5 Ways to Keep Rehearsals Productive and Positive

by Zach Dulli, The Scene

October rehearsals have a certain look to them. Half the cast is running on caffeine and college applications, the other half is coughing through the change of seasons, and somewhere in between, your stage manager has misplaced the rehearsal schedule for the third time. The honeymoon phase is over. The show isn’t ready, but the clock is ticking. This is the moment when even the most seasoned directors start questioning their choices, and yet, it’s also where the real artistry begins. Keeping rehearsals productive and positive in this stretch isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about leading smarter, managing momentum, and remembering that every great show hits turbulence before takeoff.

So how do you keep your cast moving forward when the energy dips and the homecoming parade is stealing your ensemble? You lead like a director and think like a coach. Let’s talk about how to do that.

1. Break the Routine Before It Breaks You

If rehearsals start feeling like clockwork, it’s time to shake things up. Students thrive on novelty and purpose. Change the rhythm: rehearse your scenes out of order, swap rehearsal spaces, or start with a “crew appreciation” day where the cast helps with set construction. When students see that every part of the process connects to the bigger picture, they stay invested. Repetition is essential, but discovery keeps them showing up.

A director once told me, “A run-through without curiosity is just cardio.” Make sure every rehearsal asks a question worth answering.

2. Define the Win for the Day

A productive rehearsal doesn’t mean finishing three scenes. It means achieving one clear, measurable goal. Maybe it’s “nail the emotional beat before the key change” or “transition from Scene 4 to Scene 5 without chaos.” Write down that goal. Say it out loud. Celebrate when you hit it. Students don’t just want to work hard; they want to know what they’re working toward.

When your cast understands the purpose of the day, you turn repetition into progress and fatigue into focus.

3. Give the Ensemble Ownership

When the ensemble tunes out, the production loses its heartbeat. Give them real responsibilities beyond standing and reacting. Assign “captains” for transitions, props or choreography clean-up. Rotate leadership. Let a new student run warm-ups a few times a week. Ownership turns participation into pride, and pride is contagious.

If you’ve ever seen a student beam because their idea for a scene change worked better than yours, you know exactly what I mean. That spark can reignite an entire company.

4. Protect Your Energy (and Theirs)

You can’t inspire when you’re running on fumes. Directors often feel the weight of every missed cue and unlearned line, but the cast reflects the tone you set. If you walk into rehearsal frazzled, they’ll match it. If you start with humor and warmth, they’ll follow. It’s not about perfection; it’s about presence.

Build in five minutes at the end of rehearsal to decompress; no notes, no corrections, just gratitude. Ask, “What went well today?” and mean it. It’s the fastest way to remind your students (and yourself) that progress is happening, even when progress feels slow.

5. Reignite the “Why”

By mid-October, it can be easy to forget why you do this. The late nights. The missed dinners. The endless notes. But theatre, at its core, is about community and courage. Take time to remind your students of that. Share a story from your own high school experience. Talk about the power of telling stories together. The work gets lighter when everyone remembers the reason behind it.

Because the truth is you’re not just directing a show, you’re teaching resilience, empathy and collaboration. And that’s worth every late-night cue-to-cue.

Curtain Call

Keeping rehearsals productive and positive in October isn’t about sprinting harder. It’s about steering smarter. Redirect when energy dips. Define daily victories. Give students agency. Protect your energy. Remind everyone why they fell in love with theatre in the first place.

Momentum isn’t magic; it’s management. And when you manage it well, even the most exhausted cast will find their way to opening night with joy, pride and a little bit of theatre’s favorite miracle: belief.