Sports seasons at Brighton High School can be grueling with late-night games or early-morning practices, but many don’t know about how demanding participating in the BHS musical can be. On Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, the entire on-stage and back-stage cast had a 14-hour rehearsal to work out all of the blocking and set movements for their production of Disney’s “Frozen” musical, also completing their first full run-through of the show.
The aptly-named “all-day rehearsal” is a Brighton musical tradition that sets the musical program apart from other high schools. Brighton musical productions are considered by many to be a “Broadway-level” show among high school productions, and it’s the attention to detail and hard work of the cast that can only be achieved with a tradition like the all-day rehearsal that makes the show professional-level. “All-day,” as it is called by the cast, is when the tech elements and set pieces are added to a rehearsal and when the cast does their first full run of the show. This is an exciting day for the cast and directors to see everything come together and get an idea of what they still have to work on before opening night.
The rehearsals leading up to All-day can come with mixed feelings. Many new members in the program dread the fourteen-hour rehearsal, but the time always ends up going by faster than expected when the directors make the day fun. This year, the All-day activities included “Frozen”-themed prizes, encouragement to sit with new castmates at lunch and dinner, a mini snowman-building station and the drawing for the “Secret Encourager” tradition. Secret Encourager is a tradition to help the musical cast cheer each other up and bring the cast together during a demanding time. Each person in the cast who chooses to participate secretly draws a name of a castmate to give gifts or notes to during the weeks leading up to the performances.
Because they spend so much time together, including long days and many late school nights, the musical cast builds strong relationships. Both the on- and off-stage cast can be seen at many rehearsals helping each other with homework, practicing lines and dances or just hanging out.
Sophomore Julie Swain said her favorite part of all-day rehearsal “has gotta be bedazzling with my friends in the lobby. I just like to hang out with everyone.”
Though a fourteen-hour day can seem impossible to get through, when they’re working on something they love with a community that supports them, the “Frozen” cast will be able to put on an incredible show by supporting each other along the way.
Sophomore Sydney Kovacs said she enjoyed all-day rehearsal and is looking forward to more because she likes to “spend time with my castmates. That includes when I’m not on stage but also when I’m on stage.”
Every piece that goes into a Brighton musical production is important. All-day is when all the pieces begin to fall into place that make the show magical: the costumes, makeup, set design, advanced tech, live orchestra and, of course, the hard work of the onstage cast.
Different shows can take a different amount of effort depending on the number of set movements or tech elements that need to be added. “Frozen”’s All-day went smoothly, with the cast being able to get through an entire run while still having time for a dance party and “snowball fight” at the end to celebrate all their hard work.
Freshman Leah Thelander, who is participating in her first Brighton Musical, said her favorite part of all-day rehearsal was “the snowball fight at the end,” and her favorite part about participating in the musical is “the community that you build.”
The musical is still a month out from opening night of “Frozen” on March 13. Additional shows will be held on March 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22. Tickets start at $17 and can be found at https://brightonmusical.com/buy-tickets.
