linecalling

Linecalling is the practice of prompting an actor with their lines to help them remember dialogue during rehearsals or performances. It is usually performed by a prompter or stage manager who provides cues when a line is forgotten, a timing hesitation occurs, or an understudy takes over. Prompting can be verbal, whispered, or delivered through a discreet device in modern productions.

Historically, prompters sat in a prompter’s box or offstage, reading lines from a script while the audience watched. The practice required subtlety to avoid breaking the illusion of theatre. In contemporary theatre, linecalling may use whispered prompts from nearby staff, cue lights, or digital systems such as teleprompter screens or earpieces, depending on the production’s design and budget.

Linecalling differs from general directing directives in that it aims to restore natural delivery without revealing word-for-word lines to the audience. Prompters must balance helpfulness with pacing, ensuring that prompts occur at appropriate moments and do not become a crutch for performers.

In addition to live theatre, linecalling concepts appear in rehearsals and on-set practice, especially where understudies, multiple takes, or a large cast require quick recall of lines. It intersects with broader practices of cueing, prompt scripts, and stage management.