The 2027 West End revival of“Sunday in the Park With George”is officially off. Ariana Grande was set to star as Dot and Marie at London’s Barbican Centre, with Jonathan Bailey playing Georges Seurat, but both leads exited the production before it ever opened. Grande announced in early August that she was stepping back from public commitments after her Eternal Sunshine tour, and Bailey withdrew on September 1.
Producers Empire Street Productions initially planned to recast, but two weeks after Bailey’s exit they confirmed the 2027 run will no longer proceed. Tickets had already been delayed from May to September to align with Grande’s tour schedule, so the production had been adjusting for months. In a statement to Variety, the producers confirmed the Barbican dates are off the table.
The silver lining: Empire Street is retaining the rights to the Stephen Sondheim musical and aiming for a 2028 production. Whether that happens likely depends on who they can attach next. Would you still see this show without Ariana and Jonathan in it?
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.