Whitney Leavitt reflects on Broadway challenge after starring as Roxie Hart
The actress starred as Roxie Hart in her Broadway debut beginning in February 2026
Whitney Leavitt opened up about the reality of life on Broadway and the challenge of keeping energy fresh while performing the same role every night.
The 33-year-old actress, who made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago at New York’s Ambassador Theatre in February 2026, spoke to People at the Broadway Breakout Brunch on May 22 about the adjustment from reality TV and screen work to live theater.
“I’d never done something where you’re doing it over and over and over again like that,” Leavitt said exclusively. “So it’s like I needed to find ways to continue to be excited.”
Best known for Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and her appearance on Dancing with the Stars, Leavitt said stepping into one of Broadway’s most iconic roles required her to fully adapt to the demanding performance schedule that comes with eight shows a week.
Chicago, which first premiered on Broadway in 1975, follows Roxie Hart as she navigates fame and scandal in 1920s Chicago.
Despite the repetition, Leavitt said the live audience became the most rewarding part of the experience.
“I think the best part… there’s nothing quite like a live audience and feeling that energy,” she said. “That was the best part for me.”
Leavitt originally signed on for a limited engagement, but her run was extended through May amid growing interest in her casting. Her final performance took place on May 3.
Reflecting on her Broadway journey, she also shared a personal connection to theater that goes back to childhood in Utah, where she first performed in school productions.
“I played the Lion in The Wizard of Oz,” she recalled. “All I remember is the makeup my mom put on me… I remember what I wore more than anything else.”
The Broadway chapter also comes during a period of transition in Leavitt’s career. On The Kelly Clarkson Show earlier in May, she revealed plans to step away from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives after its fifth season, calling it the end of a meaningful chapter.
