Picture: Matthew Murphy
Plans to bring the hit Broadway production of Sunday in the Park With George to the West End this year have been postponed due to the continued uncertainty about the lifting of Covid restrictions on travel and the reopening of theatres to full capacity.
Featuring multi-award-winning Hollywood star Jake Gyllenhaal (This Is Our Youth, Garrick Theatre, Constellations, Broadway) and Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford (Kinky Boots, Broadway, You Can’t Take It With You, Broadway) and directed by Sarna Lapine the celebrated production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Pulitzer-winning musical had been due to make its eagerly-anticipated debut at the Savoy Theatre last year.
The producers and stars had all expressed their hopes that the production would arrive in 2021, but a notice posted on the show’s website this week announced that the producers had decided it would not be ‘possible for the show to take place in London in 2021’. The announcement went on to state ‘everyone involved remains 100% committed to making the show work when conditions and schedule align to make it possible.’
Due to be presented in London by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Riva Marker and Jeanine Tesori in association with New York City Center, the production premiered at New York City Center in 2016 before transferring for a sold-out limited season in 2017 at the Hudson Theatre on Broadway.
Commenting on the production when the London run was announced Gyllenhaal said: “Performing Sunday in the Park With George with the brilliant Annaleigh Ashford was one of the greatest joys of my career, I’ve also deeply missed the West End and so to be bringing Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical there alongside Annaleigh is both humbling and thrilling.”
His co-star Ashford said at the time: “Sharing the masterpiece that is Sunday in the Park With George with audiences, has been one of the greatest pleasures of my artistic life. It is an honour to play Dot again with genius Jake Gyllenhaal and to tell this story of children and art to the great city of London.”
While writers Lapine and Sondheim added: “We are thrilled that a London audience will get to see the recent Broadway production of Sunday in the Park With George with Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford reprising their extraordinary performances. We also look forward to seeing them joined by a terrific British company.”
Angela Thomas
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