Top Hat

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Top Hat: A West End Dance Extravaganza

"Top Hat" premiered in London’s West End at the Aldwych Theatre on April 19, 2012, with its official opening on May 9, following a UK tour kickoff at Milton Keynes Theatre on August 16, 2011. Based on the 1935 RKO film starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, this musical features music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, a book by Matthew White and Howard Jacques, and direction by White. Produced by Kenny Wax, it ran until October 26, 2013, totaling over 500 performances. Winning three 2013 Laurence Olivier Awards Best New Musical, Best Choreography (Bill Deamer), and Best Costume Design (Jon Morrell) it dazzled with its tap-dancing spectacle. After closing, a 2014-2015 UK and Ireland tour followed, with a revival set for Chichester Festival Theatre in July 2025, directed by Kathleen Marshall, extending its legacy of 1930s elegance.

A Misadventure in Love and Tap

The story follows Jerry Travers, a Broadway star arriving in London to perform in a show produced by Horace Hardwick. While rehearsing a tap routine in his hotel room, he disturbs Dale Tremont, a model sleeping below, sparking an instant attraction. Dale mistakes Jerry for Horace, who’s married to the sharp-tongued Madge, leading to a comedy of errors. Pursuing Dale to Venice with her suitor, Italian designer Alberto Beddini, Jerry navigates misunderstandings amplified by Horace’s valet Bates before winning her heart with a dance under the stars. This romantic farce, rooted in the film’s screwball charm, celebrates love’s triumph over confusion, all set to Berlin’s infectious rhythms.

A Score of Timeless Berlin Hits

Irving Berlin’s music elevates "Top Hat" with classics from the film “Cheek to Cheek,” “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails,” “Isn’t This a Lovely Day?” plus added gems like “Puttin’ on the Ritz” and “Let’s Face the Music and Dance.” Orchestrated by Chris Walker and supervised by Richard Balcombe, the 15-piece band brought 1930s Hollywood to life, with a 2012 cast album preserving the magic. Bill Deamer’s Olivier-winning choreography tap, ballroom, and Busby Berkeley-inspired routines pairs seamlessly with numbers like “The Piccolino,” though some critics found the second act’s pacing lagged. The score’s effervescent joy, hailed as “vintage champagne” (The Telegraph), remains its beating heart.

A Cast Stepping in Style

The original West End cast starred Tom Chambers as Jerry Travers, channeling Astaire’s finesse, with Summer Strallen as Dale Tremont until Charlotte Gooch took over in November 2012. Gavin Lee joined as Jerry in February 2013, alongside Kristen Beth Williams as Dale, Clive Hayward as Horace, and Alex Gaumond as Alberto later replaced by Russell-Leighton Dixon. Vivien Parry played Madge, with Stephen Boswell as Bates. The 31-strong ensemble, backed by Deamer’s dazzling steps and Jon Morrell’s award-winning costumes, earned praise Astaire’s daughter called Chambers “wonderful.” Berlin’s daughters lauded the “beautiful production,” a nod to its faithful yet fresh take on their father’s work.

A Glittering West End Legacy

After its 17-week UK tour, "Top Hat" settled at the Aldwych for nearly two years, closing earlier than its extended April 2014 booking due to shifting audience tastes. Its three Oliviers and Evening Standard’s “Best Night Out” award underscored its triumph, outshining peers like “The Bodyguard” in accolades if not longevity. The 2014-2015 tour hit 25 cities, from Wimbledon to Belfast, while Japanese Takarazuka Revue stagings in 2015 and 2022 broadened its reach. The 2025 Chichester revival, with Marshall’s Tony-winning touch, promises renewed glamour. As of March 2025, "Top Hat" endures via Concord Theatricals licensing a West End jewel of tap, romance, and Berlin’s timeless tunes.