years, Hill was a prolific writer and sent Stratford East ideas for new productions right up until his death from cancer on 23 January 1995 aged 57. He died just two weeks before the opening of what was his final production, Zorro The Musical!, which he directed. Zorro opened on 14 February 1995, to rave reviews and immense box office success. Other information The Ken Hill Memorial Trust was set up after Hill died in 1995, to aid the Theatre Royal in supporting new talent in musical theatre. It now offers a biennial Musical Theatre Award to help nurture new talent in theatrical writers. The award in 1997 was a total of £5,000 for the winner – £1000 in cash, with the balance going towards the production costs of a week's showcase at the Theatre Royal, where many of Ken Hill's works were premiered. In addition, royalties were paid to the writer for the showcase. The trustees also offered small cash prizes to five runners-up. There are also "Ken Hill awards" for talented new playwrights and for Best New Musical. Some of Hill's plays, The Invisible Man, The Curse of the Werewolf, The Mummy's Tomb and his version of The Phantom of the Opera, are available to purchase from Samuel French Ltd. in London. The rights to produce these shows can also be obtained by theatre groups, professional and amateur, who wish to perform them. References External links Ken Hill's Phantom of the Opera fan website Theatre Royal Stratford East's official website Samuel French Ltd. in London control the performance rights for Ken Hill's The Invisible Man, The Curse of the Werewolf, The Mummy's Tomb and The Phantom of the Opera Playwright listing for Ken Hill includes links to purchase Ken Hill's published works. 1937 births 1995 deaths English theatre directors Writers from Birmingham, West Midlands Deaths from cancer in England 20th-century English dramatists and playwrights English male dramatists and playwrights 20th-century English male writers