# The West End's Sondheim revival just collapsed

> Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey both walked, and now the whole 2027 Barbican production is gone.
- Title: The West End's Sondheim revival just collapsed · Rolling Stone
- Summary: Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey both walked, and now the whole 2027 Barbican production is gone. A revival built on two star names lost both of them, and…
- Keywords: theater, west end, ariana grande, jonathan bailey, sondheim, West, End's, revival, just, collapsed, Rolling Stone
- Source: Rolling Stone — https://rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/sunday-in-the-park-with-george-revival-canceled-1235625973
- Author: Jaeden Pinder
- Published: 2026-09-14T14:47:49+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: theater, west end, ariana grande, jonathan bailey, sondheim
## The revival is off
Empire Street Productions confirmed the 2027 staging of Sunday in the Park With George at the Barbican will not go ahead. Ticket sales had already been delayed twice.

> The planned 2027 production of Sunday in the Park With George at the Barbican will no longer proceed as scheduled.
## A Wicked reunion lost
Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey were set to share a stage after starring together in the Wicked films. That pairing is what sold the show.
## Grande stepped away first
Her rep announced in August that she was taking a break from public life, which meant leaving the production. She had just finished an album and the Eternal Sunshine Tour.

> a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny
## The producers backed her
Empire Street responded with support rather than friction, framing the exit as a hard call they understood.

> We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support.
## Bailey followed a month later
He called the musical a passion project and Grande one of his dearest friends, and said he looked forward to seeing two new actors take on George and Dot.

> Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering.
## A 2028 attempt is alive
Empire Street still holds the rights to Sondheim's musical and is planning a 2028 production. The cancellation landed while they were publicly casting replacements, with previews set for summer 2027.
## Key takeaway

A revival built on two star names lost both of them, and the show could not survive the gap.