Sunday in the Park with George producers issue statement following Jonathan Bailey exit

Producers of the upcoming production of Sunday in the Park with George have issued a statement following the departure of actor Jonathan Bailey from the revival.

The announcement follows the previous withdrawal of co-star Ariana Grande from the project.

In a statement, the production team said: “Following Ariana Grande’s withdrawal, Jonathan Bailey has informed the producers that he has also decided to withdraw from Sunday in the Park with George.

“Work on the production continues. Casting discussions are actively under way, and the creative team is reshaping the production around a new company while preserving the ambition and artistic integrity of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical.

“Further casting and production details will be announced in due course.”

The musical features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lapine, and is loosely based on the life of renowned painter Georges Seurat, responsible for large-scale work A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. It has not had a major London production in almost two decades.

The new production is set to be directed by Marianne Elliott, with design by the award-winning Tom Scutt. Scutt has recently won acclaim for his work on another Sondheim musical, Into the Woods, while Elliott’s Company was the toast of the West End and Broadway.

Further updates regarding the production, schedule, and new cast members are expected to be confirmed by the production team at a later date.