Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas didn’t win the Mirrorball trophy on “Dancing With the Stars” season 34, but they formed a remarkable friendship and put on several iconic performances.
Now, fans get to see the duo back in action during their run in “Chicago” on Broadway. Whitney Leavitt has been smashing box office records as the star, Roxie Hart. Mark Ballas joins her as Billy Flynn starting this week.
While fans can’t wait to see them shine together, the pair admit their highly anticipated reunion almost didn’t happen at all.
Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas Reunite on Broadway This Week
Mark Ballas and Whitney Leavitt are no strangers to the magical world of entertainment and performance. But they ran into a hiccup when they realized their time in “Chicago” wouldn’t overlap.
In a new interview with PEOPLE, the season 34 duo discussed how their “Chicago” run almost completely derailed.
“Ironically, when I booked the gig, our dates didn’t overlap,” Mark admitted.
Whitney was only supposed to lead the show through April 5, with Mark joining the cast on April 6. But thanks to an extension, Whitney now gets to perform with her “Dancing With the Stars” partner for several weeks.
“We connected right away,” the mother of three shared in the interview. “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.”
“We just get each other,” Mark chimed in. “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.”
Their first show together begins tomorrow, but the fan-favorite “DWTS” couple admits they only had a few chances to rehearse together. However, Mark feels confident they’ll pull it off flawlessly.
“I feel like our synergy and the way we work together is already in place. We know each other’s dynamics and how we move, so I’m looking forward to doing that in this context,” the 39-year-old shared.
The People Love the “Mormon Wives” Star
When Whitney Leavitt first booked her run as the iconic Roxie Hart, many fans weren’t sure what to expect. But since the “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star took the lead, “Chicago” has seen a massive resurgence.
Broadway World notes that “Chicago” has seen the “highest grossest 6-week span in the show’s history” since Whitney joined the cast.
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas star in “Chicago” on Broadway from April 6 through May 3. “Dancing With the Stars” returns to ABC this September.
