Sunday in the Park with George will open in the West End without Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande is taking an extended break from the public eye following her Eternal Sunshine tour, leading her to step down from London’s upcoming West End production of Sunday in the Park with George, which will still move forward for a 2027 premiere with a new co-lead.
The Show Must Go On: Sunday in the Park with George will still open at London's Barbican in summer 2027, starring Jonathan Bailey alongside a new lead actor to be cast in due course.
Public Visibility Step-Back: Ariana Grande’s representative revealed the pop star is taking a hiatus from public-facing work and appearances after facing relentless public scrutiny.
Producers Back Decision: Empire Street Productions confirmed Grande's exit with full support, expressing total understanding of her choice to prioritize her well-being.
Tour Schedule Unchanged: Grande will finish the remaining dates on her Eternal Sunshine tour—including shows in Chicago and a 10-night run at London’s O2 arena—before stepping back.
Ariana Grande Steps Back From West End Debut as ‘Sunday in the Park with George’ Moves Forward for 2027
Ariana Grande has announced plans to withdraw from public life and drop out of her scheduled West End stage debut following the conclusion of her current tour. Despite the pop icon's departure, the upcoming London revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George remains on track to launch in 2027, with producers searching for a new lead to star opposite British actor Jonathan Bailey.
Hiatus Follows Intense Media Scrutiny
A representative for the US singer, 33, told People magazine that she "will be taking a step back from visibility" when the tour ends, after her appearances led to "endless, ongoing public scrutiny".
The choice follows intense public discourse surrounding Grande's physical appearance and health—commentary that escalated following the Friday release of her latest album, Petal, and its promotional imagery. The album's music video depicts Grande as a performer receiving harsh audition feedback, being told she is "not good enough", is "desperate" and that she "should get some work done" then that she has "too much work done." The character eventually takes a chainsaw to the critics.
Grande's representative stressed to People that the star was looking forward to finishing her tour "on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny".
Addressing concerns around the physical demands of her concerts, they added: "She performs a very physical show, and there is a lot of athleticism involved. She performs healthily and successfully at a very high level night after night."
Fans quickly rallied behind the pop star online, sending supportive messages and driving the hashtag #weloveyouariana to trend across social media platforms.
Sunday in the Park with George Confirms 2027 Opening
The Thank U, Next and 7 Rings singer was billed to appear alongside her Wicked co-star, British actor Jonathan Bailey, in the new production of Sondheim's critically acclaimed 1984 musical.
The company behind a revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George, due to play at the Barbican in 2027, confirmed that she would no longer be part of the production and had its "complete understanding and support".
A representative for Empire Street Productions confirmed to the BBC that the musical would go ahead without Grande.
"Following this evening's announcement from Ariana Grande's team, we can confirm that she has decided to step back from Sunday in the Park with George," they said.
"We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support. We wish her nothing but the best."
A rep has told Variety: “The production will open at the Barbican in summer 2027 as planned, and casting will be announced in due course.”
A replacement for Grande in the West End revival of the Pulitzer Prize–winning musical has not yet been named.
Final Eternal Sunshine Tour Dates
Grande will complete all scheduled stops on her Eternal Sunshine tour before commencing her hiatus.
Her tour continues in Chicago on Monday, with three dates at the city's United Center. It will then move to London's O2 arena for 10 dates from 15 August, with the tour concluding there on 1 September.