The planned London revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s “Sunday in the Park With George” is canceled after both Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey withdraw from the production. Empire Street Productions says the Barbican show, scheduled for summer 2027, will no longer proceed as scheduled.
The outlets report the departures came in sequence: Grande steps back from the production, citing her wider decision to reduce public visibility after touring, and Bailey later follows. Several outlets also describe how the casting changes undermined the star-led plan for the production. Some coverage notes uncertainty around ticket sales and the difficulty of replacing the roles without the two lead performers.
While most sources focus on the cancellation, at least one outlet and others citing the production company’s statement add that Empire Street Productions retains the rights with a view to staging the show in 2028. Coverage also contrasts the emphasis on business impact and timing (including future announcements and production planning) with the personal announcement language used by the performers.
