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Photographs of the ballet sequence in Carousel in production in Japan

In 1993 Kenneth MacMillan's one-act ballet The Judas Tree was nominated for the Best New Dance Production, and Carousel was nominated for the Best Musical Revival. This file contains Deborah MacMillan's handwritten acceptance speech, one typed letter to Deborah MacMillan detailing arrangements for the evening with one typed page of timetable, 10 Apr 1993, two printed invitations to the Champagne Reception and Celebration Dinner, two ticket envelopes, two ticket stubs, one printed brochure giving seating arrangement for the Celebration Dinner and two souvenir programmes.

Kenneth MacMillan first met playwright John Osborne in 1958 when he was invited to create the choreography for Osborne's musical The World of Paul Slickey. The correspondence in this file comprises

1. Two handwritten letters from John Osborne to Kenneth MacMillan explaining why the play he was working on for him has altered, both undated
2. Typed compliments slip on John Osborne headed note paper, signed John, 12.12.1958
3. Handwritten letter from John Osborne praising Romeo and Juliet and inviting Kenneth to supper on his return from Stuttgart. Also mentions a play that requires some choreography that he would like Kenneth's help with, on Woodfall Film Productions Ltd headed notepaper, 4.3.1965
4. Typed note from John Osborne to Deborah and Kenneth thanking them for remembering 'our little opening', on John Osborne headed notepaper, 27.2.1976
5. Typed letter from John Osborne to Kenneth MacMillan asking if he could improve the dance elements in his new play Dejavu. Also gives details of his poor health, with envelope, 18.5.1992
6. Handwritten copy of Kenneth MacMillan's reply to the above letter, explaining why he cannot help and sympathising with his health issues, in pencil, undated
7. Handwritten letter in reply to above expressing his sorry that Kenneth wasn't able to see Dejavu but pleased to hear he is doing Carousel. Explains some of the difficulties he is facing but happy to be in contact after so long, 21.10.1992

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

Handwritten notes by Kenneth MacMillan including blocking for first dance, comments on appearance and singing voice of various performers, ideas for sequences of dances

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

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

Following the performances of Carousel at the Royal National Theatre, the production transferred to the West End under Cameron Mackintosh Ltd, who later toured it to Japan. The production was also staged at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center in New York in 1994, under the direction of Andre Bishop and Bernard Gersten by arrangement with the RNT, Cameron Mackintosh and The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, and at The Theatre Under the Stars in Houston, Texas in 1996. This file contains:

1. Two invitations from Cameron Mackintosh to the party to celebrate the West End opening of Carousel after the performance on 15 Sep 1993. In envelope addressed to Lady MacMillan
2. Two programmes for Carousel at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center, New York, one for opening night on 24 Mar 1994, one undated but accompanied by a ticket for 16 Apr 1994
3. Card from Rodgers and Hammerstein with colour photo of W 44th St, Rodgers & Hammerstein Row, New York. The card is signed but the signature is illegible. Dated 24 Apr 1994. With envelope addressed to Lady MacMillan
4. Card from Andre Bishop and Bernard Gersten to Lady MacMillan hoping that she is pleased with their production and honoured that she is there, 24 Mar 1994. With envelope addressed to The Lady MacMillan
5. Letter from John V. Lindsay, Chairman Emeritus, Lincoln Center Theater, to Deborah MacMillan offering congratulations on Tony Award, New York, awarded to Kenneth MacMillan for his choreography in the revival of Carousel, 13 Jun 1994
6. Photocopy of fax from Herbert Ross and Isabel Brown to Deborah MacMillan, offering congratulations on 'Kenneth's Tony Award', 13 Jun [1994]
7. Handwritten RNT postcard from Richard Eyre to Deborah MacMillan on Kenneth MacMillan having won the Tony award for Carousel, 15 Jun 1994
8. Copy of two page fax from Cameron Mackintosh Ltd to Rosalind Chatto re Kenneth MacMillan's royalties for tour of the production to Japan, 22 Sep 1994
9. One programme for performances at the Theatre Under the Stars, Houston, Texas, in Feb 1996

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