Alexander Sage Oyen
"Sang Along"
- When did you first discover theater/what was your first experience?
I was incredibly lucky to have two parents who are very well versed in the arts- my Mom, Lois Sage, is a cabaret singer and actress and my Father, Chris Oyen has been a show director at DisneyWorld for my entire life- I can’t remember my first theatre experience necessarily but I do remember seeing Cats when I was a child (my “guncle” Kelly Briggs was plating Old Deuteronomy) and being absolutely scarred by the Cats interacting with me.
- When/how did you become a writer? Is there a writer, show, or text that particularly inspired you?
I may be the single most ridiculous human being in the world, but when I was 13 years old I had just finished up a stint on a reality television show (VH1’s In Search of the Partridge Family). I was pretty down (I… didn’t win) and my parents took me to go see Wicked. The show absolutely changed my life and made me want to write songs for musicals. It honestly decontextualized what I even thought theatre was, which is crazy. I love Wicked.
- How do you describe your style/work?
I think that I pretty much just try write songs that make complete sense to me and that satisfy me as an audience member- and then just hope beyond hope that other audience members like what I like. I think every single writer succeeds most in what makes them most unique and authentic.
- What is most rewarding to you about writing music?
Handing the song to a performer and getting to hear what the song actually sounds like. I don’t think I ever really have a firm grasp on what the song should be/sound like or what rewrites I should make until I really hear it sung by someone who can interpret the song!