Jonathan Bailey has withdrawn from the planned London production of Sunday in the Park with George, days after his close friend and former Wicked co-star Ariana Grande also left the project.
Bailey announced his decision on Tuesday, September 1, as Grande prepared to perform the final date of her Eternal Sunshine tour at The O2 in London. The pair had been due to appear opposite each other at the Barbican in summer 2027.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Bailey said his support for Grande was “unwavering” and revealed that he had decided to “step back” from the Stephen Sondheim musical after careful consideration.
“Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering,” he wrote. “Marianne 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.”
He added that the production had been “a real passion project” and praised the musical’s exploration of the relationship between George and Dot, the central couple in the story.
“I so look forward to seeing what the two actors who will now take on these roles will create with it,” Bailey said, before wishing the company well and promising to cheer them on.
Sunday in the Park with George casting search begins
The Barbican confirmed that work on the production would continue, with casting discussions now under way and the creative team reshaping the show around a new company.
The venue said the production would retain the ambition and artistic integrity of Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical. Further casting and production details will be announced in due course.
Sunday in the Park with George is being produced by Empire Street Productions in association with the Barbican and remains scheduled to open in summer 2027. Marianne Elliott is directing, with Tom Scutt responsible for the design.
Grande withdrew from the musical in August after her representative said she intended to take “a step back from visibility” once her tour had concluded. The representative said she wanted a “much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances” following what had been “endless, ongoing public scrutiny”.
Grande later told fans that the decision had been planned quietly for a long time and was not “reactive or impulsive”. She said taking a break and enjoying the tour could both be true at the same time.
Bailey and Grande became close while starring as Fiyero and Glinda in the film adaptation of Wicked. Bailey was seen attending Grande’s London concert last week, smiling and dancing in the audience.
