The London revival of Stephen Sondheim’s 1983 musical, Sunday in the Park With George, has been canceled. This news follows the departure of its two stars, Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey.
Empire Street Productions said in a statement:
The musical, inspired by Georges Seurat’s painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, follows a fictionalized version of the artist as he immerses himself in his work while also exploring his relationship with his muse and lover, Dot.
The production would’ve been a reunion for Grande and Bailey following their roles in the film adaptations of Wicked. However, in August, a representative for Grande announced that she would be taking a “much-deserved break” from public visibility. Nearly a month later, Bailey announced he was dropping out. “Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering,” said Bailey in an Instagram story. “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 team, and the two actors who will now take on these roles, will create with it.”
The news comes as especially disappointing to fans, since it was announced that the production would move forward with a different cast. Demand for the production was high, not only because of its two megastar leads but also because an earlier revival attempt was canceled in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We’re never getting a production of this show. It’s cursed. The producers need to sort themselves out and realise there are enough Sondheim lovers that you don’t need star names to sell this,” said one user on Instagram.
It is not known exactly why the production was canceled entirely. However, as Empire Street Productions retains the rights to the show and has plans to stage it in 2028, we’ll have to wait and see what happens next.
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