by Zach Dulli, The Scene
You’ve cast the show, you’ve got your scripts, and the stage is set—literally. The curtain is weeks away from rising, and yet, there’s a growing knot in your stomach. The cast is missing lines, the crew is missing cues, and at least one student is missing from rehearsal altogether. High school theater directors, I see you. But don’t worry! This is not the part where I tell you to start panicking. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Whether you’re facing forgotten lines, backstage chatter, or outright mutiny (okay, maybe it’s just a little teen drama), here’s a roadmap to help overcome some of the most common production challenges high school theatre directors face.
The Cast Doesn’t Know Their Lines
We’ve all been there. It’s tech week, and you’re on your fifth coffee, but half the cast still thinks “off-book” is more of a suggestion than a deadline. Students not knowing their lines is painful, frustrating, and to be expected. It will happen, but here’s the secret: it’s fixable and often faster than you think.
- Try Chunking and Layering: Instead of cramming full scenes into their heads, try breaking the script into “chunks” or smaller segments. This evidence-based learning method, used by everyone from musicians to athletes, helps students retain more information by focusing on one small piece at a time. When they master a few lines, add more. Slowly but surely, they’ll start connecting the dots and feel more confident about the process.
- Partner-Up Early: Another potential solution is to have your cast partner up early in the rehearsal process. Not only does this give them a partner to practice lines with, but it also creates someone with whom they are accountable. As the director, it can also allow you to be made aware of who is struggling much earlier in the process and take action well before the stress of tech week or dress rehearsals.
Nonstop Backstage Chatter
You’ve got a killer show onstage. The lighting is perfect, the audience is on the edge of their seats, and then, from the wings, comes the sound of your tech crew discussing weekend plans like they’re in line at Starbucks. Backstage chatter is distracting and disrespectful and can also throw off the show’s timing and cues. As a director, it drives you crazy, but how do you stop it?
- The “Silent Zone” Rule: Start by establishing some boundaries—namely, a backstage “silent zone.” This isn’t a power trip; it’s an opportunity to teach professionalism. Lay out the importance of quiet backstage (respecting the performance, staying in character, keeping everyone safe, etc.), but make it fun! Create silent hand signals or even a silent backstage award for the student who stays in stealth mode the longest. Gamifying silence? Now that’s theater magic.
- Empower the Crew: Make sure your cast and crew know how essential a quiet, focused backstage is to the production’s overall success. Empowering your crew with specific responsibilities helps reduce idle chatter and gives them a stronger sense of ownership and responsibility, ultimately making them less likely to engage in any off-task behavior.
When Cast Members Start Acting…Well, Out of Character
High school students aren’t exactly known for their subtlety when things aren’t going their way. When egos clash, tensions rise, or someone’s TikTok fame starts outshining their onstage commitment, drama offstage can spill over into the performance. Since conflicts can and will arise quickly, how do you ensure these dynamics don’t derail your production?
- Set The Tone Early: From day one, focus on creating a positive, inclusive rehearsal environment. This increases student engagement and cooperation. At the start of rehearsals, lay down the ground rules about respect, both on and off the stage. Make it clear: the drama stays in the script. Talk to your cast and crew about how theater is a collaborative effort and that while soloists can sometimes shine, a strong ensemble almost always makes a production soar.
- Resolve the Problem- Quickly: When problems arise, find the time to facilitate conflict resolution early and keep discussions with as few cast and crew members as possible. Start by setting up one-on-one or small group meetings where the conflict can be addressed directly and all feelings can be expressed civilly. Resist the urge to involve everyone in the company unless absolutely necessary. No one loves getting in on the drama more than a group of theatre kids, but this is one cast party you should not invite everyone to.
Tech Week Woes
If you’re in the trenches of tech week, it can feel like the universe is testing your patience. The lighting isn’t right, sound cues are off, and someone’s still asking, “Wait, when do I enter again?” But trust me, this chaotic crunch is where the magic happens—it’s just a matter of seeing the light at the end of the (sometimes literal) tunnel.
- Slow It Down to Speed It Up: Tech Week overwhelms everyone. Don’t be afraid to slow things down and run each segment step-by-step. Break it down into smaller moments, tackle one problem at a time, and rehearse just the technical elements before adding actors back into the mix. Tech is like a puzzle—sometimes you’ve got to flip all the pieces over before it starts to come together.
- Build in a Cushion: If possible, add an extra day or two to your tech schedule. Nothing eases anxiety more than a little breathing room. And if you don’t end up needing that time? Everyone gets a day off!
When You Feel Like You’re Losing Control
Let’s face it—directing a high school production can be overwhelming. When it feels like you’re herding cats (or teenagers with the attention span of cats), it’s easy to start questioning why you signed up for this in the first place.
- Breathe and Delegate: Take a step back. It’s easy to get wrapped up in doing everything yourself, but remember you have a team. That’s why stage managers, assistant directors, and crew captains exist. Delegate responsibilities and give your students a chance to step up. Let them own their roles. You’ll find that it not only eases your workload but also empowers your students to take pride in the production.
- Lead with a Growth Mindset: When everything’s going off the rails, remind yourself and your students that it’s about growth, not perfection. The theater is about problem-solving in real-time, which means the very act of overcoming these challenges is part of the learning process. It’s okay to make mistakes, to forget a line, to miss a cue—that’s how you grow. Instill this mindset in your cast and crew, and you’ll see a shift in how they approach the rehearsal room.
Remember Why You Do This (And Why It Matters)
Sure, it’s easy to get bogged down by the daily grind of theater production — the line failures, the backstage banter, the drama that goes beyond the script. But every so often, take a step back and remind yourself (and your cast and crew) that what you’re doing here is bigger than just putting on a play.
You teach your students how to work together, handle criticism, rise above adversity, build resilience, foster creativity, and help them find their voice—sometimes literally. These lessons last a lifetime.
So when the lights flicker and the lines fail, remember this: The work you’re doing matters, even if it’s not always easy. Because theater, much like life, is a journey, and you’re leading your students through one of the most rewarding adventures they’ll ever take.
Break a leg, my friend. You’ve got this.
