Farewell to Ken Page, the Legendary ‘Voice of The Muny’

The Muny family is heartbroken by the passing at age 70 of our beloved colleague, friend and “voice,” the legendary Ken Page. He died Sept. 30 at his home in St. Louis.

A Bishop Dubourg High School graduate and longtime St. Louisan, Ken 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. But The Muny was his artistic home, and he graced our stage in more than 45 shows, most recently as the Bishop of Digne in our 2024 production of Les Misérables.

Since 2013, he served as “the voice of The Muny,” his singular baritone welcoming audience members before each performance. He also voiced our TV and radio advertisements.

“This is a profound, painful loss — Ken meant everything to this theatre, and to me,” said Muny Artistic Director & Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. “His gifts were singular, supreme and treasured by audiences around the world, but no more than at The Muny.

"On this sad day, I hold onto the memory of his last role on our stage: The bishop in Les Misérables, a gentle man who asks us to live in kindness and forgiveness and to find a higher purpose as we journey through life. That was the gift Ken also gave everyone in his life, and I’m forever grateful for the many ways he gave it to me. Each night, at the very end of the curtain call for Les Misérables, Ken would raise his hands and silently bless the entire company and then the audience. We’ll all live in that blessing.”

Ken’s talents are known far beyond St. Louis. He provided the voice for Mr. Oogie Boogie in the Disney/Tim Burton animated film The Nightmare Before Christmas and has performed the score live at The Hollywood Bowl, Barclays Center NY, LA’s Banc of California Stadium, Glasgow, London (SSE Arena, Wembley), Dublin and Tokyo. His other film credits include Dreamgirls, Torch Song Trilogy and All Dogs Go to Heaven.

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: Children of Eden (Father), My One and Only in Concert (London Palladium).

Ken is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Manhattan Association of Cabaret Artists (MAC), Project One Voice/Black Theatre and the St. Louis Arts Foundation.

“Ken Page — through his excellence, his poise and above all his remarkable spirit — was so much more than an icon,” said Muny President & CEO Kwofe Coleman. “He cared deeply for his work but valued most the people who had the gift of knowing him. He was generous with both his remarkable talent and his boundless love. When he hugged you, you know he meant it. I have personally never known The Muny without Ken Page, and while I struggle, as many of us are today, to process that reality, my heart is flooded with memories of Ken. The indelible mark he leaves here at The Muny is present in every corner of this theatre — fitting for a man whose voice did the same for decades. Rest well, my friend. We will miss you.”

Ken was loved by all who worked with him, onstage, backstage and in the offices. To the young artists who had the privilege of meeting him, he was an inspiration, and he believed in The Muny and its mission.

We will all miss Ken so very much. Love, light and joy.