Latest News
Open Auditions for History Comes Alive!
Love to act and love history? Frogtown Players is looking for talented local actors to portray famous historical figures for its educational program. Please send a resume, headshot, and a short video monlogue to Auditions@Frogtownplayers.org.
Lil’ Scupper’s Kids Club: A Fin-tastic Mermaid Adventure
The National Museum of the Great Lakes
May 21 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
May 21, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Calling all Lil’ Scupper’s!
Join us on May 21 at 11 a.m. for a fin-tastic morning in partnership with the Frogtown Players, a Northwest Ohio educational theatre company dedicated to inspiring young audiences through storytelling and live performance.
Do you believe in mermaids? Meet Tallulah — the Mermaid of the Great Lakes! Unlike ocean mermaids, Tallulah has never found her special gemstone — the one that makes her tail sparkle. When Turtle encourages her to search the Great Lakes, Tallulah bravely sets off on a journey, even as others question whether mermaids belong in lakes. Together, we’ll enjoy a lively read-aloud of Tallulah: The Mermaid of the Great Lakes by Denise Brennan-Nelson, followed by a hands-on craft where children can create their own sparkly mermaid tail to take home.
Lil’ Scupper’s Kids Club programs are designed especially for children ages 0–6, but all ages are welcome. This event is included with regular museum admission. Registration required. National Museum of the Great Lakes members and Museums for All participants (families receiving SNAP benefits) receive free admission.
The Blade – Frogtown Players Bring Troublesome Tot to Lourdes Stage
by Lillian King – click to read the story
From Sylvania Advantage
Frogtown Players to feature ‘Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook’ at Franciscan
The community theater group, Frogtown Players, will present “Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook” at the Franciscan Theater on March 6 at 10 am and March 7 at 11 am.
Tickets are $10 for the March 6 performance, which is for school groups and homeschool students. Tickets are $12 for Saturday, March 7. Tickets may be purchased by visiting frogtownplayers.org.
Written by Allison Gregory, based on the books by Barbara Park, “Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook” is a comedy that delights children of all ages. Frogtown Players began in 2024 as a small group of theater enthusiasts with a shared dream: to create an environment for children to learn and appreciate the arts. The group’s mission is to provide quality educational theater with local talent to the children, families and teachers.
From Toledo Parent
Frogtown Players Brings Educational Theatre to Children Across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan
February 11, 2026
Frogtown Players is a newly founded educational theatre organization dedicated to enriching arts education for children and families across Northwest Ohio and Southeastern Michigan. Established in Fall 2024 in response to community requests, the organization was created to offer a professional theatre program featuring adult actors performing for audiences of all ages. What began as a small group of theatre enthusiasts with a shared vision—to help children learn about and connect with the arts—has quickly grown into a regional program. Today, Frogtown Players offers children’s theatre performances, custom storytelling sessions and hands-on theatre workshops, all thoughtfully designed to meet educational goals while remaining engaging, accessible and entertaining. Through live performance, the organization strives to educate and inspire the audience.
A mission rooted in education and community
At the heart of Frogtown Players is a commitment to quality educational theatre using local talent. Educational outreach is central to the organization’s mission, with productions designed to complement classroom learning and spark curiosity. From classic stories that have stood the test of time to modern pieces that encourage thoughtful discussion, Frogtown Players aims to foster a deep appreciation for the arts in young audiences.
Why theatre matters for young audiences
The organization emphasizes the role of theatre in supporting academic, social and emotional development. Live performance helps enhance vocabulary and communication skills, encourages empathy and self-awareness, boosts confidence and fosters cultural appreciation. Frogtown Players believes these experiences can leave a lasting impact, inspiring a lifelong love of the arts.
They offer:
- Children’s Theatre Performances: 30–45 minute shows tailored to complement classroom or organizational events.
- Custom Storytelling Sessions: Tailor-made for educational needs, ideal for schools and special events.
- Professional Storytellers: Collaborate with educators to bring curriculum-aligned stories to life.
- Theatre Workshops: Hands-on workshops for all skill levels.
Upcoming events and performances
Frogtown Players will present Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook by Allison Gregory, based on the beloved books by Barbara Park, in March 2026 at The Franciscan Theatre at Lourdes University in Sylvania.
- School & Homeschool Performance
Friday, March 6 at 10am
Tickets: $10 each
Designed specifically for school and homeschool groups. - Public Performance
Saturday, March 7 at 11am
Tickets: $12 each
Open to the general public and families.
Bringing the Magic of Theatre to Classrooms and Communities
Frogtown Players continues to invite educators, schools and community organizations to bring live theatre into classrooms and events. By blending storytelling, performance and education, the organization is helping shape the next generation of theatre lovers. More information is available at frogtownplayers.org, or by contacting Kelby Sodeman at ksodeman@frogtownplayers.org.
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September 2025
Partnerships:
National Museum of the Great Lakes
The Frogtown Players board members Jori Jex, Kelby Sodeman, and Amy Spaulding-Heuring visited the National Museum of the Great Lakes to discuss and establish a mutually beneficial partnership. TFP was welcomed by Sara Smith, Director of Institutional Advancement, and Cris Shell, Experience Manager. We had great conversations about future programming opportunities, as well as touring the new event spaces. The Frogtown Players will be leading the Lil Scupper’s Kids Club program in May and September 2026. Lil Scuppers is a pre-school program that integrates storytelling and art with a nautical theme for pre-school children; it meets one Thursday morning a month in the fall, winter, and spring. The Frogtown Players is looking forward to working with the National Museum of the Great Lakes to further expand our mission of education and literacy.
August 11 and 14, 2025
Partnerships:
Lourdes University
The Frogtown Players worked with Nickolas Dietrich, Campus Minister and Resident Life Coordinator, to facilitate Resident Assistant (RA) training for the 2025-26 school year. The players improvised possible scenarios that the RAs could encounter, such as underage drinking, illicit drug use, roommate difficulties, etc. The scenes spurred conversations and discussion about how to handle these uncomfortable situations. The performers involved were Kevin Caudill, Anna Giller, Kamron Anthony, Patrick Boyer, and Hali Malecki. Board members Jill Reinstein, Jori Jex, and Amy Spaulding-Heuring organized the event.
May 6, 2025
The Frogtown Players produced their very first show The Tortoise and the Hare 2.0: This Time It’s Personal by Sean Abley. The play was the final production of Valentine School Days for the 2024-25 season. The cast performed two shows for nearly 800 school children, teachers, parents, friends, and families. The cast loved performing for such enthusiastic audiences.
Hop with us into the 2025-26 season for more great shows and events.
