Jonathan Bailey steps away from 'Sunday in the Park with George' at the Barbican

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Pulitzer Prize–winning musical was inspired by Georges Seurat's painter A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.

Summary

• Jonathan Bailey withdraws from Sunday in the Park with George weeks after Ariana Grande's exit
• The show comes to the Barbican in 2027
• Marianne Elliott is set to direct

Wicked and Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey has withdrawn from the upcoming revival of Sunday in the Park with George, which is due to open at the Barbican in 2027.

The news comes a month after Wicked co-star Ariana Grande also pulled out of the production.

Bailey revealed the news in a story posted on Instagram, which reads: "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.

“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.

“I wish the very best to the entire company with what will no doubt be an incredible production, and I will be cheering them on as they continue this journey.”

Grande's final London show as part of her Eternal Sunshine tour takes place tonight (1 September).

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Pulitzer Prize–winning musical was inspired by Georges Seurat's painter A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The musical focuses on George, a fictionalised version of Seurat, as he creates his masterpiece, and his great-grandson, as he struggles with creative burnout a century later.

The show will be directed by Tony and Olivier winner Marianne Elliott, who previously collaborated with Bailey on Cock and Company. The production will also feature set design by Tom Scutt.

Check back for Sunday in the Park with George tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Bailey in rehearsals for Richard II. (Courtesy of production)