School plays form some of the most memorable moments (both good and bad) of the academic careers of many students. If you're the teacher in charge of "putting together the play" this year you have a wonderful opportunity to provide some of the richest, most rewarding education to your students that it's possible to give, so long as you know what you're doing.
Sadly, many teachers don't know what they're doing, and create shows that their kids wind up hating. At best, they will still get the educational value of going through an unpleasant process, but at worst you'll turn them off of theatre for a lifetime. So in the interests of making school theatre enjoyable for all (including the audience!), here are some key ways for teachers to direct successful plays:
1. Knowledge is power. Make sure that you understand what you'll be doing, long before you ever post the auditions notice. There are no shortage of "how-to" books out there on the business of directing theatre, everything from the Phaidon Theatre Manual's Directing a Play to far more cerebral works like Stanislavki's An Actor Prepares. It doesn't matter whether you're directing a high school play or a multi-million dollar Broadway show - the fundamentals of the craft of theatre directing remain the same, and the more comfortable you are with those fundamentals the more confidence you will have in rehearsals. I'd also recommend reading up on the technical and production aspects of theatre production as well, even if you're lucky enough to have other staff members helping you in those areas. The more you know, not just about what you are doing but the sum total of what needs to be done, the better off you will be.
2. Prep time is your secret weapon. Use your preparation period for the show to think, plan and accomplish. Think long and hard about how you would like the show to look, and even longer and harder about how you're going to do that given then time, talent, space and resources available to you. Make plans, including a production schedule, which outlines the dates of rehearsals and performances, as well as when all technical steps of the production must be completed, and notes around the designs of sets, props, costumes, lighting and sound for the show. You should also make plans for what you would like to accomplish in each individual rehearsal, but be forewarned: your plans will change, so don't get too attached to them. Finally, accomplish as much as you can on the non-acting side of things before you start rehearsals, including any other major projects you have on the go. This play will more than likely consume your life for the next several weeks or months, and even the home front may suffer for it, so it's best to get any other potential distractions out the way now.
3. Make it fun. Remember, this is an extra-curricular activity for the students, and it is about them and their enjoyment of the experience. Yes, you will have some kids with professional aspirations, and it's important that everyone treats the process with respect, working hard to produce a show that will be worth the price of admission on opening night. But by the same token it's important to keep rehearsals light and fun, even if you're working on a serious play. Start rehearsals with ice-breakers, warm-ups and trust exercises, leading them yourself at the beginning but slowly letting the kids take over. Let them assist with the technical aspects of the show, help with publicity, and make sure everyone is there to help put up and take down the set. Most of all, let the kids have an ownership stake in the show, so they feel that they are not just doing "a play" but doing "their play." It's in that ownership, that sense of having accomplished something amazing, where the best memories will be made.
Finally, you should be having fun too. Directing a play is very rewarding, especially if you enjoy seeing kids achieve, and the atmosphere in a rehearsal is far more casual and interactive than in a class, so you can form a different kind of bond with your students. "Putting together the play" isn't an arduous task: it should be the most sought-after extra-curricular prize in the school, and with a little knowledge, a little prep, and the proper attitude, the school play can become one of the most satisfying moments of your career.