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Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey Exit 'Sunday in the Park With George' London Revival
Confirmed
In Short: Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey have withdrawn from the planned London revival of 'Sunday in the Park With George', leading to its cancellation.
Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey have withdrawn from the planned London revival of the musical "Sunday in the Park With George", leading to its cancellation. Grande, who was set to co-star in the production, announced her departure in early August, citing a need to step back from public engagements amid ongoing scrutiny. Following Grande's decision, Bailey also withdrew, stating that he had made the choice to step back after his friend Ariana announced her departure.
The revival, initially set to be directed by Marianne Elliott, was to take place next summer in London. Grande and Bailey had been highly anticipated for their roles, with the production generating significant buzz in the theater world. However, the production faced a series of setbacks, with Grande's health and body being a source of public scrutiny. In a statement, Empire Street Productions confirmed that Grande had decided to step back from the production, while Bailey shared his own decision on social media, expressing unwavering support for his friend.
The cancellation of the London revival comes after a successful run of Grande's "Eternal Sunshine Tour," which concluded with 10 shows at London's O2 Arena. Grande's eighth studio album, "petal," debuted at the top of the charts, further highlighting her continued relevance in the music industry. Despite the cancellation, the show has a rich history, having premiered on Broadway in 1984 and seen several subsequent revivals, including a 2005–2006 UK production and a 2017 Broadway revival.
The decision to cancel the London revival was met with disappointment by fans and theater enthusiasts, who had been eagerly anticipating the performances. In a statement, Bailey expressed his support for Marianne Elliott, describing her as "extraordinary and one of my longest collaborators and friends." The cancellation marks a significant change for the production, which was set to be a major event in the London theater scene.
What's confirmed
- “After much consideration, I have decided to also step back from ‘Sunday in the Park with George.’” The production was initially set to be directed by Marianne Elliott.
What's still developing
- Among the snapshots, Grande playfully revealed that she got trapped in an elevator shortly after her final show.
- The North American arena tour opened June 6 in Oakland, Calif., and traveled through Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago and Montreal before concluding with 10 shows at London’s O2 Arena.
- In a second photo, Grande’s boyfriend, Ricky Álvarez, jumps in to help.
- El Grande Americano reaches the top of the mountain.
- Closing out night two of Lucha Libre AAA’s Triplemanía 34 event was Dominik Mysterio defending the AAA Mega Championship against El Grande Americano in a No Disqualification match.
- El Grande tried to take the fight to Omos, but the giant beat him down.
- Then, just earlier this month, Bailey also withdrew.
- Bailey then announced earlier this month he too was dropping out.