Wicked Stars Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey Team Up for New Musical Project

A New Chapter for Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey

Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey, who previously captivated audiences as Glinda and Fiyero in the hit musical "Wicked," are set to reunite on stage in a new production of Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical "Sunday in the Park with George." This exciting collaboration will take place at London’s Barbican Centre in the summer of 2027, marking a significant moment in both their careers.

The Cast and Creative Team

The production will be directed by Marianne Elliott, known for her innovative and impactful staging of various theatrical works. Tom Scutt, a renowned set and costume designer, will contribute his creative vision to the show. This is not the first time Bailey and Elliott have worked together; they previously collaborated on the 2018 gender-swapped revival of Sondheim’s "Company," where Bailey received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for his performance as Jamie. Their partnership also extended to the 2022 West End revival of Mike Bartlett’s play "Cock."

A Rich History of "Sunday in the Park with George"

"Sunday in the Park with George" made its debut with an Off-Broadway production in 1983, featuring Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters in leading roles. The musical, which features songs by Sondheim and a book by James Lapine, is inspired by Georges Seurat’s 1880s pointillist painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte."

The first act of the musical centers around Seurat and his mistress Dot, while the second act uses the same lead actors to portray two of their relatives, George and Marie. The musical premiered on Broadway in April 1984 and ran for 18 months before closing in October 1985. Since then, it has seen several revivals, including a new production in London in 1990 and another in 2005. The show was later revived on Broadway in 2008 and again in 2017, with Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford playing the lead roles in the latter production.

Ariana Grande’s Upcoming Projects

As she prepares for this new stage venture, Ariana Grande is set to embark on her "Eternal Sunshine" Tour in June. On screen, she will next appear in the 13th season of "American Horror Story," which is scheduled to premiere near Halloween on FX. She will also return to the big screen shortly thereafter in the fourth "Meet the Parents" movie, set to hit theaters on November 25. Additionally, Grande is reuniting with "Wicked" filmmaker Jon M. Chu on an animated musical adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ "Oh the Places You’ll Go."