The Prompt Book is the “master script” for the show and will have all blocking, quick changes, and technical cues annotated within it. The PSM will update the Prompt Book as blocking and cues are established or changes are made by the Director.

Cues should be written in the script in the manner they will be called during the show, and should match the Master Cue Sheet.

The movements of the actors must be captured in the Prompt book in such a way that anyone can read and understand them. Blocking notes will consist of the name of the character moving, an action and a position. Here is the standard form of notations used in the Prompt Book.

• “Simon X DS” = Simon crosses downstage (from his current position)
• “Claire -> Simon” = Claire moves towards Simon

• DS = Downstage
• US = Upstage
• SR = Stage Right
• CS = Centre stage
• SL = Stage Left
• RC = Right of centre stage
• LC = Left of centre stage
• DR = Down right
• DL = Down left
• UR = Up right
• UL = Up left
• UC = Up centre
• DC = Down centre
• C/L = Centre line
• Full Front = Facing directly downstage
• Full Back = Facing directly upstage
• Quarter Right / Left = 45 degrees to an end-on audience, facing towards either stage right or stage left.
• Profile Right / Left = Facing directly offstage, at 90 degrees to the audience
• Three-Quarter Right / Left = Facing into the upstage corners of the stage, mostly turned away from the audience, 45 degrees from Full Back

• X = Cross to (diagonally moving)
• -> = Moves to (or toward)
• sits = Sits on a piece of furniture
• rises = Stands up
• enters
• exits

As with blocking, cues should be written in the Prompt Book in such a way that they are easily read and understood by anyone.

All cues will consist of the type of cue (sound, lights, etc), the cue number, and an action (standby, Go). Each cue will have a Warning, and Execute call written into the Prompt Book. When writing the cue into the prompt book, the Warning cue will consist of a “Standby” before the cue. The Execute call will be written into the Prompt Book using a “Go” after the cue. The Execute call should be followed by a description of the cue.

A line will be written into the script from the cue to the exact place/action in the script where the Go will occur. Multiple cues can be called simultaneously if needed, for example a stand by can be called for multiple cues, then each “Go” can be called individually or multiple cues simultaneously with a single “Go”.

Along the same lines, there may be visual cues that happen too quickly for the PSM to call. In this case, the PSM will allow the board operator to trigger the cue on sight at the appropriate time.

SVCT has been standardized to the following:

• LX Q # = Lighting Cues
• SD Q # = Sound Cues
• FLY Q # = Fly Cues (curtains/drops)
• SMOKE Q # = Smoke/Haze Cues
• AV Q # = Video/Projector Cues
• SPOT Q # = Spotlight Cues