A leg drop and cut drop painted by Toomey & Volland Scenic Studio for the Scottish Rite Theatre in Richmond, Virginia. These two pieces were relocated to the Scottish Rite in Tucson, Arizona last month (Jan 2021). When the Richmond Scottish Rite moved to a new building in 1968, one-third of the scenery collection was placed in storage. These two drops were rolled and placed in storage, high above the properties room, stage-left. However, the backdrop to accompany the scene is missing.
All three pieces formed a classical rotunda setting for the 30th degree (Scottish Rite degree setting). We know what the missing backdrop looked like, as this same scene was delivered to the Louisville Scottish Rite.
Backdrop design that would have accompanied the Richmond leg drop and cut drop. This backdrop is from the Louisville Scottish Rite.Second leg drop at the Louisville Scottish Rite.First leg drop at the Louisville Scottish Rite.Painted detail. Richmond Scottish Rite scenery.Painted detail. Richmond Scottish Rite scenery.Painted detail. Richmond Scottish Rite scenery.Painted detail. Richmond Scottish Rite scenery.Painted detail. Richmond Scottish Rite scenery.
Unfortunately, the two leg drops were repositioned at the Louisville Scottish Rite and the setting can no longer be viewed as originally installed. The two leg drops were erroneously placed on neighboring lines.
For more Richmond Scottish Rite drops, keyword search “Richmond Scottish Rite” at www.drypigment.net.
Author: waszut_barrett@me.com
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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