Whitney Leavitt, known from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and her recent season on Dancing with the Stars, has landed a major new opportunity following her exit from the show. She’s set to play Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway for a six-week run beginning February 2, 2026, at the Ambassador Theatre in New York.On Dancing with the Stars, Whitney and Mark Ballas delivered consistently strong and technical performances throughout Season 34, yet she was eliminated in the semifinals. Many viewers felt the decision may have been influenced by social media controversy rather than her actual dancing.Her casting in Chicago came quickly after her departure from the show, and the news caught many fans by surprise since it wasn’t the next step people were expecting for her. It marks a significant shift from reality TV to a major theatrical role, and the timing made the announcement stand out even more.Her Broadway debut also fits the whole pattern of Chicago casting reality TV people sometimes, probably to get more viewers and attention.Dancing with the Stars: Whitney Leavitt’s journey to Broadway View this post on Instagram Instagram PostDancing with the Stars' Leavitt broke the news herself on her socials, thanking everyone like she’d just won a school raffle and confirming she’ll be hitting the Ambassador Theatre stage on February 2. Chicago’s official Instagram even updated their bio to make it Instagram official. Her six-week run puts her in the shoes of Roxie Hart, the show’s headline-stealing, media-manipulating damsel-cum-murderess-in-distress lead from 1920s Chicago.The timing of it all makes it pretty clear she wasted no time after getting booted from Dancing with the Stars. Instead of taking a breather, she pretty much sprinted straight into theater auditions. Season 34 put her under a spotlight that wasn’t always about the dancing. Her background on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives brought fans, critics, and everyone in between to her DWTS run.Still, her technique was never really the issue in Dancing with the Stars. She and Ballas racked up high scores, topped the leaderboard once, and generally danced like people who knew what they were doing. So when she got knocked out in the semifinals, plenty of viewers wondered if the votes were more about vibes than Viennese waltz quality. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostAfterward, Leavitt compared leaving Dancing with the Stars to going through a breakup. But instead of sulking, she turned the heartbreak into hustle and aimed straight for Broadway.And to be honest, her casting in Chicago wasn’t totally out of left field. Earlier in the season, she and Ballas performed an Argentine tango to “Cell Block Tango,” straight from the musical itself. The routine got a ton of praise for being bold, intense, and drama-filled and, basically, very Chicago coded. Looking back, it kind of feels like an unintentional audition tape. And clearly, someone was watching.The casting directors likely noticed how she commanded attention during that particular number, demonstrating stage presence beyond basic dance technique.Where Broadway meets reality TVChicago has become known for casting television personalities in its ensemble. This strategy helps the long-running production attract new audiences who might not typically attend Broadway shows. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostPrevious seasons have featured other reality TV alumni in various roles. The approach generates media attention and introduces the musical to demographics that follow cast members from their television work. The production ran for decades and inspired an Oscar-winning film adaptation. Its willingness to experiment with nontraditional casting has contributed to its continued relevance in the competitive Broadway market.For Leavitt, the role represents validation after a difficult elimination experience. It proves her abilities extend beyond reality television into legitimate theatrical performance, potentially opening doors for future stage opportunities beyond this limited engagement.You can watch Dancing with the Stars every Tuesday at 8:00 PM ET on ABC.