Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey's Sunday in the Park with George is cancelled after theatre bosses were left scrambling when both stars quit

The planned 2027 production of Sunday in the Park with George at the Barbican has been cancelled after Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey pulled out. 

Tickets were due to go on sale this autumn for what was expected to be one of London’s most expensive theatrical productions ever, but bosses were left scrambling when both stars withdrew from the upcoming West End revival, directed by Marianne Elliott.

In an official statement on Monday, Empire Street Productions announced: ‘The planned 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 when appropriate.’

It is not the first time the musical has faced a major delay in London. 

A previous attempt to revive Sunday in the Park with George, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford, was postponed amid the Covid pandemic and eventually cancelled altogether.

In August, Ariana, 33, revealed that she would not be part of the production because she wanted to step back from the public eye after finishing her Eternal Sunshine tour earlier this month. 

Her spokesman announced the news amid 'ongoing public scrutiny' over her appearance.

Jonathan, 38, meanwhile, announced earlier this month that he had stepped down from playing artist Georges Seurat to support Ariana.

He wrote on Instagram: 'Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering.

'Marianne [the production's director] is extraordinary and one of my longest collaborators and friends. After much consideration, I have decided to step back from Sunday in the Park with George.

'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. Jonny x'

After he left the production, the producers of Sunday in the Park with George issued a statement that read: 'Following Ariana Grande's withdrawal, Jonathan Bailey has informed the producers that he has also decided to withdraw from Sunday in the Park with George.

'Work on the production continues. 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.

'Further casting and production details will be announced in due course.'

The Daily Mail previously revealed how theatre bosses were left in a 'terrible mess' after Ariana pulled out.

Her casting, which was announced in January, had been a major coup for producers – and a triumph for the London venue.

Ariana and Jonathan starred together in the Wicked films – by far the most successful cinematic adaptations of Broadway musicals ever. The films grossed more than $750million at the box office and garnered ten Oscar nominations (including one for Ariana for Best Supporting Actress).

Yet Empire Street Productions, the company producing Sunday in the Park with George, was told that Ariana was quitting the production less than an hour before her team released their own statement. This meant that the Barbican had to scramble to get ahead of the story.

One source connected to the production told the Daily Mail that Ariana’s decision was ‘mind-bending’, adding: ‘It all unfolded rapidly after the release of her music video sparked more backlash about her appearance.

‘There have been ongoing discussions [about the production] because there was a lot of [online discussion] around Ariana, but she was excited to do this show and rehearsals don’t start until 2027.

‘The Barbican was informed at 8pm on Sunday. It was all very sudden and has left them in a terrible mess. It is their most expensive theatrical project ever, and all involved are absolutely gutted. They feel for Ariana… There were promotion plans in place, with magazine covers lined up. But in any theatre production, you have to consider something like this could happen.’

Publicly, the show’s producers said: ‘We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and [Ariana] makes it with our complete understanding and support. We wish her nothing but the best.’

The musical is inspired by Georges Seurat’s famous painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. 

It follows a fictionalised version of the French artist as he works to complete the painting, while exploring his relationship with his lover and muse, Dot, as well as the challenges of balancing life and art.