It’s official: Whitney Leavitt is headed to Broadway. Just one week before the finale of Dancing with the Stars Season 34, hearts were shattered around the world when Leavitt was eliminated from the competition. Week after week, the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star and her partner, Mark Ballas, stole the show and received praise from both the judges and fans watching from home. While her time on DWTS ended prematurely, on Dec. 1, it was announced that Leavitt will star in Chicago as Roxie Hart in 2026.
You read that right. Leavitt will officially take on her first-ever professional theater role in Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre in New York City, with her performances beginning on Feb. 2, 2026 and ending six weeks later on March 15, 2026.
The news really comes as no surprise to fans who have been following Leavitt’s journey. During her time on DWTS, Leavitt performed a stunning tango performance with Ballas to “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago. The Chicago TikTok account even sang her praises themselves, posting a performance clip captioned “Whitney Leavitt as Roxie when???” Leavitt certainly wasn’t against the idea, as she smiled and said that — after a few voice lessons — she’d “love to” head to Broadway during a post-performance interview in October.
It isn’t unheard of for DWTS guests to find their Broadway start thanks to the show. Similarly, reality star Ariana Madix from Vanderpump Rules was on DWTS season 32 in 2023. After placing third, she eventually performed as Roxie Hart from January to April 2024, and again from August to September 2024 — breaking Chicago box office records in the process. Â
Leavitt has been candid about how DWTS reignited her confidence, helping her realize that just because she’s a mom of three doesn’t mean she can’t still be a performer — and it’s safe to say her loyal fans will be cheering her on as she takes the Chicago stage in February.