London's Sondheim revival postponed after Grande and Bailey withdraw
The planned 2027 London revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park With George has been cancelled after Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey left the production.
Empire Street Productions confirmed that the 2027 London revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park With George at the Barbican has been scrapped after both Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey withdrew from the cast. Grande announced she was stepping back from visibility following her recent tour, and Bailey later issued a statement saying he would also step away from the project. The producers retain the rights and are targeting a 2028 presentation, with new casting negotiations already underway.
The production had already seen its ticket-sale dates pushed back from an initial May 2026 schedule to the summer of 2026 before the latest postponement. The musical, featuring Sondheim’s score and James Lapine’s book, last saw a major revival on Broadway in 2017 with Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford. The London transfer was previously halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why it matters
The cancellation delays a high-profile musical revival and highlights the impact of star departures on theatre productions.
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