London staging of Sondheim's 'Sunday in the Park with George' to go ahead without Ariana Grande
Producers confirmed that Ariana Grande will not appear in the upcoming London run of Stephen Sondheim's musical, which remains scheduled to open at the Barbican in summer 2027.
The London production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Sunday in the Park with George will continue without Ariana Grande, producers said. The show is still set to open at the Barbican in the summer of 2027, with casting to be announced later.
Grande announced over the weekend that she would step back from public engagements after completing her Eternal Sunshine tour on September 1, citing the pressures of constant media attention. In a statement posted on X, she said she looks forward to finishing the tour "on a high note, both healthily and happily" before taking a break from public-facing work.
"Following this evening’s announcement from Ariana Grande’s team, we can confirm that she has decided to step back from Sunday in the Park with George," Empire Street Productions wrote. "We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support. We wish her nothing but the best. The production will open at the Barbican in summer 2027 as planned, and casting will be announced in due course."
The production, directed by Tony and Olivier Award-winner Marianne Elliott, had previously been reported to reunite Grande with Jonathan Bailey. Bailey remains attached to the project.