Ariana Grande has pulled out of her scheduled West End debut in Sunday in the Park with George, producers have confirmed, offering their “complete understanding and support” for the singer's decision.
The pop star was due to appear in the musical alongside her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey. However, on Sunday her team announced she would be stepping back from all public work for the foreseeable future after the end of her Eternal Sunshine Tour.
Producers respond
A spokesperson for the production told the Press Association: “Empire Street Productions have said 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. 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. The production will open at the Barbican in summer 2027 as planned, and casting will be announced in due course.”
Representative's statement
A representative for Grande told People magazine: “Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour. She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it 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. This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”
About the musical and Grande's career
The musical, which debuted on Broadway in 1984 starring Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters, is inspired by Georges Seurat's painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. It follows a fictionalised Seurat as he tries to complete the portrait, exploring his relationship with his lover and muse, Dot.
Grande is currently on her Eternal Sunshine tour, which will reach the UK in August with a 10-night residency at London's The O2. Her final London show on September 1 will also mark the end of the tour.
The announcement about Sunday in the Park with George comes after Grande released the music video for “Petal”, the title single from her newly released eighth studio album, which sparked speculation about her health.
Grande has won three Grammy awards amid a successful music career that took off in 2013 with her debut album, Yours Truly. She first found fame playing Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon television shows Victorious and Sam & Cat, and was nominated for an Oscar for her role as Glinda in the film adaptation of Wicked.
