We had 2 casts and one play: "As You Like It." Practices mostly took place before school.
We still took 3+ weeks in class to research Shakespeare's life and times and to become familiar with the story of "As You Like It." Feel free to ask the students about Queen Elizabeth, the Globe Theatre, the plague, bear-baiting, or social customs of 16th Century England.
Everything came together so nicely, and the play was a huge success!