Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas Are Reuniting on Broadway — Here's What We Know
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas, who were paired on Dancing with the Stars Season 34, are reuniting for a four-week limited engagement in the Broadway musical Chicago, running April 6 through May 3, at the Ambassador Theatre in New York City.
Ballas will play smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn, while Leavitt will continue performing as the ambitious Roxie Hart. The pairing brings their established on-screen partnership from the television competition to the live theater stage.
Leavitt, of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and Ballas, a professional dancer, made a strong impression throughout season 34 of Dancing with the Stars before being eliminated during the semifinals on Nov. 18, finishing in sixth place.
Leavitt announced the news on Instagram March 10.
“This secret was way too hard to keep! The incredible @markballas & I will be performing TOGETHER in @chicagomusical April 6-May3rd! Can’t wait to perform on stage together again,” she wrote.
Whitney Leavitt’s Run Extended Twice
Leavitt made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago on February 2.
Her performance generated enough enthusiasm that the production extended her involvement twice — first from a March 15 end date to April 5, then again through May 3, coinciding with Ballas joining the cast.
The double extension speaks to the audience reception Leavitt has received in the role.
For fans who followed her on Dancing with the Stars and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, her transition to Broadway represents a significant expansion of her performing career.
Ballas Calls It a ‘Full-Circle Moment’
For Ballas, the role of Billy Flynn carries deep personal significance. The three-time Mirrorball champion on Dancing with the Stars is no stranger to Broadway, but his connection to Chicago stretches back two decades.
Ballas also announced the news on Instagram, describing it as a “full-circle moment.”
“One of the first shows I auditioned for after graduating musical theatre college was for the ensemble of Chicago in the West End in London. After many callbacks, and making it to the final call, I didn’t end up booking the gig,” he wrote.
“I was 19 years old, new to the industry, learning how to pay my dues, accept rejection, and be told no. Twenty years later, I’m making my return to Broadway as Billy Flynn. This will now be my 3rd Broadway show that I have had the pleasure to be a part of,” he added.
Ballas made his Broadway debut as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys, which closed in January 2017. He then returned to the Broadway stage in Kinky Boots in 2018.
His casting as Billy Flynn marks his third Broadway show — and a role with a story that began long before he became a household name on television.
“Hard work, persistence, dedication to the craft, and relentlessness really do pay off. Thank you to my musical theatre teachers for instilling this in me, and for the years of tough love,” he continued.
What Fans Need to Know
Chicago is the longest-running American musical in Broadway history. The current revival will celebrate its 30th anniversary this November.
The production has long attracted performers from across the entertainment world, and the pairing of two Dancing with the Stars alumni in leading roles adds a new dimension to its legacy of drawing audiences beyond traditional theatergoers.
The four-week limited engagement means the window to catch this particular pairing is narrow. With Leavitt’s run already having been extended twice due to demand, tickets may move quickly.
Tickets for Chicago are now on sale. The engagement runs April 6 through May 3, at the Ambassador Theatre in New York City.
BOTTOM LINE: With only four weeks to catch Leavitt and Ballas together on the Broadway stage, and Leavitt’s run already extended twice due to high demand, fans looking to see their ballroom-to-Broadway reunion should act quickly on tickets.
Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists.
