“I accidentally created my dream job, because this is everything I care about: theatre, giving back in an ethical style, and access to theatre for a new generation.” – Jennifer Wheeler Kahn
This week we are celebrating a Broadway entrepreneur, Jennifer Wheeler Kahn! Jennifer is the founder of Scenery Bags, a company that recycles theatre backdrops and other theatrical materials and upcycles them into fashionable bags and other accessories.
Jennifer grew up in San Diego, California, and garnered a love for musical theatre at an early age. In 2004, she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Stage Management from the University of Southern California and moved to New York City. Jennifer started working as a stage manager for various Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional productions. Some of her credits during her 17 years as a professional stage manager include: The Deaf West Revival of Spring Awakening (Broadway), In the Heights (National Tour), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (La Jolla Playhouse and Paper Mill Playhouse), Hold Onto Me Darling (Off-Broadway at the Atlantic), Kinship (starring Cynthia Nixon and Christopher Lowell at Williamstown Theatre Festival), and multiple productions at The Old Globe Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego.
In 2015, Jennifer and a friend took a road trip up to Maine. On the way, they stopped by a store that sold bags out of old sails. This launched an idea for Jennifer. What if she made bags out of the theatre backdrops that often went into the garbage after a show closed? After reaching out to former stage manager and owner of The Music and Theatre Company Brian Wells, Jennifer received 600 pounds of retired backdrops. On July 15, 2017, while she was on maternity leave with her first child, Jennifer launched Scenery Bags. The initial launch of 25 bags sold out within 24 hours. And by the end of that first month, Jennifer had received over 4,000 preorders.
Scenery Bags not only supports Jennifer’s love of sustainable and ethical style,but it also supports making theatre more accessible. A minimum of 10% of proceeds from each purchase is donated to The Theatre Development Fund’s Introduction to Theatre Program.This program provides middle and high school students with theatre workshops, and the chance to see a Broadway or Off-Broadway performance. Their donations also fund TDF’s Accessibility for Students Program. This program provides access to Broadway and Off-Broadway performances for elementary and secondary school students who are blind or low vision and/or deaf or hard of hearing.
Scenery Bags has expanded over the years to include not only zip pouches, but clutches, necklaces, rings, bows, keychains, pillows and more! Each bag comes with a tag telling you which show it comes from and which number it is out of the limited collection. Jennifer has partnered with countless Broadway shows to upcycle their backdrops into stylish pieces people can use every day. Scenery Bags’ current inventory includes items from Sweeney Todd, Mean Girls, Bad Cinderella, Suffs, Water for Elephants, Wicked, Beetlejuice, and more!
Jennifer has created a company that not only promotes sustainability and funding for the arts, but allows people to have a tangible piece of an experience that means something to them. Broadway debuts, favorite musicals, performances seen with loved ones, and other things that may make a show special to someone no longer have to just be remembered in one’s head, they can now be a part of someone’s everyday life.
