The prompter (sometimes prompt) in a theatre is a person who prompts or cues actors when they forget their lines or neglect to move on the stage to where they are supposed to be situated.[1]
A prompter with his script, 1936
Nowadays, many of the earlier duties of the prompter are undertaken by the stage manager, who will have a copy of the script called the prompt book.[2] This is the most definitive version of the script for any one performance, and will contain details of all cues, with their precise timings with respect to the action on stage.[3] This allows the prompt to direct lighting, sound, flying effects and scene changes during a show. The prompt book also often contains blocking notes, so that the prompt is always aware of the intended positions and movements of all the actors on stage at any given time.
A 19th-century prompter at work.
The prompt book from an 1874 staging of Hamlet by English actor and manager Henry Irving (1838–1905), in which he experimented with using limelight (white-hot calcium oxide) to represent the ghost of Hamlet’s father.
In some professional and high-quality community theatre productions, the prompt is never used during a performance to instruct actors if they forget a line or movement, only during a rehearsal. If prompting is absolutely necessary, it is done very quietly by another actor on-stage or the conductor of the pit orchestra.
The prompt is located on the stage, in the prompt corner or "prompt side".[2]
In Elizabethan theatre the function of prompting was filled by the Book-Holder, who was also in charge of props and calls.[3]
References
^Kennedy (2010), Pavis (1998, 289), and Taylor (1993, 253—254).
Hartnoll, Phyllis and Peter Found, eds. 1996. The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-282574-7.
Kennedy, Dennis, ed. 2010. The Oxford Companion to Theatre and Performance. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-957419-3.
Pavis, Patrice. 1998. Dictionary of the Theatre: Terms, Concepts, and Analysis. Trans. Christine Shantz. Toronto and Buffalo: University of Toronto Press. ISBN0-802-08163-0.
prompter, theatre, related, function, opera, prompter, opera, prompter, sometimes, prompt, theatre, person, prompts, cues, actors, when, they, forget, their, lines, neglect, move, stage, where, they, supposed, situated, prompter, with, script, 1936, nowadays, . For the related function in opera see Prompter opera The prompter sometimes prompt in a theatre is a person who prompts or cues actors when they forget their lines or neglect to move on the stage to where they are supposed to be situated 1 A prompter with his script 1936 Nowadays many of the earlier duties of the prompter are undertaken by the stage manager who will have a copy of the script called the prompt book 2 This is the most definitive version of the script for any one performance and will contain details of all cues with their precise timings with respect to the action on stage 3 This allows the prompt to direct lighting sound flying effects and scene changes during a show The prompt book also often contains blocking notes so that the prompt is always aware of the intended positions and movements of all the actors on stage at any given time A 19th century prompter at work The prompt book from an 1874 staging of Hamlet by English actor and manager Henry Irving 1838 1905 in which he experimented with using limelight white hot calcium oxide to represent the ghost of Hamlet s father In some professional and high quality community theatre productions the prompt is never used during a performance to instruct actors if they forget a line or movement only during a rehearsal If prompting is absolutely necessary it is done very quietly by another actor on stage or the conductor of the pit orchestra The prompt is located on the stage in the prompt corner or prompt side 2 In Elizabethan theatre the function of prompting was filled by the Book Holder who was also in charge of props and calls 3 References Edit Kennedy 2010 Pavis 1998 289 and Taylor 1993 253 254 a b Kennedy 2010 a b Hartnoll and Found 1996 Sources Edit Hartnoll Phyllis and Peter Found eds 1996 The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 282574 7 Kennedy Dennis ed 2010 The Oxford Companion to Theatre and Performance Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 957419 3 Pavis Patrice 1998 Dictionary of the Theatre Terms Concepts and Analysis Trans Christine Shantz Toronto and Buffalo University of Toronto Press ISBN 0 802 08163 0 Taylor John Russell 1993 The Penguin Dictionary of the Theatre 3rd ed London Penguin ISBN 0 140 51287 X Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Prompter theatre amp oldid 1094515636, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
