Jonathan Bailey departs 'Sunday in the Park with George' revival
Jonathan Bailey has dropped out of the upcoming West End revival of "Sunday in the Park with George."
The announcement comes almost a month after Bailey's "Wicked" co-star Ariana Grande announced she was exiting the same production.
Bailey announced his departure Tuesday in a statement shared on his Instagram story, saying the Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical had been a "real passion project" for him and calling director Marianne Elliott "extraordinary and one of my longest collaborators and friends."
"Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering ... after much consideration, I have decided to also step back from 'Sunday in the Park with George,'" Bailey wrote.
Bailey, who was set to play George opposite Grande as Dot, said he is looking forward to seeing what the actors who take over the roles will bring to the production.
"Among many things, the story explores the deep connection between George and Dot, a beautiful, devoted pairing, and I so look forward to seeing what the two actors who will now take on these roles will create with it," he wrote.
Bailey concluded his statement by wishing the company well, writing, "I will be cheering them on as they continue with this production."
The production confirmed Bailey's departure in a statement on social media Tuesday, saying plans for the revival are moving forward.
"Work on the production continues," the statement read, adding that casting discussions are "actively" underway 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."
It is not yet known who will replace Bailey and Grande in the leading roles. Further casting and production details will be announced at a later date, the show's statement read.
Grande announced in August that she was stepping away from the production amid plans to take a break from public-facing work following her Eternal Sunshine Tour.
"Sunday in the Park with George," inspired by Georges Seurat's painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte," features music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by Lapine. The musical won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1985.
The revival is scheduled to begin performances at London's Barbican Centre in 2027.
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