The Knack, 1967

This sub-series contains the prompt books for the plays "Twelfth Night", "The Knack", and "Jocasta and Great Catherine". The series is in rough chronological order. The materials for the Jocasta and Great Catherine play include costume samples and notes, personal inventory sheets, and correspondence with the New Haven Register newspaper about articles to publish. The Knack play materials include the prompt book and the playbill. Twelfth Night materials include Van Horn and Son, October 1960 correspondence on pricing for costumes with measurements. Also has costumes with dates. Light fixture plan with light cues, Curtain call with directions, Rehearsal schedule, Advanced ticket sales report, Playbill, Business Manager’s report.

Promptbooks are scripts that have been marked up for performance. They can be roughly grouped into two categories. There are true working scripts kept by stage managers or prompters which typically include cast lists, stage directions, blocking diagrams, and cues for effects like lighting and music. They often indicate cuts or alterations to the text made during rehearsals. And their condition frequently betrays their long history of service. Promptbooks kept by actors might also include notes on pronunciation, movement, or a characters’ psychology.