Whitney Leavitt prepares for Broadway reunion with Mark Ballas amid record-breaking run

Whitney Leavitt is navigating a whirlwind start to 2026 with a mix of Broadway triumphs and personal challenges, crediting her close-knit support system for keeping her grounded.

On February 2, Leavitt, 32, made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre, stepping into the iconic role for a run that has since been extended twice.

Her performances helped the musical achieve its highest weekly ticket sales in its 29-year history.

Leavitt is set to reunite on stage with her former Dancing with the Stars partner-turned-bestie Mark Ballas, who will play slick-talking lawyer Billy Flynn starting April 6.

Reflecting on the last two months, Leavitt told People, “It feels overwhelming, but it’s overwhelming in a good way.”

Amid her nonstop schedule, Leavitt also dealt with the release of the fourth season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and the pause of production for the fifth season following domestic violence investigations involving costar Taylor Frankie Paul.

Leavitt addressed the controversy briefly in March, emphasizing the importance of safety, particularly for children, but has otherwise remained private on the matter.

So how does Leavitt stay centered through the chaos? “My husband, my family, my really close personal friends — I keep my circles small, and those are the people that help keep me grounded,” she said, crediting her husband, Conner, and her inner circle for providing stability.

Her circle also includes Ballas, with whom she shares an enduring bond from their DWTS days.

“We connected right away,” Leavitt said. “I know that doesn't always happen with people on the show, but that happened for us, and I feel like that dynamic we're just gonna take onto this show too.”

Ballas echoed the sentiment, adding, “We have a very similar sense of humor and we like the same things.

"I think we throw ourselves 100% into whatever we're doing — and for that reason, we were able to push it even further.”

Despite a limited rehearsal schedule due to Leavitt’s demanding performance run, Ballas says their chemistry is already in place.

“We know each other's dynamics and how we move, so I’m looking forward to doing that in this context,” he said.