[Carousel] Mille, Agnes de. (1905–1993)
Original Photograph Rehearsing "Carousel"
Original photograph of the important choreographer, shown rehearsing "'Billy Goes on a Journey,' the ballet she has designed for the new musical, 'Carousel,' with Jan Clayton (left) and Bambi Linn." Stamped March 25, 1945 and with the above newspaper caption affixed to verso. Some white in-painting and small crease to upper left corner, stamps and stickers to verso, else fine. 8.1 x 5 inches (20.5 x 12.7 cm.).Following the spectacular success of the first Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Oklahoma! (1943), the pair sought to collaborate on another piece. After some hesitation, they acquired the rights to Ferenc Molnár's play Liliom, about a Budapest carousel barker, and transplanted the setting to coastal Maine, adding a more hopeful ending. The musical required considerable modification during out-of-town tryouts, but once it opened on Broadway on April 19, 1945 - as with Oklahoma!, de Mille as choreographer - it was an immediate hit with both critics and audiences. Carousel initially ran for 890 performances and duplicated its success in the West End in 1950. (1580)
Unsigned Photograph Dance