Jonathan Bailey and Ariana Grande in SITPWG?

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 9:48am

Rumors are swirling on X that they will be starring in a West End revival directed by Marianne Elliot. 
 

Grande also said this in her recent NY Times feature 

and teased something stage-related coming up soon: “It’s not on Broadway, but it’s something that I’m very excited about and inspired by.” 

The more I think about it, the more I can really see it. Both of them are age appropriate for the roles, and this would give Grande the chance to show off her live theater chops in one of the best female musical roles written for the stage. 

Updated On: 11/5/25 at 09:48 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 10:05am

There was a rumor a while ago about Bailey doing this show and then he announced his acting hiatus so I just wrote it off. 
 

But could you even imagine? 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 10:42am

I remember there being rumors a while ago of Andrew Garfield starring in it.

[binau]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 11:06am

It's hard to imagine a theatre big enough or ticket prices high enough. It would also thrust Sunday in the Park into the mainstream culture in a way that is very unusual for the show and Sondheim. And the chances of a film higher than ever if they could bring that cast in too. Of course I'd love it to happen, but does make me nervous!

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 11:42am

I'd love to see what Elliot does with this no matter who is starring in it. But this would be insane. I'd love to hear both their vocals on it.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 11:54am

Theatrical gluttony!

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 2:19pm

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "I remember there being rumors a while ago of Andrew Garfield starring in it."

Andrew Garfield and Jonathan Bailey both have a past working relationship with Marianne Elliott, but Bailey’s star is brighter at the moment and he’d sell more tickets than Garfield (not that he needs to if he’s opposite Grande). Personally, I can’t stand Andrew Garfield, so I’d also just prefer he no longer be rumored/attached if this is true.

[raddersons]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 2:23pm

Any way you look at it: With a cast like this, art IS easy

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 7:33pm

binau said: "It's hard to imagine a theatre big enough or ticket prices high enough. It would also thrust Sunday in the Park into the mainstream culture in a way that is very unusual for the show and Sondheim. And the chances of a film higher than ever if they could bring that cast in too. Of course I'd love it to happen, but does make me nervous!

"
Wasn't that all pretty true of the Jake Gyllenhaal production (Which of course never made it to London in the end.)

 

[binau]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 1:31am

I would say yes and no. Yes in the sense that clearly Jake G brought a new audience to Sunday - if I recall it had the highest grossing week of a Sondheim musical ever on Broadway at the time (a record that was previously held by the Bernadette Follies if I recall if you remember it had a few good weeks before the audience dried up).

But I did attend the revival twice, including the final performance (where the horn player inexplicably and infamously cracked on the final notes right at the end of the show, Sondheim in the audience!). My take on the 'vibe' was that it was still a New York prestige theatre audience with some mainstream presence. 

Whereas to have Ariana Grande in this show with Jonathan Bailey right now is an A list event - Ariana Grande has 370 million instagram followers. Jake G has less than 10 (as does Jonathan Bailey, but thanks to Wicked and Bridgeton he is hot right now). He just was voted sexist man alive or something too!

I can see Jonathan Bailey being involved in this. But to get Ariana Grande would be a major, major casting event. I would not be surprised if the rumour turns out we have Jonathan Bailey with someone more realistic. 

 

[TheOtherOne2]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 7:18am

"He just was voted sexist man alive or something too!"

Now this be one funny typo!

[OhHiii]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 8:26am

Actually would believe Ariana would do something like this. She’s a theater person through and through. What it would mean for ticket prices however makes me physically ill. Her arena tour tickets were insanely priced, cut that capacity down to 1/10 for a theater? Forget about it.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 9:00am

Actually that’s untrue. Her prices were super reasonable, it’s the resell tickets that were insane. But she actually worked with Ticketmaster to not honor any resell tickets or to make them less crazy. But with her tour coming up I can’t imagine she’d be doing this unless it’s like a one month thing at the Palladium or something. Or in 2027.

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 1:12pm

I think they’d both be great and would love to see Elliott’s take on the piece. I just hope the Ari stans behave themselves in the theatre.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 6:53pm

Binau I do get your point.  Honestly, I was half asleep and was thinking more that I didn't think Jonathan Bailey would necessarily bring in a different audience than Jake Gylenhaal but I see your focus is on Grande and her fanbase...

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 5:49am

Breaking Baz: ‘Wicked’ Stars Ariana Grande & Jonathan Bailey Eye Reteam For ‘Sunday In The Park With George’ At London’s Barbican In 2027

"There are many moving parts, some bigger than others, involved at this delicate juncture more than 18 months ahead of a potential summer opening at London’s Barbican Theatre.

"Understandably, there will be no official announcement until all of those parts are firmly locked into place.

"At early read-throughs, I’ve heard that both Grande and Bailey have excelled in the parts. They’re joined at the hip as friends having now worked together for the past few years on Wicked and this year’s terrific Wicked: For Good with director Jon M. Chu and Cynthia Erivo."

Well as far as rumors or speculation go, this is one that will get people's attention.

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 6:49am

As exciting as this sort of rumour should be - I cringe at the audience behaviour this will attract, the circus her fans will turn this glorious show into, and, above all, the astronomical prices this show will demand. 

[John Adams]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 8:25am

Plannietink08 said: "As exciting as this sort of rumour should be - I cringe at the audience behaviour this will attract, the circus her fans will turn this glorious show into, and, above all, the astronomical prices this show will demand."

Along that same train of thought, my initial reaction is that this would be a case of stunt casting with the show (a Pulitzer Prize winning show on its own) being used as a "backdrop" to peacock two actors who happen to be really hot right now. 

I like the possible casting and the show, and I would definitely buy a cast album if made,  but I don't like the timing. It seems too "wh0rish" in regards to both the show and the actors.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 8:28am

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be there in a minute because it’s my favorite show. I just don’t think either are necessarily great for George and Dot. Elliott directing could really make this something very special though. The last production was, to put it mildly, basic.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 8:44am

A Broadway transfer would cost just south of $35 million, considering the size of the cast and orchestra + Elliott's artistic vision for this. 

This would be an excellent Main Stem debut for Bailey, assuming RICHARD II doesn't make the move.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 12:54pm

Extremely expensive and sitting with her fan base for 3 hours? Sounds great!

[Ke3]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 1:28pm

Plannietink08 said: "As exciting as this sort of rumour should be - I cringe at the audience behaviour this will attract, the circus her fans will turn this glorious show into, and, above all, the astronomical prices this show will demand."

(Obviously ummm...not praise for the man I'm about to mention)

When I was going through an Audra interview deep dive she talked about the Puffy revival of Raisin (a crazy thing that actually happened) a lot and how at first it was strange to have audiences with "poor theatre etiquette" but in the end she really enjoyed it because she realized how many people in the audiences were experiencing something for the first time.

It really resonated with me at the time and has only resonated more the longer I work in the industry. Yes, a pop star is bound to bring in audiences that are perhaps are a bit more frenzied than your typical theatre patron but it's exciting that they're excited to be there! 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 1:29pm

The casting is fine for me, but the director is what sends it over. My favorite musical and I know it's in good hands. 

[Theatrefan2]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 1:34pm

Completely get the concern about Ariana fans, but id also add in Jonathan's fans too. He has some pretty hardcore, at times crazy, fans as well.

Both together in one room could be a nightmare

[Mickey3309]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 2:12pm

When I was going through an Audra interview deep dive she talked about the Puffy revival of Raisin (a crazy thing that actually happened) a lot and how at first it was strange to have audiences with "poor theatre etiquette" but in the end she really enjoyed it because she realized how many people in the audiences were experiencing something for the first time.

It really resonated with me at the time and has only resonated more the longer I work in the industry. Yes, a pop star is bound to bring in audiences that are perhaps are a bit more frenzied than your typical theatre patron but it's exciting that they're excited to be there!"

This is a really nice sentiment, but I don’t understand why “experiencing something for the first time” can’t also include (as it did for so many of us at some point) learning how to respect fellow audience members and performers, and being held to those very reasonable standards. I’m glad Audra was eventually able to enjoy it, but I can also understand how someone who cares deeply about a piece and paid tons of $ for a single chance to see it and feel fully present might not be able to enjoy it in the same way. Hooting and cheering and standing after songs, an occasional audible reaction to a line, getting up to use the bathroom - fine. But using a phone with a bright screen in others’ sightlines, talking through the show, crinkling chip bags, singing along, and similar behavior has never made sense to me as “ok,” unless the show is explicitly inviting it for a specific reason. I’ll be excited to see this if it truly does come to fruition - they're both excellent for the roles! And if it does, I hope that audiences are held to a reasonable standard.

Updated On: 12/16/25 at 02:12 PM