Published by Primary Source Microfilm

Series Two: Prompt Books from the Harvard Theatre Collection "Doctoral candidates will find innumerable subjects worthy of treatment, and crucial and historical studies of Shakespeare are enriched by new-found access to essential facts about important Shakespeare productions." -- Charles H. Shattuck, Author of The Shakespeare Prompt Books: A Descriptive Catalogue

Previous title: Shakespeare and the Stage

Shakespeare scholars, theater historians, performers and production specialists will discover the working texts of stage managers and company prompters, actors' study books and notes on staging and role interpretation. Libraries in both England and the United States contributed their collections to create this magnificent resource.

Series One: The Folger Shakespeare Library Collection, Washington D.C.

This collection represents the world's largest assemblage of prompt books, with more than 900 volumes included. From the 17th to the 20th centuries, the collection covers American Shakespearean productions fully, with details of plays performed in Boston, Chicago, New York and other cities. The 19th century is particularly well-represented with records of performances by Samuel Phelps (1804-1878), Sarah Siddons (1775-1831), Herbert Beerbohm Tree (1853-1917), Charles Macready (1787-1833) and Henry Irving (1838-1905). A guide describing this part of the collection provides contents of reels, detailed descriptive entries for all the prompt books and a complete index to persons. The complete unpublished Folger card catalog is reproduced on the first reel.

Series One: 86 reels in four parts:

Part One: All's Well That Ends Well -- Julius Caesar
21 reels

Part Two: King Henry IV Part I --Macbeth
25 reels

Part Three: Measure for Measure -- Pericles
18 reels

Part Four: Romeo and Juliet -- The Winter's Tale and Miscellaneous Volumes
22 reels

Series Two: The Harvard Theatre Collection

Series Two includes nearly 400 prompt books that vividly recreate British and American 19th century Shakespearean productions. This was an age of outstanding achievement by the great actor-managers. Henry Irving's prompt books from his days at the Lyceum are included, and his Hamlet study book (1873) contains detailed notes on interpreting the role of Hamlet, including the cuts, moves and effects of his acclaimed performance. A guide accompanies this part of the collection and provides contents of reels and gives detailed descriptive entries for all prompt books included, giving type of prompt book, its principal associations, date and place of performance, the Harvard Theatre Collection manuscript reference and the Shattuck reference number.

Series Two: 36 reels in two parts:

Part One: All's Well That Ends Well -- Love's Labours Lost
16 reels

Part Two: Macbeth -- The Winter's Tale and Miscellaneous Volumes
18 reels

Series Three: The Shakespeare Library Collection, Birmingham Public Library

Covering a great range of productions in England between 1811 and 1929, this part of the collection offers insights into both touring London plays and the Birmingham Theatre Royal's own productions. Included are the prompt books (1900-1926) of Frank Benson, the leading figure in the Stratford Shakespeare Festivals, and the Gordon Crosse Theatrical Diary, which offers a rare eyewitness account of Shakespeare productions more than more than 60 years. A guide accompanies this part of the collection and includes contents of reels, a detailed listing of the prompt books included and a persons index to both the prompt books and the Gordon Crosse diary.

Series Three: 10 reels

Series Four: The Shakespeare Centre Library Collection, Stratford-upon-Avon

The primary archive for all the records of the Stratford theatres is the Shakespeare Centre. It contains more than 500 prompt books, dating from the early 18th century to 1975. The collection's earliest prompt copies are from the days of the Theatres Royal, including the rare copy of Cymbeline used in David Garrick's version of the play at Drury Lane. The early years of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre are also covered. The more recent prompt copies document the stage history of the theatres that have seen all the greatest Shakespearean actors, directors and designers of the 20th century. A guide accompanies this part of the collection and includes information on the director, leading actors and a cross-reference key number to Charles Shattuck's invaluable The Shakespeare Prompt Books: A Descriptive Catalogue (Urbana and London, 1965).

Series Four: 85 reels in four parts:

Part One: All's Well That Ends Well -- Henry IV Part II
21 reels

Part Two: Henry V -- Measure for Measure
24 reels

Part Three: The Merchant of Venice -- Richard III
21 reels

Part Four: Romeo and Juliet -- The Winter's Tale
19 reels

Complete Collection: 215 reels

MACHINE-READABLE CATALOGING: (catalogued as Shakespeare and the Stage: Series 1) OCLC WorldCat; 972 titles