Dancing with the Stars co-host and former pro Julianne Hough is officially returning to Broadway next year, as she’s set to star alongside Neil Patrick Harris and Austin Scott in a revival of the musical Damn Yankees.
Julianne Hough Is Returning to Broadway Next Year
It was recently announced that Julianne Hough, Neil Patrick Harris, and Austin Scott will be starring in the first production of the musical Damn Yankees in over 30 years. The revival will reportedly kick off in April 2027.
Hough will play the part of Lola in the musical, which first debuted in 1955. The character was portrayed by actress Gwen Verdon in the 1958 film adaptation of the show. This isn’t Hough’s first time on Broadway, as she made her debut in 2022 in the play POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive.
Hough also appeared in the movie musicals Footloose and Rock of Ages, and she starred as Sandy in the TV special Grease Live! in 2016. Although mostly known for her dance skills, Hough is also a singer, having released a number of songs over the years.
The 38-year-old had a little help from her DWTS cast mates (including her brother Derek Hough and co-host Alfonso Ribeiro) when announcing her new Broadway role, as an Instagram video showed them throwing a baseball to each other until Hough eventually caught it.
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Hough Thinks Her Ballroom Experience Will Help Her
During a recent press conference, The Independent asked Julianne Hough how her Dancing With the Stars experience will help her in her new Broadway role, to which she replied, “I think the partnership and the family.”
“The greatest thing about being a part of Dancing With the Stars for the last 20 years — I’ve been on and off that show as a pro, a judge, and a host — it’s family,” Hough explained. “We have each other’s backs.”
Her co-star Austin Scott said that having “a partner who has a lot of experience, literally dancing with people who have no idea how to dance, is a huge comfort” going into the new production.
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