The London production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park With George” will not move forward as originally planned. Empire Street Productions announced that the 2027 revival at the Barbican Centre has been shelved, though the company indicated it retains rights to potentially stage the production in 2028.
The cancellation follows the departures of both leading actors. Pop star Ariana Grande, who was set to play dual roles as Dot and Marie, withdrew after her “Eternal Sunshine” tour concluded. She cited a need to step back from public visibility due to ongoing health-related scrutiny. Actor Jonathan Bailey, cast as George Seurat, exited the production earlier this month, though he expressed optimism about future performers taking on the roles.
The musical, which premiered off-Broadway in 1983 and had its most recent major revival on Broadway in 2017, had generated significant anticipation among theater audiences. The pairing of Grande and Bailey, both known for their roles in the “Wicked” film adaptation, was expected to draw considerable interest when tickets were scheduled to launch in September.
Rather than recasting the main parts with alternative performers, producers opted to postpone the entire production. While no specific details about the rescheduled 2028 timeline have been released, industry observers await further announcements regarding the revival’s future.
Originally reported by Variety →
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