The West End revival of Sunday In The Park With George is without its two main stars — weeks before tickets were expected to go on sale for the highly anticipated musical.
Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey announced Tuesday that he will no longer be a part
of the project following his co-star Ariana Grande’s departure. (The two also starred together in the blockbuster Wicked films.)
“Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering. Marianne is extraordinary and one of my longest collaborators and friends. After much consideration, I have decided to also step back from Sunday in the Park with George,” Bailey said in a statement shared by his team and the show’s production. “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.”
Bailey and Grande were set to star as George and Dot in the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical — with previews set to start summer 2027. Created by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, the musical is based on the famous Georges Seurat painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” It follows a fictionalized version of the painter’s life — including his artistic process, career challenges, and the central relationship with his mistress Dot. The original musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1984, starred Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin and won two Tony Awards.
The news of Bailey’s exit comes only a few weeks after Grande dropped out of the production, announcing an extended break from public life that coincided with fan and peer concerns about her health. “She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny,” representatives for Grande said. Sunday In The Park With George producers said Grande’s decision to leave the cast “cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support.”
According to the production team, the show’s premiere timeline has not changed. Instead, they are working to modify the musical. “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,” representatives for the musical said Tuesday.
Casting discussions are currently ongoing. No frontrunners have been announced.
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