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Creator
Hughes, Del, 1909-1985
Call number
*T-Mss 1987-013
Physical description
2.94 linear feet (7 boxes)
Preferred Citation

Del Hughes prompt books, *T-Mss 1987-013. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library.

Repository
Billy Rose Theatre Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

Del Hughes (1909-1985) was an American theater performer, stage manager, and television director. The Del Hughes prompt books date from 1943 to 1968 and represent twenty-four Broadway productions shown at various New York City theaters. The material in this collection documents the performance and technical elements involved in Broadway theater production.

Biographical/historical information

Del Hughes (1909-1985) was an American theater performer, stage manager, and television director. Hughes made his Broadway debut in 1941 as a replacement stage manager and performer in the original play Tobacco Road at the Forrest Theater in New York City. Prior to establishing his career as a stage manager, Hughes performed in several Broadway productions, including Vickie (1942), Yours, A. Lincoln (1942), and Open House (1947).

Hughes managed dozens of Broadway productions, including the premiere of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman in 1949 at the Morosco Theater, as well as works by Lillian Hellman and Graham Greene. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Hughes directed episodes of the television dramas One Life to Live and All My Children.

In 1970, Del Hughes was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Direction for a Daytime Drama Series for his work on All My Children. He received further recognition of his work in stage management through the creation of the Del Hughes Award for Lifetime Achievement and Excellence in the Art of Stage Management by the Stage Manager’s Association.

Scope and arrangement

The collection holds prompt books that were used by Hughes during his career as stage manager for twenty four Broadway productions between 1943 and 1968. The material documents the performance and technical elements involved in Broadway theater production.

Each prompt book documents the evolution of an individual Broadway production from its inception to performance. Scripts, costume and prop plots, and scenic design plans make up the bulk of the material. The majority of the scripts are annotated with blocking notes and dialogue changes. In some instances there are multiple versions of scripts for a given production, including the master as well as earlier drafts, rewrites, and omitted scenes. Set design and scenic plans are generally hand drawn, and some diazotype prints are present. Costume, prop, and lighting plots are generally typewritten and attached to the scripts. Timing notes, schedules, playbills, notes on cast members, and photographs of productions are limited. One 3 inch Emitape with sound effects for The Complaisant Lover dated January 9, 1961 is included. Inquiries regarding audio recordings in the collection may be directed to the Billy Rose Theatre Division (theatrediv@nypl.org). Audio recordings will be subject to preservation evaluation and migration prior to access.

The amount of material in each prompt book varies by production. Enter Laughing (1963), That Summer-That Fall (1967), The Investigation (1966), Peterpat (1965), The Price (1968), and The Complaisant Lover (1961) are the most well represented productions in this collection, while the files for One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1963) and The Autumn Garden (1951) contain only notes and clippings. Productions were written and produced by a number of individuals, including Arthur Miller, Lillian Hellman, Graham Greene, and Kermit Bloomgarden.

Arrangement

Material is arranged alphabetically by title of production.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Donated by Paul Newman, 1987.

Processing information

Compiled by Robyn Hjermstad, 2013

The scripts were removed from binders and placed into folders. Material in oversized manila envelopes was transferred to folders with the original labels.

Using the collection

Location

Billy Rose Theatre Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

The author/creator retains copyright of materials. For information on obtaining permission to publish, contact the Theatre Division at theatrediv@nypl.org.