Ariana Grande’s decision to step away from the public spotlight has now resulted in the cancellation of a major West End production.
The planned 2027 revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park With George will no longer move forward at London’s Barbican Centre after Grande and her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey both withdrew from the production.
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“The planned 2027 production of Sunday in the Park With George at the Barbican will no longer proceed as scheduled,” Empire Street Productions announced on Instagram. “Empire Street Productions will retain the rights with a view to presenting the production in 2028. Further details will be announced in due course.”
The announcement represents a major reversal for producers, who initially insisted the musical would continue without Grande and later Bailey.
Ariana Grande Steps Away
Grande was originally scheduled to play Dot opposite Bailey’s George in the revival, reuniting the two actors following their appearances together in Wicked and Wicked: For Good.
However, Grande abruptly withdrew from the production in August while announcing that she intended to take an extended break from public-facing work after completing her Eternal Sunshine Tour. The announcement came amid growing concern from fans over Grande’s noticeably thin appearance, fueling widespread speculation about her decision to step away from the spotlight.
Ariana Grande in the music video for Petal – YouTube, Ariana Grande
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“Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” a representative for Grande said at the time. “She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny.”
Grande later stressed that the decision was not “reactive or impulsive” and had been planned well in advance.
The day after Grande’s announcement, representatives for Empire Street Productions spoke to Variety, indicating that the production would maintain its original schedule.
“The production will open at the Barbican in summer 2027 as planned, and casting will be announced in due course.”
Jonathan Bailey Follows Grande
Those plans became considerably more difficult one month later when Bailey also walked away.
“Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering,” Bailey wrote while announcing his departure on September 1.
Jonathan Bailey – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, YouTube
Yet even with the mounting setbacks, producers maintained that the production was still moving forward.
“Work on the production continues,” they said in a statement. “Casting discussions are actively under way, and the creative team is reshaping the production around a new company while preserving the ambition and artistic integrity of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical.”
Less than two weeks later, those plans have been abandoned.
Production Could Return in 2028
The cancellation leaves the highly anticipated revival without its original stars and without its planned 2027 run, although Empire Street Productions has stopped short of abandoning Sunday in the Park With George altogether.
By retaining the rights and specifically pointing toward 2028, producers appear interested in eventually mounting a new version of the revival.
Ariana Grande singing Popular in Wicked – Peacock
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Whether any of the original creative team will remain attached is currently unclear.
For now, however, Grande’s decision to retreat from the spotlight has had consequences beyond her own schedule. Her departure was followed by Bailey’s, and a production that twice promised to carry on despite losing its stars has now lost its entire 2027 run.
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