Directing, Rehearsal, & Production

Stepping onto the stage is an exciting journey, but, inevitably, conflicts and disagreements among cast members can occasionally take centre stage during rehearsals. To avoid chaos, directors need...

Drama teachers are skilled at making theatre magic from little more than a hot glue gun, tape, and ingenuity. But sometimes you need cold, hard cash to get your show off the ground. Below, you’ll...

What is the difference between marketing and advertising? Marketing is the process of identifying potential customers and getting them interested in your product or service — in this case, the show...

When you’re producing a show that has stage combat in it — whether it’s a show with multiple fights, skirmishes, and battles or a show with a single punch — it is imperative to run a fight call...

For a new Theatre teacher, choosing a play for performance can be both exciting and scary. With so many scripts to choose from, how do you make sure you pick the right one for your program? You...

You’ve chosen the play, paid the royalties, done the script analysis, held your auditions, and cast the show. Tomorrow is the first rehearsal. Are you ready? Really ready? The Rehearsal Companion...

As a director, I cannot stress enough to my students how frustrating it is to have to give the same note over and over during rehearsals. It feels like I’m not being listened to, and it wastes...

There are a variety of styles when it comes to taking the helm of a production. Which type of director are you? Which suits your students best? ‘Do as I say’ — The DictatorThis type of director has...

One of the biggest predictors of a student’s success in the drama classroom and their school productions is whether or not they’re putting in the work on their own outside of the in-school...

Picture this scenario: You’re in drama class with your students. They’ve been divided into small groups, each group has a scene to work on, and you’ve given them the instructions: “You have x...

This article was inspired by a situation that happened to me. Recently, I was directing a production of Disney’s Descendants: The Musical with a cast of 23 amazing students in grades 8, 9, and 10....

Time is one of the biggest challenges for a drama teacher trying to put on a production. There’s never enough rehearsal time. Some rehearsals drag on forever, while others speed by in the blink of...

Mindfulness is all about being fully present in the moment without judgement. Practicing mindfulness is helpful for drama students, because it can help them combat pre-show jitters. Instead of...

Being organized before a performance keeps everyone calm and prevents offstage drama. A great way to stay organized is to create a pre-show checklist — a list of all the tasks each theatrical...

You need your students to work independently on a scene but when it’s time to present they seem to have forgotten everything you’ve taught them. Scene Self-Staging: Teaching Students to Block...

When choosing a show for a class or school production, the first thought teachers usually have is about the practicalities. There are many important things to consider. Is it an appropriate length?...

Every production requires the right blend of individuals to help tell the story. As theatre teachers, the challenge is finding these individuals and matching them to the parts that will best bring...

In our previous post (Performing Outdoors Part 1: Technical Considerations), we discussed technical concerns that may arise when selecting a venue to perform outdoors. Today we’re tackling safety...