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Directing

Bring your vision to life.

Explore practical directing tips, rehearsal strategies, and creative approaches for both student and teacher directors. From first read to final performance, find what you need to shape strong, confident productions.

How to Deal With Rehearsal Burnout
Directing

How to Deal With Rehearsal Burnout

Rehearsing for your school production is hard work. There is an abundance of decisions to be made, students to manage, and schedules to maintain. It can be overwhelming to even the most organized...
Fun Rehearsal Warm-Ups to Get Everyone Ready
Directing

Fun Rehearsal Warm-Ups to Get Everyone Ready

Warm-ups are vital for the rehearsal process, to get students’ bodies and minds ready to work. They should include three parts – physical, vocal, and mental. Some students will resist warming up,...
Should You Cancel a Show?
Directing

Should You Cancel a Show?

Cancelling a show is a difficult decision. There isn’t a “one answer fits all” solution – it must be handled on a case-by-case basis. As much as possible, I believe that “the show must go on.” But...
The Importance of the Off-Book Rehearsal
Directing

The Importance of the Off-Book Rehearsal

Creating an effective rehearsal schedule is a crucial part of a school production’s success. There are many important rehearsals to allot time for, including this one: the off-book rehearsal. What...
Practical Uses for Smartphones in Rehearsal
Directing

Practical Uses for Smartphones in Rehearsal

Mention “smartphones” or “cell phones” in front of drama teachers and most will immediately grimace or roll their eyes. Phones can be the bane of any teacher’s existence – it seems like students...
Rehearsal Warm-Up Game: Switching Roles
Classroom Exercise

Rehearsal Warm-Up Game: Switching Roles

Here’s a warm-up game you can try at your next rehearsal: Switching Roles. Students will use an improv game to take on a different part in the play you’re currently working on. It’s a simple enough...
Top Tips for Directing Your First Show
Directing

Top Tips for Directing Your First Show

Directing a show can be a challenge. Directing your very first show can seem overwhelming. So we asked drama teachers: What are your top tips for someone directing their first show? Material...
Rehearsing “Backwards”
Directing

Rehearsing “Backwards”

It’s a common occurrence when rehearsing a production that the cast and crew will eventually practice running the whole show from the beginning to the end. This way, students will see how all the...
The Importance of Ensemble Thinking
Directing

The Importance of Ensemble Thinking

What does it mean to focus on “ensemble thinking”? Ensemble thinking focuses on a whole-show mentality. Rather than an “us versus them” mentality for leading actors versus ensemble/chorus members,...
What’s Changed? A Rehearsal Reflection
Directing

What’s Changed? A Rehearsal Reflection

Countless hours are spent in rehearsal: learning, reviewing, and practicing material. Let’s focus on the first aspect: learning. At the beginning of the rehearsal process, everything is new. From...
Practice Makes Progress
Directing

Practice Makes Progress

Everyone is familiar with the term “practice makes perfect,” right? But in the theatre, there’s really no such thing as a perfect performance, and there is especially no such thing as a perfect...
Communicating Rehearsal Notes in Three Different Ways
Directing

Communicating Rehearsal Notes in Three Different Ways

After every run-through of a show, directors will have a notebook or word document packed to the brim with notes – praise, corrections, problems, solutions, changes and adjustments that need to be...
Script Analysis for Directors, Part 2: Going Deeper
Directing

Script Analysis for Directors, Part 2: Going Deeper

In Script Analysis for Directors, Part 1: Scanning the Script, we started our pre-rehearsal planning process with a simple scan of the script to get our early thoughts and ideas out on paper. Once...
To Mic or Not to Mic?
Directing

To Mic or Not to Mic?

That is the question…and it is yet another decision you must make while producing your upcoming school show. Yes, your students are making smart character choices and acting their hearts out; yes,...