Jonathan Bailey Drops Out of Sunday in the Park With George Following Ariana Grande Exit

Jonathan Bailey has left the West End revival of Sunday in the Park With George following Ariana Grande exiting the cast.

Roughly one month after a representative for the pop superstar stated that she would take a step back from public-facing engagements such as the London musical, Bailey announced Tuesday (Sept. 1) that he is also withdrawing from the production. Bailey and Grande previously costarred in the Wicked films. “Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering,” he stated on his Instagram Story.

“After much consideration, I have decided to step back from Sunday in the Park with George,” he added. “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 two actors who will now take on these roles will create with it.”

The Bridgerton actor also praised director Marianne Elliott, describing her as extraordinary and one of his longest collaborators and friends.

Sunday in the Park With George was planned to open on the West End in summer 2027. January brought the initial announcement that Grande and Bailey would reunite for the stage production, which draws inspiration from Georges Seurat’s pointillist painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte housed in the Art Institute of Chicago.

A statement published on the official Instagram page for the musical notes that following Ariana Grande’s withdrawal, Jonathan Bailey informed producers that he decided to withdraw from Sunday in the Park With George as well.

“Casting discussions are actively under way, and 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,” the statement continues. “Further casting and production details will be announced in due course.”

Grande has one show remaining on her Eternal Sunshine Tour, which concludes Tuesday night after a 10-night run at London’s O2 Arena. Following mounting public speculation regarding the Grammy winner’s public visibility, her representative told People in early August that Ariana will step back from visibility, looks forward to finishing the tour on a healthy and happy high note, and will then take a much-deserved break.

At a subsequent concert in Chicago, Grande clarified that the announcement was not reactive or impulsive. She added that the plan was quietly established long ago and arrived from a thoughtful and empowered place.