Dancing with the Stars Season 34 contestant Whitney Leavitt is gearing up to make her Broadway debut in Chicago next month. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star recently opened up about the opportunity in an interview with People, sharing her DWTS partner Mark Ballas’ advice for her.
Whitney Leavitt Shares Mark Ballas’ Broadway Advice
Despite receiving high scores from the judges throughout the competition, Whitney Leavitt and her partner Mark Ballas were eliminated from DWTS Season 34 in the Semifinals. Leavitt later revealed that she had been cast as Roxie Hart for a six-week run in Chicago on Broadway.
According to People, Leavitt had been sending in audition tapes for the role during her time on DWTS. Two days after her elimination, she was asked to formally audition in New York City. A day later, she was offered the role.
Leavitt said that Ballas was “a huge advocate and motivator for me to go after it and really give it my all.” Ballas has his own experience on Broadway, having played Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys in 2017. Leavitt shared the advice Ballas gave her ahead of this exciting opportunity.
“Live in the moment and just be present, because that will be the most enjoyable,” Leavitt said, referring to the same guidance Ballas gave her on DWTS. “And you’ll obviously perform better rather than just anticipating the next thing.”
SEE ALSO: WHITNEY LEAVITT, MARK BALLAS ADMIT THEY SAW ‘DWTS’ ELIMINATION COMING
Leavitt Is Looking Forward to Opening Night
Leavitt’s six-week run in Chicago begins on February 2. The production will run until March 15 at the Ambassador Theatre in New York City. Tickets are on sale now, with the opening night of Leavitt’s run already selling out.
Leavitt told People that she’s “feeling all the feelings” as her big debut approaches. Although she apparently joked that Ballas should not attend opening night, she expects that he’ll be in the audience, saying, “I’m so excited to see him.”
The former DWTS partners recently reunited on social media, performing a cute dance routine outside the Ambassador Theatre, with the sign for Chicago in the background.
