The upcoming London revival of Sunday in the Park with George has been cancelled after the departure of stars Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey.
The Wicked co-stars had been due to reunite on stage in the Barbican’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical, directed by Marianne Elliott, in 2027.
However, in August, Grande abruptly announced that she would be withdrawing from the public eye after her Eternal Sunshine tour amid “endless” scrutiny.
After growing concern over her appearance and health, a representative for the American actress and pop singer said that she would be taking a break from public life, including stepping down from the anticipated musical.
The production company, Empire Street Productions, insisted the show would continue as planned without Grande and that they would cast her replacement.
Earlier this month, Bailey also announced he was pulling out of Sunday in the Park with George, explaining that he did so “after much consideration” and referring to “Ari” as one of his “dearest friends” in his statement.
The pair, who previously co-starred in the double feature Wicked franchise as Fiyero and Glinda, were set to reunite with Bailey playing Georges Seurat, the painter, and Grande starring as Dot and Marie.
When Bailey also pulled out, the company stressed that “work on the production continues”, but they have since reversed course.
On Monday, a statement from the company said the show would no longer be staged at the theatre next year.
It read: “The planned 2027 production of Sunday in the Park with George at the Barbican will no longer proceed as scheduled.
“Empire Street Productions will retain the rights with a view to presenting the production in 2028. Further details will be announced in due course.”
‘Your business is yours, and mine is mine’
Grande’s representatives, who have been contacted by The Telegraph, said at the time of her withdrawal that the Petal singer’s recent “public-facing work and appearances … has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny”.
It followed mounting concern from fans about the star’s physical appearance and health, particularly in videos and photographs of her on stage during her Eternal Sunshine tour and from her apparent weight loss in the music video for the title single from her eighth studio album.
Her publicist appeared to address the online discourse about her weight by insisting the star performed the tour “healthily and happily”, stating that she would be “taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny”.
The public discourse about her appearance ramped up after the release of her music video, Petal, at the end of July.
Fans expressed their concern and support for the star with the hashtag #weloveyouariana, which started trending on social media platforms after the video was released.
In 2024, the Grammy Award-winner responded to the public commentary about her body, which largely began while she was starring in the Wicked films, in her song “Yes, And?”. It states: “My face is sitting, I don’t need no disguise / Don’t comment on my body, do not reply / Your business is yours, and mine is mine.”
At the time of her stepping down from the musical, a representative for Empire Street Productions said: “We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support. We wish her nothing but the best.”
Stephen Sondheim’s critically acclaimed musical is inspired by the Georges Seurat painting A Sunday Afternoon On The Island Of La Grande Jatte.
Bailey pulled out of the production less than a month after his co-star, saying: “This brilliant, introspective musical has been a real passion project for me, and I feel incredibly lucky to have shared in its journey with this team.
“Among many things, the story explores the deep connection between George and Dot, a beautiful, devoted pairing, and I so look forward to seeing what the two actors who will now take on these roles will create with it.”
“I wish the very best to the entire company. I will be cheering them on as they continue with this production,” he added.
In 2021 a previous attempt to revive the musical – starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford – was postponed indefinitely due to the Covid pandemic.