at an affordable price.
PS: So catch this news: the Nokia Theatre loved the drape so much they actually purchased it from the John Mayer Production and it is now a resident drape at the Los Angeles Nokia Theatre!

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Project: GRIDWORKS for Princess Cruises / Queen Victoria
Fabric: IFR 26oz Velour

Gridworks is one of the premier providers servicing the cruise line industry. This particular project was for Princess Cruise’s newest addition to their fleet, the Queen Victoria. Initial artist renderings showed design concepts and then a visit to the ship wile being built in Italy solidified the dimensions prior to construction. All elements were sewn from Inherently Flame Retardant velour. Aside from the obvious and most featured Grand Drape and valance there were over 25 other items dressing the stage – including several scrims, a leno, a muslin cyclorama and plenty of masking drapes, legs and borders.

Photo By: George Davidson of Gridworks

Project: ICE Direct From Russia. The Riviera Hotel, Versailles Showroom. Las Vegas.
Fabric: 12oz Clear FR Vinyl

This was a challenging project and an unheard of suggestion – Make drapes from clear vinyl! Despite initial fears and trepidation we jumped headlong into the non-traditional use of this “tenting” substrate. Not only did the drapes hang beautifully as can be seen in the image, but the effect was indeed “ice-like”. Just what the designer had envisioned.

Sewn in a traditional theatrical style with 50% fullness and webbing grommets and ties at top, this plastic curtain will hang rink-side in Las Vegas while the artists make their magic on the ice.

Project: Vienna Music Festival 2006, Production of The Gospel Of Colonus
Fabric: Various Voiles and Satin
………… DIGITAL PRINTING by Sew What?

Lee Breuer and Bob Telson’s award-winning Broadway show returns for its 20th Anniversary Tour with the Blind Boys of Alabama, the Original Soul Stirrers and J.D. Steele of the Steeles. The Gospel at Colonus is a musical celebration that seamlessly blends the agony of Greek tragedy and the ecstasy of American gospel music and the sanctified church.

Designer Alison Yerxa chose a variety of colored and patterned voiles which when layered and combined with crushed satin created a dynamic stage set design. Addition of bullion trims and woven ropes gave accent to the swags and jabots on both upper and lower levels of the scene.

The beautiful rendering designed and created by Alison Yerxa was reproduced as a digital image onto coated vinyl and is seen as the medallion nestled into the arch of the church. Sew What? Inc’s digital printing services have been utilized by many of the top designers and performers, as well as for many ballet and opera companies.

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Project: Victoria Hall
Fabric: 21oz Velour Custom Color

Victoria Hall in Santa Barbara recently underwent a facelift, with a new grand drape and window treatments provided and installed by Sew What? Inc. Utilizing a beautiful sienna 21oz cotton velour, all the drapes were fully lined with the added beauty of 100% fullness.

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Project: Custom Proscenium
Fabric: Satin

A beautiful and dramatic proscenium piece. This is a static piece (no lift lines), and all layers are attached to a common webbing to hang from a single traveler track . The side legs are lined and the top swag treatment created with three layers of swags.

Project: Austrian Curtain
Fabric: Iridescent Silky Chiffon

The Austrian is operated by a motorized lift system that tracks each lift line in unison. Full widths of fabric are utilized and therefore liftlines are falling every three feet. At Sew What? we are one of the premier manufacturers of premium theatrical austrian draperies. Our experience is extensive. Contact us for references.