Drapery & Drape Systems
PNTA is the Pacific Northwest’s premier source for custom drape systems for new builds, renovations, and even retrofits that blend seamlessly into historical landmark buildings. Our in-house drape shop allows us to manufacture custom products that fit like a glove, no matter how complicated the space or how numerous the parts. We also have access to local fabrication facilities, which allows us to quickly adapt track systems when the unexpected arises onsite during the installation process.
Drapery Style Guide
Grand Drapes
Refers to the curtain at the front edge of the stage. Often used as a divider between the audience and the stage. It is often a color other than black and sometimes has decoration such as fringe on it.
Material: Often made from a heavy weight, rich looking velour
There are many kinds of grand curtains but the most common is a bi-part curtain. Other types are gullitine only, austrian, venetian, and tableau.
Bremerton Community Theater
Grand Valence
or Valence
Long short curtain that hangs in front of the grand curtain to frame the stage. It is usually the same color and decoration as the grand.
When the valance is on a fly system it can be lowered or raised to change the height of the proscenium opening.
Admiral Theatre
Masking
Generally refers to all velour curtains behind the grand curtain. There are many different types of masking. Usually they are black in color. The quantities of masking curtains depend on the size of the space and how it is used.
Snohomish County Public Utility District
Legs
These are usually skinny full height curtains spaced so that the audience can not see backstage but still allows space for actors and set pieces to be brought onstage.
Sometimes legs are installed on rotators which allows the angle of the curtain to be changed depending on what the user desires.
Most theatres have multiple sets depending on how deep their stage is.
Admiral Theatre
Borders
Long short curtains that are used to hide the electrics as well as other curtain hanging hardware.
Usually tied onto a pipe and it's placement is static. The only time it moves is if it is on a fly system and the pipe can be moved up and down to change the position.
Most theatres have multiple borders depending on how deep their stage is and how many electrics they have.
Whitworth University
Mid Traveller
This curtain is usually placed midway between the front of the stage and the back wall. It is usually two curtains that are each about half the width of the full stage width. One half on each side of the stage and when closed they meet with a split in the middle.
The mid traveller is often used to split the stage with one scene happening in front of it while the next scene is set up behind it during a performance. It has a wide variety of uses.
Admiral Theatre
Rear Traveller
Same principle and design as the mid traveler but it is located closer to the back wall of the stage.
By closing it, it can provide a way for actors to cross from one side of the stage to the other without being seen by the audience. Can also be closed to allow for a lighting change on a cyc, etc.
Enterprise Oregon
Side legs/tabs
These curtains are located off stage of the traditional masking. These are usually on a track that is perpendicular to the proscenium.
Another way of hiding the backstage area from the audience but also completely blocks the view from backstage to what is going on onstage.
Bremerton Community Theater
Triple Door
Cyc/backdrop
This curtain is most commonly made from a muslin material. In recent years synthetic materials have become more popular.
Cyc's are usually located towards the rear of the stage behind the rear traveler and are used to lighting effects such as sunrise or sunset.
In recent years projection has become a popular tool in theatrical productions and the cyc is often used as a projection screen.
Dividers
Large spaces such as multi purpose rooms can be scaled down for intimate events using heavyweight velour curtains.
Green/blue screen
Often used in photography and video production. Allows for CGI effects to be added.
Acoustical curtains
Often hung along walls in a room with a lot of echo.
Acoustical curtains can be mounted on a track so they can be moved to cover windows or walls when needed and then opened as the user desires.
Shoreline Community College (Acoustical Curtains)
Blackout curtains
Specialty acrylic vinyl can be sewn to the back of most velour fabrics so that they will not fade when used in front of windows.
The vinyl also provides total blackout for video presentations or movie watching in multipurpose spaces.
Puget Sound Business Journal (Blackout Curtains)