How to Run Efficient Rehearsals

Normally, dress rehearsals jazz me (Claire) up for the performances, but there was one dress rehearsal that I lived through that I nicknamed Groundhog’s Day, because it went on. And on. And on.

Beginning at four, the director spent the next hour in the light booth tinkering with scrims and lighting cues. Meanwhile, the cast was lounging in the auditorium, sweating off 10 pounds of stage make-up, waiting for him to make up his mind.

When we finally began acting, it moved at a snail’s pace. Every five minutes, we’d be stopped, sent back two pages, and asked to try it again “a different way.” By the time we wrapped at 10 p.m., most of us were eyeing the toaster in the kitchen, seriously considering pulling a Bill Murray.

A huge gift to give to your cast is efficient, stress-free rehearsals. It preserves the energy and enthusiasm of your people. Here are a few key practices to keep in mind:

Keep Rehearsal Short

Especially in this day and age—when attention spans are shorter than Danny DeVito—you’ll get more out of focused sessions. Aim for an hour to an hour and a half. Break rehearsals into scenes and work intentionally, rather than running the entire play every time.

Start on Time

“But people always show up late!” That may be true, but in most workplaces, chronic lateness has consequences. I’m not suggesting you cut every tardy actor, but starting on time sets the standard. Arriving mid-scene is often embarrassing enough to encourage punctuality.

Have a Plan

Define your goals at the beginning, including when you expect everyone to be off-book (and how they must show up on time). Make sure you have blocking mapped out before you come. Know where the sets will be. Come with a lighting plan. Efficient directing equals efficient rehearsals.

Take Notes

If you’re anything like me, it’s tempting to stop a scene to tweak a line or adjust a gesture. But constant interruptions break momentum. Actors lose their place, fall out of character, or start performing cautiously, anticipating the next stop. Instead, take notes as the scene unfolds, then review and retry afterward without disrupting the flow.

One of my best theater experiences was working on the Sam Shovel plays—and that’s largely because rehearsals were efficient and low-stress. These Old-Timey Radio scripts only require five or six rehearsals before performing. Talk about efficient.

Run your rehearsals like a well-oiled machine, and your performances will follow suit.