Producers of the London revival of "Sunday in the Park with George" have confirmed the show will still open at the Barbican in summer 2027 as planned, despite Ariana Grande withdrawing from the cast. Grande, who was due to star alongside her "Wicked" co-star Jonathan Bailey, is stepping back after completing her Eternal Sunshine tour, which concludes in the UK on 1 September. The decision matters to theatre fans as it had been billed as a rare chance to see the two "Wicked" stars perform together live on stage.

Grande had been cast in the dual role of Dot and Marie opposite Bailey's George Seurat, in a production directed by Marianne Elliott with design by Tom Scutt. Producers Empire Street Productions said casting would be announced "in due course" and wished Grande well, acknowledging the decision "cannot have been an easy" one. Grande's representatives said she plans to take a break from public-facing work after her tour ends, following years of public scrutiny over her appearance; she previously disclosed a PTSD diagnosis linked to the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. Her only other confirmed upcoming commitment is a role in the comedy film "Focker-in-Law".