Send us a text

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance across time in this nostalgic exploration of Top Hat, the 1935 film musical that defined an era and continues to captivate audiences today.

We dive into Irving Berlin's extraordinary score, written specifically for the production rather than cobbled together from existing works. These songs—"Cheek to Cheek," "Putting on the Ritz," "Let's Face the Music and Dance," and "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails"—transcended their origins to become jazz standards that continue to be performed and recorded by countless artists. Many people recognize these iconic tunes without realizing they originated in this breakthrough film.

The conversation takes a personal turn as we reflect on how childhood dance lessons introduced us to these classic dance styles and songs years before we ever saw the original film. There's something magical about realizing these vintage routines and melodies were embedded in our muscle memory through early dance training, creating a connection to theatrical history that surprised us when revisiting the material as adults.

Looking forward, we share exciting news about the upcoming revival at Chichester Festival Theatre directed by Kathleen Marshall. Given Chichester's stellar track record of producing shows that transfer to the West End (like recent hits Oliver! and Half a Sixpence), this production promises to introduce Top Hat to yet another generation.

Whether you're a lifelong fan of classic movie musicals or discovering them for the first time, join us for this heartfelt celebration of Top Hat's enduring magic. Share your favourite Fred and Ginger memories with us on social media using #MusicalLyricalLingo!

End of MLL

Support the show

Don't forget to rate us, share with your friends and follow us on our social media channels.