Roxie Hart role brings Whitney Leavitt to Broadway after DWTS run

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, 32, announced on Instagram that she will take on the role of Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway. Her run begins on 2 February at the Ambassador Theatre in New York and continues through 15 March.

Her casting follows a turbulent season on DWTS, where Leavitt impressed judges with her technique but faced intense online criticism linked to her earlier appearances on Mormon Wives. Despite strong scores, she was eliminated before the finals after receiving fewer viewer votes. Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin went on to win the Mirrorball trophy.

Leavitt later reflected on the backlash during an appearance on Call Her Daddy, where she and her professional partner Mark Ballas performed their freestyle routine again. She said she expected difficulty with fan support because of how her persona had been portrayed on reality television.

Her move to Chicago has clear links to her time on DWTS. Mid-season, Leavitt and Ballas performed an Argentine Tango to Cell Block Tango, one of the musical’s most recognisable numbers. The casting also reflects Broadway’s growing trend of inviting celebrities for short, high-visibility engagements.

Leavitt joins a long list of stars who have portrayed Roxie Hart, including Ariana Madix, Erika Jayne, Lisa Rinna and Melanie Griffith.

Aasiya Nazir