Ariana Grande Withdraws from London’s SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE

Ariana Grande has withdrawn from the forthcoming London revival of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, ending plans for her to make her British stage debut opposite Jonathan Bailey at the Barbican Centre.

The production, scheduled to open in summer 2027, would have reunited Grande and Bailey following their appearances together in the screen adaptations of WICKED. Grande’s departure comes as the singer prepares to step away from public-facing work after completing her current international concert tour.

Empire Street Productions confirmed that Grande would no longer participate in the Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical, while making clear that the season itself had not been cancelled. Bailey remains attached to star, with replacement casting expected to be announced at a later date.

The company said it understood and supported Grande’s decision, acknowledging that withdrawing from the production was unlikely to have been an easy choice. It also extended its best wishes to the singer as she prepares to take time away from the spotlight.

The revival will be directed by acclaimed theatre-maker Marianne Elliott, with design by Tom Scutt. Tickets are currently expected to go on sale through the Barbican during autumn 2026, ahead of performances the following summer.

A representative for Grande said the 33-year-old performer would “step back from visibility” when the ETERNAL SUNSHINE TOUR concludes. The planned break will involve reducing public appearances and other outward-facing professional commitments after what her team described as a sustained period of intense scrutiny.

Her representative said Grande remained committed to completing the tour positively and healthily, adding that she had treasured the opportunity to reconnect with audiences during the concert run.

Grande later addressed the announcement while performing at Chicago’s United Center, telling fans that her decision was “not a reactive or impulsive thing”. She explained that the break had been considered and planned well before it became public, rather than being prompted by a single incident or wave of negative attention.

She also sought to reassure fans that outside commentary had not diminished the significance of the tour, which she described as an especially meaningful and restorative experience. Following her remaining Chicago performances, Grande is scheduled to complete the tour with 10 concerts at London’s O2 Arena, ending on 1 September.

The announcement follows renewed public commentary about Grande’s appearance and health, particularly after the release of the music video for her recent single Petal. Grande has repeatedly objected to unsolicited discussion about her body, including through the lyrics of yes, and?, from her 2024 album ETERNAL SUNSHINE, in which she draws a clear boundary between her private life and public opinion.

Grande first rose to prominence through the Nickelodeon programs VICTORIOUS and SAM & CAT before becoming one of the world’s most successful recording artists. She has won three Grammy Awards and received an Academy Award nomination for her performance as Glinda in the first WICKED film.

Her involvement in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE had generated considerable attention because it would have marked a return to her theatrical roots in one of Sondheim’s most celebrated works. Grande began her professional stage career as a teenager in the Broadway musical 13, but the Barbican production would have been her first major theatrical appearance in Britain.

Inspired by Georges Seurat’s painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE explores the personal sacrifices, relationships and obsessions that can accompany the creation of art. The musical features music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by Lapine.

Despite Grande’s withdrawal, preparations for the London revival are continuing. Jonathan Bailey remains scheduled to lead the company, while Empire Street Productions and the Barbican are expected to reveal Grande’s replacement and the wider cast in due course.

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