A Frog, a Stage, and a Second Chance.

I wrote School Is No Place for a Frog way back in the early 2000s. It was originally titled Teacher’s Pet. I submitted it to publishers and agents, but apparently, the time wasn’t right. At least, that’s what many of them told me. So, I let it simmer on the back burner for years.

Then, in March 2013, I had a brilliant idea.

Because I write in movies—that is, I see my characters’ antics dancing, or perhaps stumbling, across my brain—I decided to turn my picture-book manuscript into a stage play. I wanted to see my characters cavort across a real stage.

I worked on the script for months until I thought it was ready for the world. Then I approached the board of the Nutley Little Theatre in my hometown and asked if I could produce the play on their stage. I proposed that I would direct it, cast it, provide the costumes and props, and run the rehearsals.

I was thrilled when they agreed.

I cast the very best actors—adult actors who would portray grade-school children, a beyond-her-prime ditzy teacher who proclaimed each day, “Another wonderfully ordinary day!”, a clueless principal, a very frustrated frog mama, and a frog who desperately wanted to be a boy.

A frog who wanted more than his bog.

Now I’ve resurrected this picture-book manuscript, made significant revisions to reflect the changing publishing landscape, and am ready to send it out into the world again—hopeful that the time is right this time.

Below are select photos from the stage play, School Is No Place for a Frog, performed on October 5th, 2012 at the Nutley Little Theatre—to a standing ovation.

Notable Actors:

Penny Potenz-Winship — teacher
Don Sheffrin — frog
Marvin Krieger — principal
Marie — student
Janice Wolf — frog mom
Nelson — student
? — female student
? — male student


This was definitely not your "typically ordinary" day in any classroom.