Mark Ballas Takes His First Broadway Bow in “Chicago” Opposite His “DWTS” Partner Whitney Leavitt
Mark Ballas Takes His First Broadway Bow in “Chicago” Opposite His “DWTS” Partner Whitney Leavitt
Dave QuinnTue, April 7, 2026 at 9:33 AM UTC
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Mark Ballas takes his first bow in Broadway's 'Chicago' on Monday, April 6, 2026 as his former 'Dancing with the Stars' partner Whitney Leavitt watches onCredit: Avery Brunkus -
Mark Ballas returned to Broadway as Billy Flynn in Chicago for a four-week limited engagement through May 3
The Dancing with the Stars pro is starring alongside his former partner Whitney Leavitt, who made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in February
Ballas previously appeared on Broadway in Jersey Boys and Kinky Boots
Welcome back to Broadway, Mark Ballas!
The Dancing with the Stars pro and actor — recently seen on season 4 of The Traitors — returned to the boards on Monday, April 6, kicking off a four-week limited engagement run in the Tony Award-winning revival of Chicago.
Ballas, 39, is playing slick-talking lawyer Billy Flynn. He's starring opposite his former DWTS partner Whitney Leavitt, who made her Broadway debut in the role of Roxie Hart on Feb. 2.
While Ballas was used to guiding Leavitt, 32, in the ballroom, she was taking the lead on Monday night. In a video of Ballas's curtain call, the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives breakout could be seen moving Ballas back after the company bow to make room for costar Greg Hildreth's encore bow.
She then cheered Ballas on as he took center stage at the Ambassador Theatre, flowers in hand, for his own secondary bow.
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A crowd of devoted theatergoers greeted Ballas with a rousing standing ovation and a sea of applause.
Of course, he's used to that, having been on Broadway before. The three-time Mirrorball champion made his Broadway debut a decade ago as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys, leading that production for nearly a year until its closing in January 2017. He came back to Broadway in 2018 for a run in Kinky Boots.
Mark Ballas and Whitney Leavitt (center) in Broadway's 'Chicago' on Monday, April 6, 2026Credit: Avery Brunkus
Fans can catch Ballas and Leavitt in Chicago through May 3 only.
Earlier this month, the pair opened up to PEOPLE about their chemistry both on and off stage.
“We connected right away,” Leavitt recalled of meeting on DWTS. “I know that doesn't always happen with people on the show, but that happened for us, and I feel like that dynamic we're just gonna take onto this show too.”
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“We just get each other,” Ballas added. “We have a very similar sense of humor and we like the same things. I think we throw ourselves 100% into whatever we're doing — and for that reason, we were able to push it even further.”
Mark Ballas takes his first bow in Broadway's 'Chicago' on Monday, April 6, 2026Credit: Avery Brunkus
The two have a history with the musical on the ABC competition, performing an Argentine Tango to "Cell Block Tango" — one of the show's most iconic numbers.
"Our synergy and the way we work together is already in place," Ballas said. "We know each other's dynamics and how we move, so I'm looking forward to doing that in this context."
Chicago is the longest-running American musical in Broadway history. This November, the revival will celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas strike a pose at photo call for their run in 'Chicago' on Broadway held on April 6, 2026Credit: Bruce Glikas/WireImage
With a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, the musical Hart and fellow killer Velma Kelly enlist Flynn to spin their scandal into headline-grabbing fame. 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."
The musical originally premiered in 1975 with legendary leading ladies Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera playing Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, respectively. The 1996 revival, directed by Walter Bobbie and first starring Ann Reinking and Bebe Neuwirth, won six Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical.
An all-star film adaptation was released in 2002 with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger in the lead roles, alongside a superstar cast including Richard Gere, Taye Diggs, Christine Baranski and Queen Latifah as Mama Morton. The movie went on to win six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress for Zeta-Jones.
Joining Ballas and Leavitt on stage in Chicago are Sophie Carmen-Jones as Velma Kelly, Jacqueline B. Arnold as Matron “Mama” Morton, Hildreth as Amos Hart and M. Kilgore as Mary Sunshine.
The cast also includes Tia Altinay, Zach Bravo, Austin Dunn, Jennifer Dunne, Jessica Ernest, John Michael Fiumara, Danielle Marie Gonzalez, Chelsea James, Christopher Kelley, James T. Lane, Marty Lawson, Joseph London, Kristen Faith Oei, Denny Paschall, Mariah Reives, Sean Samuels, Samantha Sturm, Jeff Sullivan.
Tickets for Chicago are now on sale.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
