Ariana Grande to make London theatre debut with Wicked co-star

Breaking: Ariana Grande to Make London West End Debut in Sunday in the Park with George

Breaking News

In a high-profile move confirmed today, pop icon Ariana Grande will make her London West End debut in the musical Sunday in the Park with George. The production is set to run at the Barbican Center, marking Grande’s first major stage engagement in the capital.

Grande will share the stage with Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey, signaling a high-profile pairing that blends pop culture with classic Broadway storytelling. The casting complements an acclaimed creative team, including director Marianne Elliott and set designer Tom Scutt.

Event Details and Creative Team

The show comes with music and lyrics by the esteemed Stephen Sondheim and a book by James lapine. The production will be directed by Marianne Elliott, with design by Tom Scutt. The Barbican Centre is confirmed as the venue, with the summer 2027 opening window already announced.

Tickets are slated to go on sale in May, with further data to be released in due course. The project aligns Grande with a lineage of artists who transition between film, television, and theater to reach broader audiences.

Key Cast, Crew, and Timeline

Ariana Grande will perform opposite Jonathan Bailey in Sunday in the Park with George. The production team includes Marianne Elliott as director and Tom Scutt on design, while the musical’s book is by james Lapine and the score by Stephen Sondheim. The Barbican Centre will host the show, with a 2027 summer premiere planned.

Grande has described herself as a “theatre kid,” a sentiment echoed by fans who recall her early theatre roots. Her stage beginnings date back to a Broadway musical at age 13, and she has long expressed affinity for musical theatre, including Wicked, which connected to her film projects in recent years. Bailey has worked with Elliott before, notably in 2022’s Cock, a collaboration that drew attention to his stage versatility.

At-a-glance: What to expect

Fact	Details
Performer	Ariana Grande
Show	Sunday in the Park with George
Co-star	Jonathan bailey
Venue	Barbican Centre, London
Opening	summer 2027
Tickets	On sale May 2026
Creative Team	Director: Marianne Elliott; book: James Lapine; Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim; Designer: Tom Scutt
Source Material	Original musical Sunday in the Park with George

Evergreen insights for theatre fans

Grande’s West End debut underscores a broader trend of crossover talent bridging pop culture and live theatre. When global stars enter established stage productions, it can broaden audiences while inviting fresh interpretations of classic works.The collaboration with a seasoned theatre director and a storied score by Stephen Sondheim suggests a production that respects tradition while aiming to attract new viewers.

For london’s theatre ecosystem, this casting signals the enduring appeal of the West End as a platform for ambitious, cross-genre projects. It also highlights the Barbican Centre’s role as a premier venue for high-profile, contemporary stage ventures. With Grande’s proven track record in music and on-screen stardom, the production could serve as a case study in how musical theatre remains relevant to younger and more diverse audiences.

Two questions for readers

1) Will Ariana Grande’s presence draw new audiences to Sunday in the park with George, or will it attract primarily fans seeking a crossover experience?

2) How might this casting influence future crossovers between pop stars and classic musicals in major theatres?

Engage with us

Share your thoughts in the comments below or join the conversation on social media. Do you plan to attend Grande’s West End debut, or will you follow the production from afar?

Further details are available at the official Sunday in the Park with George site and the Barbican’s event pages.

Sunday in the Park with George • Barbican Centre

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