The London revival of Sunday in the Park With George has been cancelled following the exits of stars Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey. Producers Empire Street Productions confirmed the news Monday, stating: “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 revival of Stephen Sondheim’s beloved musical was set to debut at London’s Barbican Centre next summer, directed by Marianne Elliott. Grande was due to play Dot and Marie, while Bailey was billed as George Seurat. The production was first announced in January, offering Wicked fans a rare opportunity to see two of the film’s stars perform together live on stage.
The collapse began in August when Grande announced she was “taking a step back from visibility” after the conclusion of her Eternal Sunshine tour, citing “endless, ongoing public scrutiny” of her health. Bailey followed suit in early September, sharing on Instagram: “Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering. Marianne is extraordinary and one of my longest collaborators and friends. After much consideration, I have decided to also step back from ‘Sunday in the Park with George'”.
After Bailey’s exit, Empire Street said the show was being “reshaped” with casting discussions “actively underway,” but ultimately decided to shelve the production entirely . The musical first debuted off-Broadway in 1983 and last had a major Broadway revival in 2017, starring Annaleigh Ashford and Jake Gyllenhaal.
