December 27, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

‘I love everything about our new space’

The drama program at St. Joseph-Ogden High School has a new home.


“It means a lot to this program and just fine arts in general,” said Drama Director Chandler Dalton.


The former gym is now a fully functioning auditorium with state-of-the-art lighting and sound, an actual stage and seating for 491 people.


“We no longer have to share the space with wrestling in the winter and can work longer on the stage to perfect our performances,” Dalton said. “I no longer feel like I have to rush to throw a show together because another activity needs to gym or having to wait until a sports season is over to be in there.”
Dalton said there is a lot to love with the upgrades including a motorized curtain, new LED lights, having a bigger stage to work on and comfortable seats.


“I love everything about our new space,” she sails.


Dalton said the drama students love the new space. On March 3 they will officially the spring musical set onto the stage.


“The students can’t wait to start practicing on the stage,” Dalton said. “The drama kids have been kept up to date on the whole process. Mr. Brooks took them in there back in October and it was a pretty cool experience for them.”

in Schools
Banner
Related Posts

St. Joseph Middle School 7th grade honor roll

June 7, 2023

June 7, 2023

LAST NAME FIRST NAME Aase Kira Alexander Ava Atwood Miles Barton Lucas Beckett Coleton Cavanaugh Blake Cler Hunter Combs Alivia...

Should children wear masks in school? Parents in St. Joseph weigh in

February 11, 2022

February 11, 2022

Earlier this week, St. Joseph Grade School, St. Joseph Middle School and St. Joseph-Ogden High School changed their decisions to...

Longview Bank helps area schools

July 15, 2020

July 15, 2020

Longview Bank is helping local schools. The bank donated $2,500 to eight school districts. Shiloh, Villa Grove, Unity, Heritage, St....

SJO 4th quarter honor roll

July 11, 2023

July 11, 2023

FRESHMENAden, CarolineAtwood, McKenzieBell, AdalynClark, WadeCoffey, ChristopherCrozier, CadeDaly, NathanDwyer, CalebFitch, ParkerFranklin, WilliamGoodwin, BrandonHale, CharlesHardimon, EricaHollingsworth, BraydenHood, BryannaHouchens, BrysonJackson, NickJohnson, JordanKates, MalachyMcComas,...

SJO Drama department is ‘All Shook Up’

April 5, 2019

April 5, 2019

“All Shook Up” has been almost a year and a half in the making. St. Joseph-Ogden Drama Director Chandler Dalton...

School making changes to parking lot availability

July 4, 2024

July 4, 2024

St. Joseph Grade School is making some changes to the availability of its parking lot. The district recently placed letters...

SJO first quarter high honor roll

November 14, 2023

November 14, 2023

Freshmen Ahart, LillianBarbee, ZhouBenoit, ZacharyBowlin, AlecBurnett, ColinClark, ElizabethCrider, AbigailDahl, HaydenDavis, IrisDitchfield, NickDowns, JustinFarber, MadisonFarney, NathanielFranzen, NolanGraham, SkylerHammond, AnnaHarbourt, MarkHarris, NicholasHess,...

Hallett is new SRO in place at St. Joseph, PVO schools

September 10, 2019

September 10, 2019

Champaign County Sheriff’s Deputy Shawn Hallett has always held the police in high regard. “As a child, I remember having...

St. Joseph Middle School announces 8th grade honor rolls

April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

8th GRADE HIGH HONORS McGwire Atwood Kaytlyn Baker Olivia Baltzell Tyler Burch Ariana Chambers Maddux Carter Aiden Cromwell Zachary Dahman...

“It couldn’t be done” read by Erica Guelfi

June 16, 2020

June 16, 2020

It Couldn’t Be DoneBY EDGAR ALBERT GUESTSomebody said that it couldn’t be done      But he with a chuckle repliedThat “maybe it couldn’t,”...

SJO Fall Athletic Awards

November 15, 2019

November 15, 2019

CROSS COUNTRY-BOYS MOST VALUABLE-2019 – Brandon Mattsey MOST IMPROVED – 2019 – Logan Wolfersberger TIM MIES EFFORT AWARD-2019- Charlie Mabry...

SJO to host event for seniors

April 1, 2021

April 1, 2021

The administration at St. Joseph-Ogden High School wants to give their seniors some sense of normalcy.   “The decision to have...

Masks not optional in St. Joseph schools; PVO allows masks to be optional

February 7, 2022

February 7, 2022

St. Joseph-Ogden High School Superintendent Brian Brooks is asking the community for patience.In an email sent to parents Sunday, the...

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...

St. Joseph Middle School 7th grade honor roll

November 14, 2023

November 14, 2023

FIRST NAME LAST NAME Ramsay Arnold Henry Beeler Adam Bello Teagan Blacker Bailey Blakley Nora Buckley Grant Clark Logan Crider...

Comments
Leave a Reply