Jonathan Bailey and Ariana Grande's London production of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George has pushed back its ticket sales timeline. The Barbican Centre revival will now open ticket sales this fall instead of May 2026, with performances scheduled for summer 2027.
The delay affects one of theatre's most anticipated upcoming revivals. Bailey, known for his Broadway turn in Merrily We Roll Along and his role as Anthony in Bridgerton, will play George, the obsessive painter at the musical's core. Grande, making her major theatrical debut with this West End production, takes on the dual role of Dot and Marie.
Director of the production remains the Barbican's offering of Sondheim's masterwork, a three-act meditation on art, time, and legacy that premiered on Broadway in 1984 and won six Tony Awards. The musical's intricate score and philosophical complexity demand the kind of institutional support that the Barbican, London's premier arts venue, can provide.
The ticket sale delay suggests extended pre-production work or complications with the project's logistics. Several months of additional preparation time could allow the creative team to refine casting beyond the two leads, secure additional company members, and finalize technical requirements for the Barbican's demanding technical capabilities.
Grande's theatrical ambitions mark a notable shift for the pop star, who built her career primarily in music and television. Her casting signals the West End's continued willingness to pursue celebrity talent for major revivals, a strategy that has yielded mixed results in recent years. Bailey's theatre credentials remain stronger, having earned acclaim for his work in both concert revivals and Broadway productions.
The Barbican Centre hosting the production places it in London's most prestigious arts infrastructure outside of the West End proper. This 2027 revival arrives nearly forty years after Sondheim's original Broadway opening, positioning itself as a major event for both the composer's legacy and contemporary musical theatre.