Rose Brand created the soft goods for the restoration of the historic Belasco Theatre.
David Belasco opened the Stuyvesant Theatre in October 1907, renaming it the Belasco
in 1910. Designed by George Keister in the neo-Georgian style often used for residences,
the style complemented Belasco’s desire for an intimate theatrical setting. The theatre’s
first production, A Grand Army Man (1907), featured Antoinette Perry, the namesake of
the Tony Awards®. The Shubert Organization purchased the theatre in 1948 and in 2009 began its restoration.
The Shuberts hired Architect Francesca Russo, a veteran of numerous Broadway theatre restorations. Ms. Russo’s research on the original Belasco interior informed her beautiful design, including that of the theatre’s soft goods.
Rose Brand created the soft goods for the restoration, including a magnificent main
stage curtain, valance, and trim, along with complementary box, window and utility
curtains and valances. Fabrics included a custom-dyed damask pattern for the main stage and our Prestige Velour and sheers for valances and window curtains. The exquisite
three-color scenic work on the main stage and box valances were provided by Hudson
Scenic.
Ms. Russo selected colors for the soft goods to complement the palate of the theatre’s
architectural and decorative elements. The wonderfully detailed elements include
Tiffany glass, jeweled grapes and ornamental pilasters. Reopened in late 2010, the Belasco features old world elegance adapted to modern day production needs.
Photography: T. Whitney Cox
Architect: Francesca Russo
Courtesy of the Shubert Archive
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