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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: How do you mark your script during rehearsals?

« on: May 09, 2008, 04:57 pm »

I've found blocking is easier to keep track of if I have the script on the right, and on the back of the previous page to the left, have a blown-up copy of the ground plan attached. This works best if the set is more or less the same thru-out the show. This way, you can draw X's to represent the actors (or whatever works best for you) and draw arrows to wherever they cross. Write details on the script, but using the groundplan saves a lot of time and effort. It's easier to redraw an arrow than to rewrite a few sentences. Also, using shorthand and abbreviations helps, as long as others can understand it. Instead of writing "Henry the Vth" every time, write "H5" or whatever.

And I agree that a pencil is the best utensil in the world for a stage manager. I never permanently mark anything, because you never know when a director will change their mind.

I hope this helps!