January 20, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

5 questions with Mallory Wagner

Mallory Wagner plays Jay in St. Joseph-Ogden’s “The Descendents”. We asked Mallory five questions before the final show today at 2 p.m. Here are the answers.

What is Jay like?
Jay is a rough-housing, tough, stealing jerk who ultimately realizes that a team and friendship is more important than his preconceived values.

Was it challenging doing a play that people are so familiar with?
Honestly, no, because I was so familiar with it. I knew what was required of me and that made it easier to get a handle on what I needed to do. It was a little nerve-racking getting into costume for the first time and realizing I’m not exactly like the Jay in the movie and trying to get over that was probably the hardest part. It was helpful realizing that I can take the character and make it my own.

What was the most challenging part of the production?
Learning all the dances. Alayna and I are the only ones in every big dance number, so showing up and having the energy to learn it all and do it well was the most difficult, not to mention, remembering it all. But it was definitely worth it!

What was your favorite part?
Probably getting to jump around on stage with my friends was my favorite part. Being able to look around and see the people I love smiling and dancing, having fun. That, or getting to see kids’ eyes light up when they see their favorite characters. We got to sign autographs, it was really cool! I felt like a Disney Princess!

What can people expect from the play?
A cheesy, heartwarming story about breaking down stereotypes. It was a lot of fun making, so it should be a lot of fun to watch!

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