Free Prompt Book Template for Stage Managers
Download a simple prompt book template — or manage everything digitally with CuePad.
What's Included in a Prompt Book
A well-organized prompt book is the backbone of any stage manager's workflow. Whether you use paper or a digital tool, these are the essential sections every prompt book needs:
Cue Sheets
Track lighting, sound, projection, and other technical cues with columns for cue number, trigger line, action, and notes.
Blocking Notes
Record actor movement using the numbered blocking notation method — circled numbers in the script tied to detailed notes on the facing page. This system keeps the script readable while capturing every cross, entrance, and exit.
Script Annotations
Margins for marking actor calls, prop handoffs, scene changes, and any production-specific notes alongside the script text.
Rehearsal Reports
Daily logs of what was rehearsed, blocking set or changed, issues raised, and action items for each department.
Ground Plans
Top-down stage diagrams showing set pieces, furniture, and playing areas. Used to map character positions for each scene or cue.
Free Printable Cue Sheet Template
A standard cue sheet gives you a consistent format for logging technical cues during rehearsal. This template follows the numbered blocking notation method: each row represents one cue, with a number, type, trigger line, action, and notes column.
| Cue # | Type | Trigger Line | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | Blocking | “We should go.” | JULIA X DSR | Avoid the chair |
| L12 | Lighting | “The sun sets—” | Crossfade to Warm Amber | Slow 8-count |
| S4 | Sound | (Scene 2 opens) | Rain SFX fade in | Low level, builds |
| M2 | Music | “She begins to sing” | Underscore in | Match actress tempo |
| SC3 | Scenic | Blackout | Fly in forest drop | Crew: Alex on fly rail |
Print this page, or use it as a reference when setting up your digital prompt book in CuePad.
How to Set Up Your Prompt Book
Whether you're working on paper or going digital, a well-organized prompt book follows the same structure. Here's how to set one up from scratch.
Step 1 — Prepare Your Script
Start with a clean PDF of the script. Licensing houses, publishers, and most production offices can provide a PDF. If you're working from a scanned copy, make sure it's legible — a good scan beats a poor digital file every time.
In a paper prompt book, print the script single-sided with wide margins. In CuePad, upload the PDF directly and it's ready to annotate.
Step 2 — Set Up Your Cue Numbering System
Choose a prefix convention for each cue type and stick to it throughout the production. Common prefixes: B (Blocking), LX (Lighting), SQ or S (Sound), MQ (Music), PR (Projection), P (Props).
Cues are numbered sequentially within each type — LX1, LX2, LX3 — so adding LX2.5 between two existing cues is standard when blocking shifts late in rehearsal.
Step 3 — Annotate as You Block
Don't wait until the end of a rehearsal to write up your notes. Record blocking and cues in real time, using shorthand that you can expand later. The goal of the first pass is accuracy, not elegance.
In CuePad, select trigger text on the script page and create the cue immediately — it's indexed automatically so you don't have to manage numbering manually.
Step 4 — Set Up Ground Plans
For each act or major scene, draw or scan a top-down view of the set. Mark furniture, set pieces, and playing areas. During blocking rehearsals, record character positions at each cue by placing markers on the ground plan.
Step 5 — Organize for Tech
Before tech week, review every cue in sequence. Confirm trigger lines are accurate, cue numbers are clean, and ground plan snapshots match current blocking. This is when a searchable digital prompt book pays off most — you can find and fix inconsistencies in minutes that would take hours with a paper binder.
Why Digital Prompt Books Are Better
Paper prompt books have served stage managers for centuries, but they come with real limitations: they're fragile, hard to share, impossible to search, and slow to update. A digital prompt book solves all of these problems while keeping the same organizational structure.
- No risk of losing or damaging your binder
- Instant search across all cues and notes
- Share with your team in real time
- Version history — restore any previous state
- Export a professional PDF prompt book
- Ground plans with interactive character placement
- Access from any device — tablet, laptop, or phone
Use CuePad Instead
Rather than filling out a static template, CuePad gives you a live digital workspace built specifically for prompt book management. Upload your script PDF, create indexed cues directly on the text, and track blocking on interactive ground plans.
Everything is searchable, shareable with your production team, and exportable as a professional PDF prompt book. The free Core plan includes full access to blocking tools, cue management, and ground plan editing on one active script.
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