Actors Jonathan Bailey and Ariana Grande have been cast to star in a new stage production of Stephen Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park With George." The musical is scheduled to open at London's Barbican Theatre in the summer of 2027, with Marianne Elliott directing.
Production Details
Jonathan Bailey will portray Georges, and Ariana Grande is cast as Dot. The role of Dot's daughter, Marie, in the second act is traditionally played by the same actress. Marianne Elliott, who previously directed Bailey in "Company" on the West End, will direct this production. Tom Scutt is designated as the production designer. Empire Street Productions is producing the show in association with the Barbican. Jonathan Bailey previously shared an image of himself and Grande in front of Georges Seurat’s painting, which served as the inspiration for the musical.
The Musical: "Sunday in the Park With George"
"Sunday in the Park With George" features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lapine. The musical draws inspiration from Georges Seurat’s 1884 painting, "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte." Seurat's artwork depicts individuals from various social classes relaxing in a Parisian park. The musical imagines the lives of the subjects within the painting, focusing on a fictionalized painter named George and his lover and muse, Dot.
Historical Context
The musical premiered off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in 1983 before transferring to Broadway’s Booth Theatre in 1984. It was awarded the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and received 10 Tony Award nominations.
Notable past productions include:
- Original Broadway: Mandy Patinkin originated the role of George, with Bernadette Peters as Dot.
- Broadway Revivals: The musical saw Broadway revivals in 2008 and 2017, the latter starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford.
- West End Productions: There have been three prior West End productions.
- National Theatre London: A production at the National Theatre in London featured Philip Quast as George and Maria Friedman as Dot, earning an Olivier Award for Best New Musical.
- Postponed Production: A planned London production in 2020, also set to star Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford, was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the 2027 London revival are anticipated to become available for purchase in May 2026.