In a major coup for London theatre, global pop superstar Ariana Grande is set to make her West End debut alongside fellow screen and stage star Jonathan Bailey. The pair, who recently worked together on the upcoming Wicked film adaptations, will reunite on stage in a hotly anticipated revival of Stephen Sondheim's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Sunday in the Park With George.
Barbican Hosts Star-Studded Sondheim Revival
The production, which ends months of industry speculation following its official announcement, will run at London's Barbican Centre in the summer of 2027. It will be produced by Empire Street Productions in association with the Barbican itself. The creative team is led by acclaimed director Marianne Elliott, who previously directed Jonathan Bailey in a celebrated West End production of Sondheim's Company in 2018.
Bailey won an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in Company, a production that also won Best Musical Revival. His career has since soared with roles in Netflix's Bridgerton and as Fiyero in the two-part Wicked film. Grande, who plays Glinda in the Wicked movies, will be treading the London boards for the very first time with this Barbican engagement.
A Musical Inspired by a Masterpiece
Sunday in the Park With George, with a book by James Lapine, is a poignant story about art, love, and legacy. It is inspired by the life of pointillist painter Georges Seurat and his famous work, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The musical follows the Seurat-inspired character, George, and his complex relationship with his model, Dot.
In a playful nod to the source material, both Bailey and Grande shared an Instagram photo this week showing them seated in front of the actual Seurat painting, which is housed at the Art Institute of Chicago. The new production will be designed by Tom Scutt, the creative force behind the current London revival of Sondheim's Into the Woods at the Bridge Theatre.
Legacy and Ticket Details
The musical has a rich stage history. It first opened on Broadway in 1984 starring Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters. A London production followed at the National Theatre in 1990, and a 2005 revival was a hit at the Menier Chocolate Factory. A planned West End transfer of a Broadway revival starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
For theatre fans eager to secure seats, tickets for this new production will go on sale in May. Further casting announcements are expected at a later date. The news comes as Grande prepares for a 10-night residency at London's O2 Arena this summer as part of her Eternal Sunshine tour, underscoring a significant period of UK-based performances for the singer.
