From Spirit to Spirit: A Conversation with Ken Page

Ken knew exactly how he wanted to sit for the interview, which meant resetting all the lights and cameras very quickly. Normally, a last-minute change like that would feel stressful—but Ken was so kind about it. So confident. And he was right. The shot worked perfectly.

What followed was one of my favorite interviews I’ve ever had the privilege to conduct. We talked about dance, theatre, writing, and the importance of art in people’s lives.

Many know Ken as the legendary voice of Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas, or from his standout performances on Broadway in Cats, Ain’t Misbehavin’, and Guys and Dolls. But beyond the spotlight, he was a thoughtful artist, a proud St. Louisan, and someone who truly understood the power of performance to connect, heal, and inspire.

His interview later became my inspiration for a script I wrote for Saint Louis Dance Theatre’s rebrand. Not long after finishing that script, Ken passed away.

The footage from his interview had been archived for a while, and his beautiful words—and that unmistakable voice—had only been heard by me. I reached out to Saint Louis Dance Theatre and asked if we could create a tribute film. They loved the idea. The same night we premiered the rebrand film he inspired—we also premiered this tribute in his honor.

I had hoped we’d get the chance to chat again. But he’s gone too soon.

I am grateful to have crossed paths with Ken Page—and proud to help preserve a small piece of his legacy.