What are the best strategies for managing a large cast during rehearsals?

One thing I have found helpful is to share as much as possible in advance. I do my best to schedule the whole rehearsal period so that everyone has an overview of how we will be working. It helps actors to prepare accurately and also to pace themselves with learning so that they can be ready for each call with the specific sections we will be working on. It also helps to calm the nerves of actors playing characters whose 'big moment' doesn't come until the end of act 2 - they can see that there is just as much planning in the schedule for them as everyone else and we aren't going to run out of time! Of course - you also have to plot in 'catch up time' or unstructured sessions for play and discovery.

Humour, a big voice, kindness and regular communication with the large group as a group and also breaking the larger group into smaller groups that can be identified easily and so that the smaller groups know they have a smaller subgroup and give everyone a list of who is in the full group and who is in each smaller group and their title, so then when speaking to them they know what their smaller group is: it could be by the type of roles: Principles, Townsfolk, dancers. etc

Efficient scheduling is an absolute necessity. it prevents hanging around at rehearsal, and also communicates very clearly to the cast that you are on top of this and have their best interest at heart. It also helps the creative team to focus on what needs to be done, when and for how long.

I like to have the full rehearsal and performance to schedule to the cast as early as possible. Utilizing everyone's time as efficiently as possible. Never calling people to a rehearsal unless I know I will be using them the entire time. Making sure to leave room in the schedule to catch up on spots that might have not been finished yet. Most importantly, if we have finished what we were scheduled to do on a given night, send the cast home early!

These top 2 are excellent contributions. The directors that have planned ahead and created the way they will be working and breaking into smaller groups if you have the luxury of helpers are good ones. Depending on prior noted commitments,Posting and sticking to a schedule. Great concentrated work that sticks and doesn't need to be changed several times..these directors make the work easy to implement, remember and a joy to work on. Those that try several ways- moving people like props to see what "Looks good" are a big waste of time and energy.

I like creating a shared google doc with all rehearsal dates and times for the full run with all cast members. This way they can see changes in real time and then I send out the updated calendar each Sunday before the next week starts to remind everyone of the plan ahead!

Whatsapp groups, end of day emails from the DSM and a daily check in at the start of rehearsals keeps everyone in the loop and allows a safe space for actors and creatives to voice any concerns or highlight any potential issues.

I agree with the dividing up the groups of actors into scenes or numbers that work together so you aren't waisting time with performers who aren't needed. I think it's important that roles for crew are established at the beginning of a project so everyone is clear what they are responsible for.

Some of the best creative solutions you will find will come from a collaborative conversation with your key stakeholders in any project. I've found that problems create wonderful opportunities to evolve the work in ways you otherwise wouldn't have discovered.

Very rarely do I have a full scene blocked before I rehearse with the cast. I will have certain moments built in my head, but I want the cast to contribute their own ideas in building the scene before we get anything officially written down. More often than not, the cast will add new (and maybe even better) ideas that I would have never come up with on my own!

Enthuse your cast- get them as invested in the production as you are. Seek out their advice and opinions, allow time for company discussions, don't skimp on the warm ups , use efficient scheduling and man management to make sure there is very little down time. Make sure all assistants, choreographers, MDs, even design team are being used throughout the daily process so that there is a constant flow of creative energy.

Seek and accept help from reliable people. In the context of educational theatre, this may look like finding other staff or faculty members that have special skills or interests such as sewing (costumes!), graphic design (marketing!), construction (set!), 3D printing (props!), etc. Extend the search to trustworthy parents and local community members as well - you never know what valuable connections can be made until you try! Offering advertising in your program or social media as compensation can be a great incentive to draw talent out of the woodwork.