Stage projector rental for digital scenery
Ultra-short-throw projectors sit close to the screen and throw a big, bright image from a few feet away. That keeps most of the beam out of the acting area, so actors cast far fewer shadows than with a projector in the booth.
From $1,195/week · Monday to Monday · Booked with Broadway Media
Stage projectors
Weekly rates, Monday to Monday. Booked with Broadway Media.
Choose with confidence
Find the right projector
Measure the image you want
How wide should the picture be on your cyc, screen or wall? Width is the best place to start.
How to measure →Check distance, light and surface
Where can the projector sit, how much stage light hits the screen, and what are you projecting onto?
What to check →Compare and book
Match brightness to your room and budget, then book that exact projector at Broadway Media.
Compare projectors →
Step 1: Image width
Measure the width of the area you want filled with scenery, in feet. As a starting point from Broadway Media's listings: Economy suits smaller screens, Basic medium screens, Plus medium-large screens and Premium large screens. Width alone doesn't decide it: distance, stage light and your surface matter just as much.
Step 2: Distance, light and surface
Mounting distance
An ultra-short-throw projector sits close to the screen. Estimate the distance with this formula: throw ratio × image width. A 30 ft image on a 0.35 lens is about 10.5 ft from the screen. See the table below.
Stage and room light
Stage washes, house lights and windows all wash out a projected image. The more light that lands on your screen, the brighter the projector you need. Gyms and cafetoriums with daylight need more brightness than a dark auditorium.
Projection surface
A white or light-grey cyc, a projection screen or a smooth painted flat works best. Dark or textured surfaces reflect much less light. Planning rear projection? Tell us: it needs rear-projection material and room behind the screen.
Estimated distance from the screen
| Image width | Economy (0.24 lens) | Basic, Plus, Premium (0.35 lens) |
|---|---|---|
| 16 ft | 3.8 ft | 5.6 ft |
| 20 ft | 4.8 ft | 7.0 ft |
| 24 ft | 5.8 ft | 8.4 ft |
| 28 ft | 6.7 ft | 9.8 ft |
| 32 ft | 7.7 ft | 11.2 ft |
| 36 ft | 8.6 ft | 12.6 ft |
| 40 ft | 9.6 ft | 14.0 ft |
Estimates only: throw ratio × width, measured from the lens. Real placement also depends on the lens, mounting and how the image lines up with your screen. Broadway Media's Economy listing, for example, describes placing it about 9 ft from a cyclorama for a 28 ft image. Send us your measurements and we'll confirm before you book.
Will actors cast shadows?
Because the projector sits close to the screen and throws at a steep angle, actors cast far fewer shadows than with a projector in the booth. Anyone who stands between the lens and the screen will still block the light, so plan blocking and set pieces around the beam, especially near the screen.
Mounting and rigging
Most ultra-short-throw setups sit on the deck or a riser in front of the screen. You can also hang the projector from truss or a pipe with the Heavy-Duty Mount (truss adapter rated to 250 lb, $395/week). Any hanging should be done by someone qualified, following your venue's rules. Broadway Media lists a mount and cabling with the Basic projector; ask us to confirm what ships with the others.
Playback and signal
You provide the computer or media player that runs your scenery, plus a power outlet near the projector. The projector takes an HDMI signal. If your computer is in the booth, the 200 ft Extension Kit ($295/week) includes an HDMI-over-CAT6 extender with 200 ft of cable, a 50 ft heavy-duty extension cord, HDMI cables and DVI, VGA and DisplayPort adapters.
Step 3: Compare projectors
| Projector | Brightness | Throw ratio | Resolution | Light source | Broadway Media lists it for | Weekly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 5,000 lumens | 0.24 | 1280 × 800 | Laser | Smaller stages, gyms, darker stages, smaller screens | $1,195 | Book |
| Basic Customer favorite | 7,000 lumens | 0.35 | 1280 × 800 | Lamp | Medium stages, cafetoriums, little or no ambient light | $1,995 | Book |
| Plus | 12,000 lumens | 0.35 | 1280 × 800 | Laser | Medium-large stages, mid-size auditoriums, some ambient light | $3,395 | Book |
| Premium | 15,000 lumens | 0.35 | 1920 × 1080 | Laser | Large stages and auditoriums, brighter stages | $3,995 | Book |
Specifications and weekly rates from Broadway Media's product pages, checked October 14, 2026. Broadway Media also lists Basic and Plus with “4K enhancement”; the resolutions above are the native resolutions it lists.
Protection plan required on every rental: a Damage Waiver (10% of the rental), your organization's certificate of insurance (no fee), or a security deposit, chosen at checkout at Broadway Media. Compare the options.
What's included
The projector with its ultra-short-throw lens, tested before it ships and packed in a fitted case, with a prepaid return label. Broadway Media lists a mount and cabling with the Basic projector.
What you provide
A projection surface, a safe place to set or hang the projector, power, the computer or media player and your scenery files, and someone to run cues during the show.
Scenery is separate
The projector rental is hardware only. Digital scenery is licensed separately, from Broadway Media or another provider, under its own terms.
What a week costs
- Weekly rental: Monday to Monday; 1 to 4 weeks on the booking page, longer by quote. Each extra week is the same weekly rate, with no multi-week discount.
- Protection plan (required): a Damage Waiver at 10% of the rental, your certificate of insurance, or a security deposit, chosen at checkout at Broadway Media.
- Optional: Rental Flex (8%), Extension Kit, Heavy-Duty Mount, intercom.
- Shipping: charged at checkout at Broadway Media. Orders placed less than 4 weeks before the start Monday may include a rush charge.
Add-ons
Theatre intercom
Wireless headsets from the booth to backstage, with 4, 6 or 8 stations. From $195/week.
Get a recommendation
Know your measurements? Send the image width, the distance available and a photo of your stage from the house. Don't know them yet? Send the photo and we'll tell you what to measure. We review every request and get back to you the same week.