Whitney Leavitt Razzle Dazzles in Debut Chicago Performance as Mormon Wives Costars Cheer Her Broadway Debut on from Crowd.
The ‘Dancing with the Stars’ alum’s six-week limited engagement in the musical goes through March 15
NEED TO KNOW
- Whitney Leavitt made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago, her first professional theater role
- Her Mormon Wives costars and husband Conner attended, with Hulu filming the afterparty celebration for the show’s next season.
- Leavitt, a DWTS alum, will perform in Chicago through March 15
The name on everybody’s lips was Whitney Leavitt on Monday, Feb. 2, as the Dancing with the Stars season 34 semi-finalist and breakout star of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago.
PEOPLE was in the crowd for the milestone performance, alongside a sea of supportive faces cheering on Leavitt from the crowd including her Mormon Wives costars Mayci Neeley, Jessi Ngatikaura, Mikayla Matthews, Miranda McWhorter, Layla Taylor and Jen Affleck.
Leavitt’s husband Conner was there, too. He led the standing ovation for his wife at curtain call, the audience at New York City’s Ambassador Theatre jumping to their feet to celebrate her confident performance.
All appeared to bring the mother of three to tears. As she held a bouquet of flowers given to her by the company, Leavitt was visibly emotional, her eyes welling as the sound of applause waved over her.
She ended the show by taking another solo bow before joining Sophie Carmen-Jones, who plays Velma Kelly, for an embrace. The two waved goodbye to the house together as they dramatically descended below the stage.
This is Leavitt’s Broadway debut, and her first ever professional theater role.
Afterwards, she joined her husband and their Mormon Wives costars for an opening night afterparty celebration at Glass House Tavern. The bash was captured by Hulu cameras for an upcoming season of Mormon Wives.
Now in its 29th year, Chicago is the longest-running American musical in Broadway history.
Penned by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, the musical follows killers Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, two murderesses who use their criminal notoriety to find fame in the Vaudeville circuit.
Its score, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Ebb, features some of the most beloved songs in musical theater history, including “All That Jazz,” “When You’re Good to Momma,” “Roxie,” and “Razzle Dazzle.”
Monday night’s performance also marked several cast changes for Chicago. Greg Hildreth returned to the long-running production as Amos Hart, while ensemble members Tia Altinay and Chelsea James were back onstage.
Joining the company were M. Kilgore as Mary Sunshine, along with new ensemble members Austin Dunn, Danielle Marie Gonzalez, Christopher Kelley and Jeff Sullivan.
Leavitt will continue in Chicago through March 15.
The Utah-based influencer — who gained a devoted fanbase online with her mix of dance videos, family comedy and lifestyle content —has some history with Chicago. On DWTS, she and Mark Ballas performed an Argentine Tango to “Cell Block Tango,” another one of the show’s most iconic numbers.
“It just feels surreal. That’s the best word I can think of — just surreal,” she told PEOPLE last month about stepping onto the stage. “I feel like everything that I’ve been manifesting feels more within reach. Like I can see it and it’s there and I’m reaching it and I’m going after it.
“I’m just so grateful,” she said.
Tickets for Chicago are now on sale.
