For over four decades, Playhouse in the Park relied on hand-painted sets crafted in-house and rented backdrops. By partnering with Theatre Scenes, the theatre unlocked an expansive yet affordable library of customizable backdrops for every major show theme.

Mobile Tradition Expands Its Horizons

Since 1961, Playhouse in the Park has served as a cornerstone of Mobile, Alabama’s local arts scene. For 42 years, Managing Director Danny Mollise and his wife, Pam Mollise, Scenic & Costume Design / Stage Manager, have built and hand-painted sets to support their busy calendar featuring multiple musicals and straight plays each year. 

When the organization expanded beyond youth theatre to invite the broader community onto its stage, the scale of their productions grew, and they were forced to begin renting backdrops for productions. Staging four major productions annually required high visual realism without budget strain or burning out their scenic design team.

Breaking the Rental Cycle

For years, the only alternative to hand-painting was renting backdrops—a costly burden for productions that run four to five weeks. Renting meant spending thousands of dollars only to return the backdrops at the end of every show, all while facing strict rental windows that often prevented using the drops during early dress rehearsals. When commercial rentals fell short on price, quality, and flexible timing, the theatre needed a sustainable, long-term solution. 

To break this cycle, Playhouse in the Park turned to Theatre Scenes and invested in high-quality, customizable backdrops to build a permanent inventory. Visual quality and versatility were non-negotiable, as the assets needed to adapt across vastly different storylines—from classic settings like The Sound of Music and Babes in Toyland to a dramatic laboratory environment for Frankenstein, which will be reused in their upcoming production of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

This shift turned recurring rental fees into lasting assets, as the theatre spent less to buy and keep a backdrop from Theatre Scenes than on rental fees. Mollise praised the craftsmanship and affordability, noting the pricing allows them to begin building a permanent scenic collection without straining their budget.

Built for the Stage, Stored in Seconds

“The backdrops completely knocked our audiences out. We were thoroughly impressed by the speed, the cooperativeness, and sheer quality of the designs. The drops are just beautiful on stage,” said Mollise.

Beyond appearance, the backdrops were crafted to support practical stage management and long-term reuse. Designed for effortless handling during load-in and tech week, the backdrops allowed the crew to set up striking environments in a fraction of the time.

Instead of returning expensive rentals, the team packs the backdrops away, ready for use across future show cycles. Massive, full-stage backdrops now fold into boxes small enough to slide into a desk drawer, allowing the theatre to easily tuck entire sets away in their dressing room, eliminating backstage clutter. 

Standing Ovation for Service 

Executing detailed scenic changes under strict production deadlines required absolute reliability and service. Mollise noted, "The team at Theatre Scenes is the nicest, most cooperative group to work with. They were always available, always helpful, and made it so easy to call up and customize a drop to fit our exact stage."

For Playhouse in the Park, the partnership delivered more than just backdrops. It gave their community stage a professional edge that will captivate audiences for years to come.