Top Hat

A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Top Hat

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  2w, 4m plus ensemble

Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
Based on RKO’s Motion Picture
Book by Howard Jacques and Matthew White

This uplifting and entertaining romantic comedy, featuring 14 glorious songs by Irving Berlin, celebrates 1930s music and romance with elegance and panache.

Top Hat

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 4m plus ensemble
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Romantic Comedy
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! Three 2013 Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical
    Winner! 2013 Evening Standard Award for Best Night Out
Top Hat

Details

Summary

Top Hat brings the glamour of Hollywood's golden age and the glorious, tap-dancing magic of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers’ world-famous dance partnership to the stage. This 2011 musical, based on the 1935 film of the same name, tells the story of Broadway sensation Jerry Travers, who dances his way across Europe to win the heart of society girl Dale Tremont. An uplifting and entertaining romantic comedy celebrating 1930s song, style and romance, Top Hat features fourteen songs by Irving Berlin. These include some of his greatest hits such as “Cheek to Cheek”, “Puttin’ on the Ritz” and “Let's Face the Music and Dance”.

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History
Top Hat, released by RKO Radio Pictures in 1935, is widely regarded as the greatest of the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance musicals. The film contains five songs, with music and lyrics written by Irving Berlin. All five numbers became standards, making history when they simultaneously held five positions on the radio’s new “hit parade”. The stage adaptation made its world premiere on 16 August 2011 at the Milton Keynes Theatre before launching a 17-week tour of the UK. The production then moved to the West End, opening at the Aldwych Theatre on 9 May 2012.
Keywords
Performing Groups

Principals: 4 Men, 2 Women

JERRY TRAVERS – An American Broadway Star
HORACE HARDWICK – A British theatre producer
BATES – Horace’s personal valet (English)
DALE TREMONT – A young American society beauty
ALBERTO BEDDINI – An Italian fashion designer
MADGE HARDWICK – Horace’s wealthy American wife

Other characters are played by the company. These include:

New York
Broadway singer/dancers
American reporters
Jerry’s Manager

London
Concierge of The Thackeray Club
Members of The Thackeray Club
Hotel maids
Hotel porters
Cab drivers
Hotel doorman
Rich Lady
Rich Man
Daughter
Daughter’s fiancé
Hotel florist
Florist’s assistant
Hotel Guests
Policeman
Hotel receptionist
Hotel Manager
Assistant Manager
Chorus girls at The Prince’s Theatre
Featured singer at The Prince’s Theatre
George & Jerry’s dresser at The Prince’s Theatre
Master of Ceremonies at The Prince’s Theatre
Dancers at The Prince’s Theatre

Venice
Hotel Guests
Waiters
Waitresses
Hotel Manager
Speciality dancers
Hotel singer
Policeman
Fisherman

  • Time Period 1930s
  • Setting

    New York, London and Venice. 1930s.

  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

“Dripping with class and full of old-school humour.” – Time Out London

“A musical like this comes around once in a lifetime.” – Sunday Telegraph

“One of the most wondrous evenings I’ve had.” – Sunday Times

“Delicious, tuneful escapism.” – The Daily Mail

“Berlin’s genius is irrepressible.” – The Times

“With never a dull moment in sight, Top Hat entertains the crowd with its toe-tapping, stellar performances with timeless hits including ‘Cheek to Cheek’, ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’ and ‘Let’s Face the Music and Dance’.” – Wokingham Paper

“Top Hat is currently performing [at The Mill at Sonning] offering a touch of 1920s glamour and toe-tapping musical entertainment. The dancing is superb and accompanied by a fantastic musical score.” – Theatre and Art Reviews

“A musical full of elegance and style.” – Musical Theatre Review

“Irving Berlin’s music is evocative of the period but at the same time uplifting and jolly.” – Pocket Size Theatre

Videos

  • Top Hat: The Musical – UK Tour Trailer youtube thumbnail

    Top Hat: The Musical – UK Tour Trailer

Music

Music Samples

1. “Overture” – The Orchestra
2. “Puttin’ on the Ritz” – Jerry Travers & Ensemble
3. “No Strings (I’m Fancy Free)” – Jerry Travers
4. “No Strings (Reprise)” – The Orchestra
5. “I’m Putting All My Eggs in One Basket” – Jerry Travers
6. “Isn’t This a Lovely Day (To Be Caught in the Rain)” – Jerry Travers
7. “You’re Easy to Dance With” – Dale Tremont
8. “What Is Love” – Soubrette & Female Ensemble
9. “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails” – Jerry Travers & Ensemble
10. “The Piccolino” – Madge Hardwick & Ensemble
11. “Wild About You” – Dale Tremont
12. “Cheek to Cheek” – Jerry Travers & Ensemble
13. “Better Luck Next Time” – Dale Tremont
14. “Latins Know How” – Alberto Beddini
15. “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” – Jerry Travers & Dale Tremont
16. “Outside of That I Love You” – Horace Hardwick & Madge Hardwick
17. “I’m Putting All My Eggs in One Basket (Reprise)” – Ensemble
18. “Finale” – Ensemble

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Dance Requirements Difficult
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Medium
  • Chorus Size Large

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
30   Libretto-Vocal Book
1   Piano-Vocal (rehearsal)
1   Reed 1 – Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Piccolo
1   Reed 2 – Clarinet, Flute, Baritone Saxophone, Alto Saxophone
1   Reed 3 – Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
1   Trumpet 1 – dbl. Flügelhorn
1   Trumpet 2 – dbl. Flügelhorn
1   Trombone
1   Keyboard
1   Guitar/Banjo – Electric Violin, Banjo, Nylon String-Acoustic
1   Drums/Percussion – Drum Kit, Timpani, Piatti, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Triangle, Temple Blocks, Wood Block, Cowbell, Vibraphone, Silly Toys, Sandpaper Blocks, Coconut Shells, Bell Tree, Congas, Bongos, Mark Tree, Shaker, Vibraslap, Latin Cymbal, Castanets, Crotales
1   Violin 1 (1 player)
1   Violin 2 (1 player)
1   Viola/Violin 3 (1 player) 
1   Cello (1 player)
1   Bass
1   Full Score – in 2 volumes (stick conductor)
30   Libretto-Vocal Book
1   Piano-Vocal (rehearsal & performance)
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Add-Ons

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Authors

Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin

With a life that spanned more than 100 years and a catalogue that boasts over 1,000 songs, Irving Berlin (1888-1989) epitomized Jerome Kern’s famous maxim that “Irving Berlin has no place in American music – he is American music.” Berlin wrote scores to 13 Broadway musicals, ...

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Howard Jacques

Howard Jacques

Howard Jacques co-wrote the book for TOP HAT at the Aldwych Theatre which was nominated for seven Laurence Olivier Awards winning three including Best New Musical 2013 as well as the Evening Standard Award for Best Night Out. It played in the West End for almost two years and ...

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Matthew White

Matthew White
Matthew's writing credits include TOP HAT (R&H) which enjoyed a successful West End run at the Adelphi Theatre, toured Britain and Japan, and which won three Olivier awards including Best New Musical; MR STINK, a theatrical adaptation of David Walliams's best-selling novel (L ...
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