Community Celebration Will Honor the Life, Legacy of Ken Page

ST. LOUIS — Friends, family and fans are invited to take part in a Community Celebration & Memorial for Ken Page, honoring the extraordinary life and work of St. Louis’ beloved theatre legend.

The joyous evening of music and memories will be held Friday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. at The Sheldon Concert Hall in Grand Center. This ticketed event is free and open to the public; ticket information will be available March 3.

Page, a beloved actor and lifelong St. Louisan, died Sept. 30, 2024, at age 70.

A Bishop DuBourg High School graduate, Page made his Muny debut in 1972 in the ensemble of South Pacific. He went from St. Louis to starring roles on Broadway, in London and in film, and his work was heralded throughout.

He made his Broadway debut as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the all-Black revival of Guys and Dolls and starred as Old Deuteronomy in the original Broadway company of Cats. Other Broadway credits include Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Ken) and The Wiz (Lion). In London’s West End, he performed in Children of Eden (Father) and My One and Only in Concert (London Palladium).

Page provided the voice for Mr. Oogie Boogie in the Disney/Tim Burton animated film The Nightmare Before Christmas and performed the score live around the world. His other film credits include Dreamgirls, Torch Song Trilogy and All Dogs Go to Heaven.

The Muny was Page’s artistic home, and he graced the stage in more than 45 shows, most recently as the Bishop of Digne in Les Misérables (2024). Since 2013, Page served as “the voice of The Muny,” his singular baritone welcoming audience members before each performance. He also voiced the theatre’s TV and radio advertisements.

Page received lifetime achievement awards from the Manhattan Association of Cabaret Artists, Project One Voice/Black Theatre, and the St. Louis Arts and Education Council.

The Community Celebration & Memorial for Ken Page, produced by The Muny, is organized by a friends committee that includes Carrie Houk, Mike Isaacson, Lana Pepper, Laura Peters, Greg Schweizer, Mary Strauss and Pat Vogelsang. 

For photos from Page’s career, visit the Muny Press Room.

Now entering its 107th season in St. Louis, The Muny is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to producing exceptional musical theatre, accessible to all, while continuing its remarkable tradition in Forest Park. As the nation’s oldest and largest outdoor musical theatre, The Muny welcomes more than 300,000 patrons each summer for seven world-class productions under the stars. Learn more at muny.org.