May 17, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

‘I always have a blast putting the show together’

Mallory Wagner’s favorite part of a drama production may shock people.

It’s rehearsing.

“It doesn’t matter what scene we’re doing or how long we’ve been working, I always have a blast putting the show together with my drama family and to see our directors happy with all the work we’ve put in,” Wagner said. “The pride I get when we have a good run through really makes it all worth it.”

Wagner is portraying Fester in the Addams Family, today at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Tickets are $9 for adults, $8 for students and $7 for seniors and kids under 12 at the door.

“My character, Fester, is a free and easy, fun-loving, goofball that loves all things love,” Wagner said.

Wagner said the most challenging part of the production was learning the music. Wagner found learning the lines and developing the character easy. However, the only experience Wagner had with music was in band class.

“Jumping into a singing male lead was difficult to get the hang of at first,” Wagner said.

Wagner wasn’t as familiar with the Addams family as some of the other cast members.

“I knew it was a show that my parents watched as kids,” Wagner said. “That and there were recent cartoon movies about it, but that was it.”
Despite being unfamiliar with the show before rehearsals started, Wagner is now a fan. She described it as a “fun, exciting, love story staring the Addams family you know and love.”

“It is definitely a very funny show and we had a blast putting it together,” she said.

Banner
Related Posts

SJO “We the People” fundraising for nationals

January 22, 2019

January 22, 2019

Gage Atwood loves a challenge. The St. Joseph-Ogden High School senior challenged himself this year by joining two very different...

SJO fourth quarter high honor roll

July 9, 2019

July 9, 2019

High Honor RollFreshmenAllen, Addison Altenbaumer, Tyler Anderson, Kailyn Armstrong, Ella Atwood, Madison Behrens, Abigail Beyers, Andrew Bowln, Brandie Burkhalter, Mara...

Author to host talk at library

March 5, 2019

March 5, 2019

On Saturday, March 9th at 1 p.m. Maureen Hughes will be at the St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library, 201 N....

White reflects on time at PVO

May 26, 2020

May 26, 2020

By DAVE HINTONRantoul Press editor ROYAL — Earlier in the week, Vic White, retiring superintendent of Prairieview-Ogden school district, said...

SJO honors night recipients announced

May 27, 2019

May 27, 2019

The following students were honored in mid-May by St. Joseph-Ogden High School during the high school honors night. • EIU...

Grade school collecting items for food pantry

January 28, 2020

January 28, 2020

The students at St. Joseph Grade School are doing more than celebrating their 100th day of school—they are helping their...

For Schmidt, hard work pays off

July 12, 2019

July 12, 2019

Sammi Schmidt isn’t afraid of hard work. The future Illinois State Redbird was awarded the Gary Butler award at St....

‘As long as you put the effort into it, it can be achieved’

July 19, 2024

July 19, 2024

Logan Allen has loved Barry Manilow’s music his entire life. Allen’s mother was a huge Manilow fan. “When she had...

COVID cases not tied to schools

November 10, 2020

November 10, 2020

There have been no cases of COVID-19 traced to any of the schools in St. Joseph.   Grade school Superintendent...

Community Garage Sale dates set

February 26, 2019

February 26, 2019

The St. Joseph Spring Community Garage Sales will take place April 11-13. People wanting to place ads can email sromero@news-gazette.com....

Live at Ogden Village Board July 8

July 8, 2021

July 8, 2021

The Matanky Group is here saying they want to bring in a lot of business here to Ogden. He said...

Madrigals return to St. Joseph-Ogden

December 1, 2024

December 1, 2024

A Christmas tradition is coming back. The St. Joseph-Ogden Music Department is hosting a Madrigal Dinner on Dec. 7. 2024...

Mayor asks residents to decorate windows, sidewalks

March 30, 2020

March 30, 2020

The St. Joseph Record and Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges are asking village residents to decorate their front windows, driveways or sidewalks....

Lighted parade to take place tonight

December 4, 2021

December 4, 2021

’Tis the season in St. Joseph. The St. Joseph Women’s Club is holding a lighted Christmas Parade tonight at 6...

District asks residents to approve referendum

May 27, 2022

May 27, 2022

The St. Joseph CCSD #169 is asking residents to approve a tax increase. On June 28, the district is asking...

Comments
Leave a Reply