What are the best stage management software options for coordinating run-of-show and cues across a touring production?

For a touring production, the “best” stage management software depends on whether you need:

• Run-of-show / show calling
• Cue tracking and automation integration
• Touring logistics and communication
• Offline reliability on the road
• Cross-platform support

Here are the strongest options, grouped by use case:

Best overall for stage management

1. ShowTool SM

• Designed specifically for stage managers
• Strong for run-of-show, cue lists, prompt scripts, reports, and paperwork
• Useful on touring productions because it’s focused on fast show calling and documentation
• Good if you want a dedicated SM tool rather than general project software

Best for: stage managers who want a purpose-built calling and paperwork system.

---

2. cuepilot / QLab + stage management workflow

• QLab is one of the most common tools for cue playback in theatre and touring
• Not stage management software by itself, but excellent for sound, video, and show cue execution
• Often paired with a stage management system for run sheets and cue tracking
• Reliable for touring if you need robust cue playback

Best for: productions where cue execution is central, especially sound/video-heavy shows.

---

Best for cue coordination and automation

3. QLab

• Industry standard for theatrical cue playback on Mac
• Handles audio, video, lighting triggers, OSC/MIDI/network cueing
• Excellent for coordinating with calling scripts and automation
• Not a full run-of-show manager, but essential in many touring setups

Best for: technical cue playback and synchronization across departments.

---

4. SPM / StagePlotPro-related workflows

• More useful for planning, technical documentation, and stage plots
• Not the strongest option for live show calling, but helpful in preproduction and touring coordination

Best for: advance prep, plots, and technical organization.

---

Best for collaboration and general production management

5. Microsoft OneNote / Notion / Airtable

• Not traditional stage management software, but very effective for:
  • run-of-show outlines
  • cue tracking
  • contact sheets
  • daily reports
  • change logs
• Good for shared access across departments
• Airtable is especially strong for structured cue databases and touring logistics

Best for: teams that need flexible, collaborative planning and reporting.

---

6. ProductionPro

• Popular in film/theatre workflows for script breakdowns and collaboration
• Better for preproduction and organizing scenes/cues than live show calling
• Useful if multiple departments need to annotate the same material

Best for: collaborative prep rather than live calling.

---

Best for large-scale touring and operations

7. Smartsheet

• Great for tour logistics, schedules, checklists, transport, crew coordination
• Can support run-of-show planning, but it’s not theatre-specific
• Very good when you need a centralized operations hub for a large touring team

Best for: logistics-heavy tours with complex scheduling.

---

8. Monday.com / Asana / Trello

• Strong for task management and coordination
• Not ideal as primary show-calling tools
• Useful for keeping production departments aligned on deadlines and action items

Best for: production management around the show, not the show calling itself.

---

Common touring production stack

A lot of touring teams use a combination like this:

• QLab for cue playback
• ShowTool SM or custom run sheets in Airtable/Notion for stage management
• Smartsheet / Asana / Monday for tour logistics and team coordination
• Dropbox / Google Drive / OneDrive for documents and nightly updates

---

What to prioritize for touring

When choosing software, look for:

• Offline use
• Fast editing during tech
• Export to PDF / shareable reports
• Mobile/tablet support
• Cloud sync with version control
• Cue linking and department-specific notes
• Reliability under low-connectivity conditions

My practical recommendation

• If you want a true stage management tool: ShowTool SM
• If you need technical cue execution: QLab
• If you need tour-wide coordination: Airtable or Smartsheet
• If you want a lightweight custom workflow: Notion + QLab

If you want, I can also give you:

1. a comparison table of the top options,
2. recommendations by budget, or
3. the best setup for a theater, concert, or dance tour.