Nice Work's Kristen Beth Williams to Romance Gavin Lee as New Star of the West End’s Top Hat

The West End musical Top Hat has announced new stars for 2013. Previously reported star Gavin Lee (Mary Poppins) will be joined by Kristen Beth Williams (Nice Work If You Can Get It), who is taking on the Ginger Rogers role of Dale Tremont. Alex Gaumond (Legally Blonde, We Will Rock You) and Clive Hayward (Private Lives) will also join the cast as as Alberto Beddini and Horace Hardwick, respectively. Current stars Vivien Parry and Stephen Boswell will continue in the roles of Madge Hardwick and Horace’s valet Bates, respectively. The musical runs at the Aldwych Theatre.

In Top Hat, tap dancer Travers (Lee) arrives in London to appear in his first West End show. Travers meets the irresistible Dale Tremont (Kristen Beth Williams), the girl of his dreams, and follows her across Europe in an attempt to win her heart.

The stage version of the classic film features five Irving Berlin classics from the original movie—“Isn’t This A Lovely Day,” “Cheek To Cheek,” “No Strings,” “Piccolino” and the title song, “Top Hat (White Tie And Tails)”—as well as additional songs from the Berlin catalog like “Let’s Face The Music And Dance” and “I’m Putting All My Eggs In One Basket.” With music and lyrics by Berlin, Top Hat is based on the screenplay by Dwight Taylor and Allan Scott and adapted for the stage by Matthew White and Howard Jacques.

The ensemble features Michelle Andrews, Caroline Bateson, Jeremy Batt, Charlie Bull, Alan Burkitt, Matthew Cheney, Louise Davidson, Russell-Leighton Dixon, Matt Gillett, Jonny Godbold, Ian Goss, Fenton Gray, Alyn Hawke, Lauren Jade, Paul Kemble, Jenny Legg, Martin McCarthy, Grace McKee, Debbie Paul, Holly Rostron, Callum Train, Lois Urwin, Graham Vick, Alexandra Waite-Roberts and Aron Wild.

Set designs are by Hildegard Bechtler, with costume designs by Jon Morrell, lighting design by Peter Mumford, musical direction by Daniel Jackson, musical supervision by Richard Balcombe, new orchestrations by Chris Walker and sound by Gareth Owen. The musical opened on the West End in April 2012 after having completed a sold-out U.K. tour.

Click below to get a glimpse of the old fashion musical featuring the original West End cast.