Jonathan Bailey has withdrawn from the upcoming West End revival of "Sunday in the Park With George," following his former "Wicked" co-star Ariana Grande's exit from the production roughly a month earlier.
Bailey announced the decision Tuesday in a statement shared on social media and by the show's production team. "Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering. Marianne is extraordinary and one of my longest collaborators and friends. After much consideration, I have decided to also step back from Sunday in the Park with George," he wrote, referring to director Marianne Elliott.
"This brilliant, introspective musical has been a real passion project for me, and I feel incredibly lucky to have shared in its journey with this team. I wish the very best to the entire company. I will be cheering them on as they continue with this production," Bailey added.
Bailey and Grande were announced in January 2026 as the leads of the revival, reuniting after starring together as Fiyero and Glinda in the two-part "Wicked" films. The production, based on Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical inspired by Georges Seurat's painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte," was set to open at the Barbican in summer 2027 under Elliott's direction, with previews expected to begin soon.
Grande had announced last month that she was stepping back from public-facing engagements following the wrap of her "Eternal Sunshine" tour. No new casting has been announced.
As both stars step back from the spotlight for a season, it's a fitting reminder to hold artists - and the pressures that come with public life - in prayer, even amid the glow of red carpets and reunions.
