Jonathan Bailey Drops Out of West End Musical After Ariana Grande’s Departure

The West End revival of the musical "Sunday in the Park With George" has seen the departure of two of its leading stars. After Ariana Grande's exit at the beginning of August, Jonathan Bailey has also announced his withdrawal from the production. Bailey expressed his unwavering support for Grande on his social media platform while stating that director Marianne Elliott, a longtime collaborator and friend, was a significant factor in his decision to step back.

In a statement shared on Instagram, Bailey highlighted the production's importance to him, praising the deep connection between the characters George and Dot, and expressing anticipation for the new actors who will bring the roles to life. The specific identities of these new actors or whether the show will proceed at all remain uncertain as of now.

Originally, tickets for the 2027 revival were set to go on sale in May, but the production delayed ticket sales to the fall following Grande's departure. In August, Grande's representative confirmed to PEOPLE that she would temporarily reduce her public appearances due to the "endless, ongoing public scrutiny" resulting from her recent Eternal Sunshine Tour.

In response, Bailey's co-star from "Wicked" also shared a statement through PEOPLE, wishing the entire company the best for their upcoming production and looking forward to their success.