Thoroughly Modern Millie is an iconic comedy musical that has captured the spirit of the 1920s while delivering a message about true love and friendship. It was first published in the form of a movie in 1967, and later adapted for the stage. In both cases, it follows the journey of a small-town girl named Millie, who arrives in New York to marry for money, not love.
If you are getting ready to produce a stage adaptation of Thoroughly Modern Millie, we wanted to make things easier for you. That is why we prepared a list of the best backdrops you can rent and use in your production.
They will help you bring the story to life and win the hearts of your audience.
The Story of Thoroughly Modern Millie
Before we dive into the list of backdrops you can use to stage this amazing story, let’s remember what the plot is about.
Millie Dillmount, a girl from a small town, arrives in New York and checks into the Priscilla Hotel, run by a falsely sweet Mrs. Meers, who is actually in the business of kidnapping orphan girls and selling them into white slavery. Soon after Millie arrives at the Hotel, she meets Miss Dorothy Brown, who is an orphan with a wealthy background, and the two of them become friends.
Some time later, Millie, pushed by her unfortunate circumstances and lack of money, sets her eyes on a wealthy man, Trevor Graydon. To win him over, she becomes his secretary. Around the same time she started working for and pursuing the wealthy man, Millie met a paper boy, Jimmy Smith.
But, as soon as Trevor meets Miss Dorothy, Millie’s plan of winning him over and getting married for money falls completely apart, because Trevor falls deeply in love with Dorothy. Left alone and heartbroken, Millie is consoled by Jimmy, and the two of them start gradually developing a deep and meaningful connection.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Meers sets her plan in motion and picks Miss Dorothy as the perfect victim of her shady business. Dorothy is kidnapped, and while trying to save her from Mrs. Meers, Jimmy reveals his true identity. He is not just some poor paper boy. He is actually a wealthy man, James van Hossmere, the true owner of the Priscilla Hotel. He has been working undercover and trying to expose Mrs. Meers’ secret operations.
Jimmy, Millie, and Trevor decide to save Dorothy, so they chase after Mrs. Meers. This leads them to the Chinese laundry, which turns out to be the cover location for the operation. Luckily, Mrs. Meers’s accomplices grew a conscience, so Jimmy, Trevor, and Millie managed to rescue Dorothy and arrest Mrs. Meers.
Once Mrs. Meers is out of the way, Trevor and Miss Dorothy stay together, while Millie realizes that she is in love with Jimmy. That is where she decides to forget about the money and pursue her true love.
Perfect Backdrops for Thoroughly Modern Millie
Now that you know the plot, here is how our backdrops can help you bring this charming story to life.
New York City Skyline
The moment Millie arrives in New York, she is hit by the astounding difference between the big city and the small town she came from. Skyscrapers towering over loud and busy streets, people rushing through the crowd.
To show the full extent of grandeur Millie encountered, we recommend you use our Daytime New York Street backdrop. This theatrical backdrop takes you to downtown New York City with all of the tall, grey, and brick-colored buildings.
The backdrop perfectly complements the stage, as visible in the image below.
Another representation of this vivid, active scenery is our Art Deco City backdrop, which features a design recalling the splendor of the visual arts movement that captivated the world in the first half of the 20th century. At first glance, this drop looks like a city skyline, but it is enhanced with a striking skyful of bold geometric lines in black and gold. The windows on each building glow in gold as they sit among dark clouds.
This is what this beautiful backdrop looks like on the stage.
The Office
Millie gets a job as Trevor’s secretary, and scenes revolving around this part of the story can be staged with backdrops that depict the office environment.
Our Office Interior backdrop displays a large room with concrete walls and large windows looking out onto the night sky.
This is what the backdrop looks like on the stage.
1920s New York Interiors
Millie came to New York in 1922, so if you want to bring the show to life, it is important to stay true to the zeitgeist.
Because this musical simply cannot be complete without a speakeasy, our Stylized Speakeasy backdrop is a great addition to your show. It takes viewers back in time with its black-and-white depiction of a club with a stage at the center. A bar and a set of tables are found on opposite ends of the club interior.
Another similar backdrop that would fit right into the 1920s frame is our Jazz Club Interior backdrop, which looks very similar to the previous one, with a difference of being more lively.
These backdrops can be used in scenes where Millie goes out with Jimmy to cheer up after she realizes that Trevor is in love with Dorothy.
Asian Quarters
The most significant part of the story takes place at New York’s Asian Quarter, which Mrs. Meers uses to traffic orphans, so backdrops that depict these areas are a great addition to the show.
For example, our Wang’s Living Room backdrop features two large cut openings, a red ceiling, and white walls with black trim. In between the cut openings is an Asian style banner.
Another backdrop that would be a great addition to your show is our Chinatown Sunset. This beautiful scenic backdrop portrays a purple sunset over a building with Asian writing on a yellow sign and double red doors. To the left of the building, there is a gray gate with its door open, possibly leading to a garden with a rock wall. In the distance are trees and a vibrant city with illuminated windows, signaling that nighttime has come.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the backdrops for Thoroughly Modern Millie?
The best backdrops for Thoroughly Modern Millie include depictions of New York and its busy streets, Asian Quarters, hotel interiors, and jazz clubs. In other words, pieces like Daytime New York Street, Art Deco City, Chinatown Sunset, Jazz Club Interior, and many more.
What are the key elements of the Thoroughly Modern Millie backdrops?
The most important elements of Thoroughly Modern Millie backdrops include Art Deco architecture, characteristic of the 1920s, and speakeasy interiors characteristic of jazz clubs.
