Empire Street Cancels 2027 London Revival After 2 Stars Exit

Q: Did Jonathan Bailey abandon the London stage purely out of loyalty to Ariana Grande, sacrificing his own theatrical return?

No. The available evidence does not show Jonathan Bailey left purely out of loyalty to Ariana Grande or that he simply sacrificed his own stage return for her. Bailey did publicly emphasize his affection for Grande, calling her “one of my dearest friends” and saying his support for her was “unwavering.” That clearly suggests her withdrawal mattered to him. But his full statement points to a broader, more professional calculation. He described *Sunday in the Park with George* as a “real passion project,” praised director Marianne Elliott, and said he hoped to see “the two actors who will now take on these roles” create something strong. That language indicates he was not trying to sink the production in solidarity. At the time Bailey withdrew, producers explicitly said the show would continue, casting discussions were underway, and the production was being reshaped around a new company. Bailey himself wished the team well and said he would be “cheering them on.” Those are not the words of someone framing his exit as a simple protest or loyalty gesture. What can be said is that Grande’s departure likely changed the project significantly. Their pairing had been a major draw after *Wicked*, and Bailey may have judged that the production he had committed to was no longer the same one. The later cancellation suggests the losses of both stars undermined the revival commercially and artistically, but there is no firm evidence Bailey left only for Grande.

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 14

Empire Street Productions said its 2027 Barbican staging of Sunday in the Park with George will not go ahead and may instead be mounted in 2028.
Ariana Grande withdrew last month as part of a break from public visibility after her Eternal Sunshine Tour, and Jonathan Bailey pulled out earlier this month.
The company had initially said the production would continue despite the cast changes, but reversed course on Monday after losing both lead stars.
The revival had been set to reunite the Wicked co-stars in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's 1984 musical at a major London venue.