School Drama Program Rehearsal Hacks: How to Keep Your Cast Focused and Engaged

When we did Beauty and the Beast, I was thrilled to see more students audition than ever before. For our small school, with fewer than 300 students, we had over 60 cast members, and another 25 students working on the crew. It was incredible to have such wide participation, but let me tell you: managing all of those students was organized chaos at best.

Every classroom management technique I’d ever learned came into play throughout that process. In this post, I want to share what I’ve learned about rehearsal management, which in many ways mirrors good classroom management, just with more moving parts, more energy, and more costumes.

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1. Set Expectations and Build Ensemble from the Start

It’s tempting, especially when you’re short on time, to rush through expectations and jump straight into blocking or choreography. But taking the time at the beginning to establish structure and community pays off for the rest of the production.

Before we even do a read-through, I dedicate an entire rehearsal to expectations and ensemble building. And by ensemble, I don’t just mean the chorus roles—I mean the entire company: cast and crew working together as one unit.

That first rehearsal sets the tone. We go over policies, communication, rehearsal etiquette, and then do games or exercises that help students bond and learn to collaborate.

I also hold a parent and cast/crew meeting within the first week of rehearsals. At that meeting, everyone gets the full rundown—schedules, mandatory dates, and expectations. Before that meeting even happens, I send out a production contract that both students and parents sign, acknowledging they’ve read and agreed to all expectations.

It takes time upfront, but it prevents so many headaches later.

2. Establish a Clear Routine

Once rehearsals start rolling, structure becomes your best friend. Students, especially large casts, thrive on routine.

We start every rehearsal with the same short warm-up: a two-minute physical and vocal routine that everyone knows by heart. It’s non-negotiable.

After that, I might add an ensemble-building or character-based warm-up if it fits the goals of the day. Then we have a quick mini cast meeting where I take two minutes for announcements, reminders, and a preview of what we’ll focus on.

Then we dive into the work for that day. Predictability keeps things running smoothly and minimizes downtime, which is where most distractions start.

3. Manage the Production and Student Leadership Teams

For Beauty and the Beast, I had multiple student teams: a stage management team, a costume team, and a props and set team. The props and set team attended almost every rehearsal because we were creating so much of our own material.

They worked backstage under adult supervision, painting and building while rehearsals happened onstage. Each week, I held a production team meeting to go over goals, timelines, and what needed to be accomplished that week.

Clear communication between those groups kept everyone on task and ensured that when issues arose, they could be addressed quickly without disrupting the whole cast.

4. Keep the Energy (and Noise) Under Control

There are always days when, despite your best efforts, rehearsal energy starts to get out of hand. Students get chatty, energy dips, and you find yourself tempted to raise your voice.

I’ve learned that yelling doesn’t work—and shushing doesn’t either. Instead, have a consistent attention-getting signal that everyone knows.

This can be something fun and show-specific, like a call-and-response line. For Beauty and the Beast, I could say, “Tale as old as time…” and the cast would answer, “True as it can be.” It’s light, but it works—it gets everyone refocused without scolding.

If things are still loud, try rearranging seating for read-throughs or music rehearsals. Assign seats alphabetically or by role so students don’t feel punished, but it still helps with focus.

5. Give Structure to “Down Time”

The biggest challenge in large rehearsals is managing the students who aren’t currently being used. Idle time can turn even the best-behaved cast into a chatty distraction.

Be proactive about giving them structure:

• Allow them to watch quietly and take notes on blocking or cues.

• Permit homework during downtime, as long as it doesn’t distract.

• Never allow cell phones—that’s a guaranteed focus killer.

• If supervision allows, send smaller groups into another space (like the lobby or hallway) to rehearse dances or lines they need to polish.

When students know exactly what’s expected of them during downtime, they’re much less likely to derail the rehearsal.

6. Call Only Who You Need

One of the simplest but most powerful scheduling strategies: don’t call the entire cast unless you truly need them.

In the early stages, schedule rehearsals by scene or group. If a scene only involves Belle and the Beast, only they need to be called. This keeps rehearsals smaller and more focused, and it shows respect for everyone’s time.

Later, as you move into full run-throughs, bring the full cast together—but by then, most of the smaller scenes will already be polished, so the time together is productive, not chaotic.

7. Keep Students Engaged During Full Runs

During run-through rehearsals, I give students large note cards to use as personalized cheat sheets. They write down all their entrances, exits, props, and preset items.

When they’re not onstage, they can update or review those notes. It keeps them mentally engaged and responsible for their own work.

You can also encourage them to track notes for their characters or brainstorm improvements during these moments. It’s a great way to channel energy productively while building accountability.

8. Plan for Your Own Sanity

At the end of the day, every director’s process will look different. What matters is that your rehearsals run efficiently, that students know what’s expected, and that you’re not carrying the entire weight of the process on your shoulders.

Take the time to set clear expectations, build routines, use structure wisely, and empower students with responsibility. These simple rehearsal hacks will not only help your cast stay focused—they’ll help you stay calm and present.

Happy teaching, happy directing, and break a leg.

🌟 Don’t Miss These Resources!

🎭 FREE Drama Classroom Toolkit
Get instant access to a collection of ready-to-use classroom resources for drama teachers — including warm-ups, reflection templates, and organizational tools designed to make your teaching life easier.\

Join my email list and you’ll be the first to know when my Student-Led Production Resource Collection is available.

🎬 Audition & Rehearsal Resource Bundle
Simplify your entire production process with my bestselling bundle of audition forms, rehearsal planners, checklists, and communication templates. These are the exact tools I use to keep my productions running smoothly and my sanity intact.