The upcoming London revival of Sunday In The Park With George has been cancelled after A-listers Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey dropped out.
The Wicked stars had been due to reunite on stage in the Stephen Sondheim show at the Barbican next year. Last month, Grande announced she was pulling out of the musical as part of her decision to take a break from the spotlight after completing her Eternal Sunshine Tour.
Earlier this month, Bailey also revealed he was withdrawing from the show. Production company Empire Street Productions initially said it would continue as planned but on Monday announced the musical would no longer be staged in 2027.
The Statement
A statement from the company said: “The planned 2027 production of Sunday in the Park with George at the Barbican will no longer proceed as scheduled. Empire Street Productions will retain the rights with a view to presenting the production in 2028. Further details will be announced in due course.”
The musical, created by US composer Sondheim and playwright James Lapine, debuted on Broadway in 1984. It was inspired by French painter Georges Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, in which a fictional version of the artist is consumed by his work.
Grande’s Decision
Grande and Bailey played Glinda and Fiyero in the film adaptation of Wicked and its sequel, Wicked: For Good. Grande’s publicist announced in August that the singer and actress would be “taking a step back from visibility” after her recent tour ended.
A representative for the US star told People magazine that she “will be taking a step back from visibility” when the tour ends, after her appearances led to “endless, ongoing public scrutiny.” Grande’s physical appearance and health have been a topic of speculation in recent years.
She later told fans at a Chicago concert: “The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing. It is something that I had decided to plan… quietly, a long time ago. Boundaries need to be set, human beings do need a break sometimes.”
Bailey’s Exit
When Bailey pulled out of Sunday in the Park with George at the beginning of September, he voiced support for its director Marianne Elliott. “I so look forward to seeing what the team, and the two actors who will now take on these roles, will create with it,” he said. “I wish the very best to the entire company. I will be cheering them on as they continue with this production.”
Bailey previously collaborated with Elliott on the play Cock and Sondheim’s musical Company in the West End.
The Bottom Line
The London revival of Sunday In The Park With George has been cancelled after Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey dropped out. The production was set to run at the Barbican in 2027. Grande is taking a break from public life after her tour, while Bailey withdrew earlier this month. The production company plans to stage the show in 2028 instead.
