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Kenneth MacMillan was working on the choreography for the Royal National Theatre production of Carousel in October 1992 when he died unexpectedly, a month before the production was due to open. With the agreement of his widow, the RNT continued with the production which premiered in the Lyttelton Theatre on 10 Dec 1992. There are five files of material containing libretto and rehearsal script, hand-written notes by Kenneth MacMillan, correspondence, programmes, tickets and invitations for performances at the Royal National Theatre and further productions in London, New York and Japan. There is one original pen and ink and watercolour painting of the pas de deux, signed and dated 19 Oct 1994

A file of correspondence, faxes, production and audition lists for the first performance of Carousel at the Royal National Theatre. The material comprises:

1. Letter from Jennifer Till at Cameron Mackintosh Ltd forwarding recordings and libretto to Kenneth MacMillan. Full rehearsal piano score is being sent by Hammersteins in New York. 21 Jun 1990
2. Handwritten list of roles and who they understudy. Undated
3. Typed letter from Nicholas Hytner on NT headded notepaper, confirming production of Carousel and rehearsal start dates. 29 Aug 1991
4. Letter to Rosalind Chatto, at Chatto & Linnit, Kenneth MacMillan's agent, from Nick Starr, Assistant Producer at RNT, of the schedule for Carousel, 29 Jan 1992. The fax copy had phone and room number on the reverse (copied)
5. Handwritten fax from Kenneth MacMillan to Nicholas Hytner confirming that Bonnie Moore is available and eager to do Louise. Also expressing concern about the lack of dance technique seen in the first auditions, 8 Apr 1992
6. Faxed reply to above, original handwritten by Nicholas Hytner. Delighted with the news about Bonnie Moore. Discusses the balance required between dancers who can sing and singers who can dance, 9 Apr 1992
7. Fax from Suzanne Smith at the RNT enclosing the proposed advertisement for The Stage re the open audition for ensemble dancers/singers. Also encloses list of artists to be recalled in May, 9 Apr 1992
8. Letter from RNT and covering fax from Rosalind Chatto re RNT proposed agreement with Kenneth MacMillan. 23 Apr 1992
9. Letter from Rosalind Chatto enclosing a letter agreement from the RNT for Kenneth MacMillan to sign and return, 16 Jun 1992
10. Fax from RNT to Kenneth MacMillan re London City Ballet's request to allow Stanislav Tchassov to perform with them during the first four weeks of Carousel rehearsals, 18 Jun 1992
11. Letter from Christopher Millard, Press Office at the RNT re working on Carousel. Vogue magazine are planning to ask Lord Snowdon to photograph Kenneth MacMillan with Bonnie Moore, Stanislav Tshassov, Nicholas Hytner and Bob Crowley. Also, The Telegraph magazine are planning a feature on the rehearsal process with photographer Julian Broad and writer Fionnuala McHugh, 30 Jul 1992
12. Correspondence between Rosalind Chatto, Diane Benjamin Contracts Manager at the RNT, Lisa Alter at Rodgers and Hammerstein and Genista McIntosh Chief Executive at the RNT, re copyright in Kenneth MacMillan's choreography for Carousel, September/October 1992
13. Two pages of cast list and credits for Carousel at the Lyttelton Theatre, typed on pink paper, 6 Oct 1992
14. Carousel Production Meeting to view the model of the set, 9 Oct 1992
15. Statement from Nicholas Hytner re the RNT's decision to continue with the production of Carousel following the death of Kenneth MacMillan. Copy of fax, 30 Oct 1992

1. Libretto and Principal-Chorus Part (Complete Vocal Book) from the Rodgers and Hammerstein Theatre Library, New York
2. Rehearsal Script 31 Mar 1992. Typed and ring-bound. With phone and fax number for Nick [Hytner] in Japan, and his home fax number in London, in biro on front page

Kenneth MacMillan died suddenly, one month before the opening night of Carousel. The material in this file is for performances and events around the first night of the production at the Royal National Theatre, with some later correspondence. The material consists of:

1. An invitation to Lady MacMillan from the RNT and Jaguar Cars Ltd to attend a performance of Carousel on 2 Dec 1992 and a supper following the performance in Jaguar's Clam Bake Inn
2. Leaflet and tickets to the Carousel Winter Gala and Supper at the RNT, 8 Dec 1992, one ticket for the performance on 10 Dec 1992
3. Three programmes for Carousel at the RNT, undated but two for the first night and one for later in the run
4. Handwritten postcard from Nicholas Hytner to Deborah MacMillan thanking her for her support, 10 Dec 1992
5. Leaflet and two tickets for Platform Performance in the Olivier Theatre at the RNT on The Work of Kenneth MacMillan, 11 Dec 1992
6. Handwritten postcard from theatre photographer Zoe Dominic to Deborah MacMillan in praise of the opening night performance of Carousel, 11 Dec 1992
7. Handwritten letter from Eleanor Fazan to Deborah MacMillan thanking her for having suggested her to take over on Carousel following the death of Kenneth MacMillan, 23 May 1993
8. Photocopy of a press cutting, Allan Robertson meets Jane Elliott, dance director and assistant to Kenneth MacMillan on Carousel. The cutting is uncredited but dated 8 Sep 1993. It is accompanied by a postcard from Jane Elliott to Allan Robertson thanking him for his support following some negative press coverage.
9. Eight handwritten pages of notes [made by Allan Robertson] for his piece on Jane Elliott, n.d. [or made by JE]
10. Undated handwritten postcard from Nicholas Hytner to Deborah MacMillan wishing her a happy birthday and expressing his gratitude that through Carousel they have become friends
11. Two copies of RNT Platform Papers, one on Designers including Bob Crowley who references Carousel, one on Directors including Nicholas Hytner, 1993/1994

Typed and printed material recording the Service of Thanksgiving for the Life and Work of Sir Kenneth MacMillan held at Westminster Abbey, London on 17 Feb 1993, comprising

1. Four press cuttings: from The Times 21 Dec 1992 announcing the date of the service of thanksgiving and details of how to apply for tickets with two names and a phone number handwritten by Deborah MacMillan, from The Times and The Daily Telegraph 18 Feb 1993 Court Circular and Memorial Service, giving details of who attended, from The Observer 21 Feb 1993 with anecdote given by Nicholas Hytner during his address
2. Two tickets for admission to the North Lantern and two parking tickets with instructions for parking and display of the tickets
3. Two copies of the programme for the Service of Thanksgiving
4. One copy each of Pegasus, the poem read by Lynn Seymour with covering note from Deborah MacMillan to Peter Brownlee at The Royal Ballet, typed copy of Ninette de Valois' tribute with annotations by Deborah MacMillan and covering letter from Helen Quinnell, secretary to Dame Ninette, typed copy of Peter Wright's address with minor changes by him in pencil and biro, and typed copy of Nicholas Hytner's address with minor changes by him in black felt pen and annotation by Deborah MacMillan