St. Louis, MO — There's probably no show more fitting to close the Muny's centennial season than Meet Me in St. Louis, which made its world stage premiere at the Muny in 1960.
St. Louisan Ken Page plays Grandpa Prophater.
He said, "To get to do it is sort of a watermark isn't it? To be from St. Louis, started at the Muny, it's the last show of the 100th season, to get to be in it is wonderful."
The musical was last on stage at the Muny in 2009. This time around, they updated the original stage version, by adding some more pizzazz, making it similar to the 1944 film.
Ken said, "They did rework it because the original version was done here many, many years ago and there's been a couple of versions. I think one played in New York at some point. And this is the sort of an amalgam of all the different versions, made to be the best it could be."
Meet Me in St. Louis is set in the summer of 1903, as the Smiths wait for the grand opening of the 1904 World's Fair. Hits like the Trolley song and the title number will have you dancing in your seat. But this production also includes several songs new to the stage adaptation of Meet Me In St. Louis. One thing that remains the same is the story.
Ken said, "The story has not changed from the original story. So if you're familiar with the film, you're familiar with the story."
For actor Ken Page, this musical is extra special because it's his 40th show at the Muny.
"To be part of the 100th season of which I was in since 1973. There were years in between I wasn't here, but I've been back twenty some years. But to get to do Meet Me in St. Louis as the last show of the 100th anniversary, for me it's very personal," he said.
Meet Me in St. Louis is now on stage through August 12th
