This is one of the 73 drops relocated from the Scottish Rite Theatre in Richmond, Virginia, to the Scottish Rite in Tucson, Arizona this month. The backdrop was painted by Toomey & Volland Scenic Studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite. When the Richmond Scottish Rite moved to a new building in 1968, one-third of the scenery collection was placed in storage. This backdrop was rolled and placed in storage, high above the properties room, stage-left.
Scenery by Toomey & Volland for the Richmond Scottish Rite TheatreTranslucent stars. Scenery by Toomey & Volland for the Richmond Scottish Rite TheatreBack of tanslucent stars. Scenery by Toomey & Volland for the Richmond Scottish Rite TheatrePainted detail. Scenery by Toomey & Volland for the Richmond Scottish Rite TheatrePainted detail. Scenery by Toomey & Volland for the Richmond Scottish Rite TheatrePainted detail. Scenery by Toomey & Volland for the Richmond Scottish Rite TheatrePainted detail. Scenery by Toomey & Volland for the Richmond Scottish Rite TheatrePainted detail. Scenery by Toomey & Volland for the Richmond Scottish Rite TheatrePainted detail. Scenery by Toomey & Volland for the Richmond Scottish Rite TheatrePainted detail. Scenery by Toomey & Volland for the Richmond Scottish Rite Theatre
Wendy Rae Waszut-Barrett, PhD, is an author, artist, and historian, specializing in painted settings for opera houses, vaudeville theaters, social halls, cinemas, and other entertainment venues. For over thirty years, her passion has remained the preservation of theatrical heritage, restoration of historic backdrops, and the training of scenic artists in lost painting techniques. In addition to evaluating, restoring, and replicating historic scenes, Waszut-Barrett also writes about forgotten scenic art techniques and theatre manufacturers. Recent publications include the The Santa Fe Scottish Rite Temple: Freemasonry, Architecture and Theatre (Museum of New Mexico Press, 2018), as well as articles for Theatre Historical Society of America’s Marquee, InitiativeTheatre Museum Berlin’s Die Vierte Wand, and various Masonic publications such as Scottish Rite Journal, Heredom and Plumbline. Dr. Waszut-Barrett is the founder and president of Historic Stage Services, LLC, a company specializing in historic stages and how to make them work for today’s needs. Although her primary focus remains on the past, she continues to work as a contemporary scene designer for theatre and opera.
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