Actors Jonathan Bailey and Ariana Grande are slated to star in a new London stage production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical, "Sunday in the Park With George." The revival is scheduled to begin performances at the Barbican Theatre in the summer of 2027. Marianne Elliott is set to direct, with Tom Scutt as the production designer.
Production Details
Jonathan Bailey will portray Georges, and Ariana Grande is cast as Dot. Empire Street Productions is producing the show in association with the Barbican. Tickets are expected to go on sale in May 2026. Director Marianne Elliott previously worked with Bailey on the West End production of "Company." Bailey also shared an image of himself and Grande in front of Georges Seurat’s painting, which inspired the musical.
About the Musical
"Sunday in the Park With George" draws inspiration from Georges Seurat’s 1884 painting, "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte." The musical fictionalizes the lives of the individuals depicted in the artwork, focusing on the painter George and his lover and muse, Dot. In the second act, the same actress typically portrays Dot’s daughter, Marie. Seurat’s painting itself portrays various social classes relaxing in a Parisian park.
Musical History and Recognition
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.
Previous notable productions include:
- Original Broadway: Mandy Patinkin as George and Bernadette Peters as Dot.
- National Theatre, London: Philip Quast and Maria Friedman, which received an Olivier for Best New Musical.
- Broadway Revivals: 2008 and 2017, with the 2017 revival starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford.
- West End: The musical has seen three prior West End productions.
- Postponed Production: A planned London production in 2020, also starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford, was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.