The highly anticipated London revival of Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical Sunday in the Park with George has been officially cancelled following the high-profile departures of lead stars Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey. Producers confirmed that the planned production, which was set to open at the Barbican in 2027, will no longer proceed as scheduled.
The project had initially generated massive excitement among musical theatre fans when the Wicked co-stars confirmed casting rumours earlier this year. However, plans began to unravel in August when pop superstar Grande announced her decision to step back from the production in order to take a much-deserved break from public-facing work and visibility.
At the time, production company Empire Street Productions voiced full support for Grande's decision and indicated that the show would move forward with its summer 2027 opening as planned. The situation shifted dramatically earlier this month when Bailey confirmed his own departure from the role of George. In a social media statement, the actor expressed unwavering support for his close friend Grande and long-time collaborator, director Marianne Elliott, while explaining his decision to step down.
Following Bailey's exit, producers released an official statement confirming the cancellation of the 2027 run. Empire Street Productions noted that they will retain the theatrical rights to the musical with a view to presenting the revival in 2028 instead, with further details regarding future casting and production dates to be announced in due course.
This marks the second major setback for a West End revival of Sunday in the Park with George in recent years. A previous London production starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford was postponed indefinitely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fans will now have to wait until at least 2028 to see Sondheim's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece return to the London stage.
