Measure the width of your stage to determine how wide to make your backdrop. Use one 10-foot length of 3/4-inch Schedule 40 PVC pipe for every 10 feet of stage width. Use 3/4-inch inline splice connectors to connect each PVC pipe length to its neighbor. For a 30-foot stage, for example, you need three 10-foot lengths of 3/4-inch PVC pipe and two inline splice connectors.
Insert the PVC pipe lengths into their connectors, and drill a 1/8-inch hole through the connector and the pipe 3/8-inch from the end of each connector. Mark each pair of holes at the end of the connector and the end of the pipe with a letter designation so that you line up the same holes when reassembling the frame. For example, “A” designates the hole in the end of the first pipe and connector and “B” designates the hole in the other end of the connector and the end of the second pipe. Insert a cotter pin into each hole to keep the inline connector and the PVC pipe joined when you use the frame to suspend your backdrop.
Prepare your canvas panels in 10.5-foot-by-10.5-foot sections. Each 10.5-foot section will fit on one PVC pipe frame section with a small overlap to connect the fabric panels. Measure three inches from the top edge of the fabric and cut a 3/4-inch hole every 2 feet, beginning three inches from the left edge. Insert a metal grommet into each hole and use a hammer to flatten the grommet teeth around the edges of the hole.
Sew a 1-inch hem in three sides of the cloth. Fold the front of top, raw edge down 3 inches toward the back of the cloth, and pin it into place. Sew the fabric down with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. This provides the casing for your PVC pipe. Glue 1-inch magnetic strips to the fabric back on the left hem edge. Place the magnets 6 inches apart and make sure the north side of the magnet points up. Repeat the process on the right side of the cloth, but place the south end of the magnet pointing up and glue the magnets to the front side of the fabric. This allows you to connect the panels together without a seam.
Paint the scenery on the fabric. Use water-soluble paint if you want to reuse your fabric panels.
Thread a 1/4-inch thick rope into the grommet, around the pipe, back out through the grommet. Tie the rope end around the segment of rope headed into the grommet. Tie the other end of the rope to a 1/2-inch screw eye screwed into the ceiling joist when hanging the backdrop. Make each rope support long enough for the fabric to brush the floor.