Whitney Leavitt Steps Into the Spotlight as Roxie Hart in Broadway’s ‘Chicago’ After DWTS Journey

From Ballroom to Broadway: Whitney Leavitt’s Leap

Whitney Leavitt’s journey from reality TV notoriety to the revered stages of Broadway is more than just a career pivot—it’s a story of reinvention, resilience, and the evolving nature of celebrity in 2025. Just weeks after her headline-making run on season 34 of ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ Leavitt is stepping into the legendary shoes of Roxie Hart in Broadway’s enduring musical ‘Chicago.’ Her six-week engagement at the Ambassador Theatre, beginning February 2 and running through March 15, is not just a personal milestone; it’s emblematic of the complex, sometimes fraught relationship between social media fame and traditional performance art.

Controversy, Critique, and the Power of Narrative

Leavitt, best known for her role on Hulu’s ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,’ entered ‘Dancing with the Stars’ as something of a lightning rod. Her technical prowess on the dance floor was undeniable—judges routinely praised her, and she even notched a perfect score in week nine. Yet, despite her skill, she was eliminated before the finals. The fanbase’s response was polarized, with some attributing her early exit to the negative public persona she’d acquired from ‘Secret Lives.’ According to Entertainment Weekly, even her fellow contestants were baffled by the decision. Andy Richter, a fellow season 34 participant, called her elimination “absolutely insane,” questioning the rationale behind the voting.

The online discourse was relentless. As USA Today reported, Leavitt herself acknowledged the “tidal wave of online hate” she faced, some of it stemming from past reality show episodes. “I am used to the hate,” she told Alex Cooper on ‘Call Her Daddy,’ reflecting on how her media persona influenced public perception. Leavitt’s willingness to speak candidly about the psychological toll of reality TV and internet backlash offers a rare, unvarnished look at the human side of celebrity—a side often glossed over in the highlight reels.

Celebrity Casting: The Broadway Trend

Leavitt’s casting as Roxie Hart is part of a broader Broadway trend: bringing in celebrities from outside the theater world to boost ticket sales and media attention. She joins a lineage of famous faces—including Ariana Maddix, Erika Jayne, Lisa Rinna, and Melanie Griffith—who have all portrayed the ambitious, cunning Roxie. For Leavitt, this marks her first professional theater role, a leap from reality TV into the high-stakes world of live performance.

Her transition was foreshadowed during her ‘DWTS’ run, where she and partner Mark Ballas performed a memorable Argentine Tango to ‘Cell Block Tango,’ a nod to ‘Chicago’s’ iconic musical sequences. It was more than a dance; it was a preview of Leavitt’s potential to embody the character’s charisma and complexity.

Behind the Curtain: Leavitt’s Path to the Stage

The story behind Leavitt’s Broadway debut is layered with personal choices and professional strategy. As she revealed in season three of ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,’ her return to the reality series was motivated by the chance to be cast on ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ “I heard from my team DWTS was going to cast someone from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and that’s a motivator. I’ll come back for that,” she admitted in a confessional. Her openness about the calculated steps she took to reach this opportunity paints a picture of a performer who understands both the mechanics and the psychology of modern fame.

Leavitt, 32, is also a mother of three—Sedona, 6; Liam, 3; and Billy Gene, just over a year old. Balancing family, public scrutiny, and career ambitions is no small feat. In a November Instagram video, she reflected on the positive aspects of her time on ‘DWTS’: “You grow real friendships and real connections with these people. You learn so much about yourself and people who lift you constantly, and you challenge yourself. You just feel so loved.” That sentiment stands in stark contrast to the online negativity, hinting at the dual realities of fame: one intimate and supportive, the other harsh and unforgiving.

Tickets, Timing, and the Road Ahead

For those eager to see Leavitt’s Broadway transformation, tickets for ‘Chicago’ are available now via the musical’s official website. The Ambassador Theatre’s six-week window offers fans and critics alike a chance to witness whether Leavitt’s reality TV charisma translates to theatrical success. As Broadway continues to experiment with celebrity guest stars to invigorate its audience, Leavitt’s run will be closely watched—not just by her fanbase but by industry insiders measuring the impact of crossover casting.

The role of Roxie Hart is one of musical theater’s great challenges. It demands not just technical skill, but emotional nuance, comedic timing, and an ability to command the stage. For Leavitt, whose public image has been defined as much by controversy as by talent, the opportunity is both a risk and a reward.

Redefining the Narrative: Celebrity, Scrutiny, and Stagecraft

Leavitt’s story is a microcosm of the shifting sands of entertainment in 2025. Reality TV stars are no longer just fleeting pop culture phenomena—they’re crossing over into legacy institutions like Broadway, reshaping both industries in the process. The conversation around Leavitt’s journey, from the ballroom to the Ambassador Theatre, is less about a single role and more about who gets to tell their story, and how public perception can be both an obstacle and a stepping stone.

Whitney Leavitt’s debut as Roxie Hart is more than a headline—it’s a testament to the power of reinvention in the modern entertainment landscape. Facing criticism, navigating fandoms, and leveraging her media presence, Leavitt’s Broadway run is a bold experiment in crossing boundaries. Whether her performance wins over skeptics or simply sparks more debate, it’s clear that the line between reality TV and the theater stage has never been thinner—or more intriguing.