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Sunday in the Park With George Revival Canceled Due to Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey Exits
Confirmed
In Short: The London revival of Sunday in the Park With George has been canceled following the departures of Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey.
Following the departure of Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey, the previously announced London revival of Sunday in the Park With George has been cancelled, according to reports from Broadwayworld and Businessupturn.
Jonathan Bailey, who was set to play the lead role of George, announced his decision to step back after his friend Ariana Grande made the same decision, as reported by Broadwayworld.
In a statement, Bailey expressed his unwavering support for Grande and his loyalty to the production, stating, 'Marianne is extraordinary and one of my longest collaborators and friends.
The production, which was set to premiere in 2027 at the Barbican, had already sparked concerns about its viability following Grande's exit in August, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter.
Empire Street Productions has postponed the Barbican revival to 2028, with plans to revisit the show for a possible future revival, according to Culture and 1340 KGFW.
What's confirmed
- “Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering," Bailey wrote in his statement.
What's still developing
- “After much consideration, I have decided to also step back from Sunday in the Park with George." At that time, the production confirmed that the show was still set to go on as scheduled with a new cast to take over in the lead roles.
- Sunday in the Park With George premiered on Broadway in 1984, starring Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters.
- Several subsequent revivals followed, including the 2005–2006 UK production first presented at the Menier Chocolate Factory, its 2008 Broadway transfer, and a 2017 Broadway revival, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford.
- Grande and Bailey were key figures in this highly awaited staging, attracting significant interest from fans of both the stars and musical theatre.
- Grande withdrew first, in August, after announcing she needed a break from public life following relentless scrutiny during her Eternal Sunshine tour.
- Bailey announced his own withdrawal approximately two weeks before Empire Street's postponement statement.
- The Hollywood Reporter noted that producers had initially moved to reassure audiences after Grande's exit, insisting the 2027 timeline was intact.
- Grande left the production in August, when she announced plans to take a break from public-facing work following the end of her Eternal Sunshine Tour.