Reality-TV star Whitney Leavitt to debut on Broadway as Roxie Hart in Chicago after controversial DWTS exit

Whitney Leavitt — best known from the reality show ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ and a recent contestant on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ (DWTS) — is set to make a major leap to Broadway.

Whitney Leavitt joins ‘Chicago’ Broadway show

She has been cast as Roxie Hart in the Broadway production of ‘Chicago’, with a six-week limited run beginning 2 February 2026 at the Ambassador Theatre in New York City.

Leavitt’s casting comes shortly after a turbulent season on DWTS, where despite delivering technically strong performances with her partner Mark Ballas, she was eliminated in the semi-finals.

Many observers believe that her exit was influenced more by backlash from her reality-TV past and social media hate than by her dance skills.

Leavitt shared the news with people via her social media accounts. She wrote, “Grateful beyond words to ANNOUNCE that I will be joining @chicagomusical in the iconic role of Roxie Hart 💕 beginning Feb.2nd 2026! See you in New York City! #chicagoonbroadway (sic).”

The official Instagram page of ‘Chicago’ also shared the update on their bio.

More about her time in ‘Dancing With The Stars’

During her time on DWTS Season 34, Leavitt drew attention not just for her dancing but also for her earlier work on 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives — a background that provoked both scrutiny and support from fans. Despite this, her technical competence was evident: she and Ballas often received high marks and at one point even topped the leaderboard.

After her elimination, Leavitt spoke openly about the experience. On social media, she likened leaving the show to going through a painful breakup, describing how difficult the sudden change was after spending so much time immersed in the DWTS world. Still, instead of retreating, she used the moment to pivot towards her next goal — a career in theatre.

The connection to ‘Chicago’ is not coincidental. During DWTS this season, Leavitt and Ballas performed an Argentine tango to ‘Cell Block Tango,’ a number directly inspired by ‘Chicago’ and widely praised for its intensity and flair. That performance is now seen as a kind of audition for her Broadway casting.

More about ‘Chicago’

Chicago is one of Broadway’s longest-running shows and a former Oscar-winning film adaptation. The production has grown increasingly open to casting well-known TV personalities in its ensemble — a trend that helps attract a broader audience and generates fresh publicity. Previous non-traditional casting choices have included other reality-TV alumni.