diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yaml b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
index 5b9a430..4f0a2d0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ jobs:
       with:
         version: v2.2.2
 
-    - run: npm ci
+    - run: npm ci --production
     - run: npm run build
     - run: npm test
 
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: deploy the director
       run: |
         rsync -vhamz --delete --exclude ".git" --exclude "node_modules" -e "ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no" ./ deployer@director.regis.gg:/home/deployer/app/
+        ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no deployer@director.regis.gg "cd app && bin/serverside/redeploy"
 
     - name: 🌎 download assets
       env:
diff --git a/bin/serverside/redeploy b/bin/serverside/redeploy
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..3920094
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/serverside/redeploy
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+#
+# this script is meant to be run on the director's production server.
+# do not run this locally in your dev environment..
+#
+
+npm ci --production
+
+pm2 restart director || pm2 start "npm run director --silent" --name director
+