Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey Exit London Musical, Producers Cancel 2027 Revival

A starry West End revival of Stephen Sondheim’sSunday in the Park With Georgewill not happen as planned. Producers Empire Street Productions confirmed the 2027 run at London’s Barbican Centre is off after both leads exited the project. Ariana Grande, who was set to play Dot and Marie, stepped back in early August, saying she needed a break from public commitments following her Eternal Sunshine tour. Jonathan Bailey, cast as Georges Seurat, withdrew on September 1.

Bailey made his reasons plain, calling Grande one of his dearest friends and saying his support for her is unwavering. Producers had hoped to recast and keep the production on track, but ultimately decided the show could not move forward on schedule. The role of Georges Seurat was inspired by the real French pointillist painter whose work gave the 1984 musical its name.

There’s a silver lining for theater fans. Empire Street Productions is retaining the rights to the musical and intends to mount a production in 2028, so this may be a rain check rather than a final goodbye. The whole situation is a reminder that even the biggest productions are built on people, and people need room to breathe sometimes.

Would you buy tickets to a 2028 revival, or does a show lose its spark without its original stars? Let us know in the comments.