Mark Ballas Joins Whitney Leavitt in ‘Chicago’ on Broadway

Mark Ballas made his highly anticipated return to the Broadway stage Monday night as Billy Flynn in Chicago. Ballas joined Whitney Leavitt for an official creative reunion after their partnership in Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) season 34.

Seeing the pair back on stage together is the happy ending many DWTS fans were hoping for. Following an incredible run on DWTS, Ballas and Leavitt’s journey ended abruptly when fans voted them off the show during the semi-finals. Their elimination shocked many fans after the pair consistently placed first or second place in every episode of the season.

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Motivation for the couple’s elimination wasn’t strictly dance-based. The elimination followed the release of season three of the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (SLOMW). After taking a break from filming to focus on her own family and mental health, Leavitt returned to SLOMW when ABC announced it would choose one woman to join DWTS. Her choice was polarizing. Some fans celebrated Leavitt for being honest about her goals and seizing the opportunity in front of her. Others saw her as the villain of the season, believing her to be inauthentic and selfish.

During the week before the semi-final, fans and haters alike encouraged the public to vote Leavitt off of DWTS. When the pair was eliminated at the end of the semi-final episode, they believed their time dancing together had come to an end. Luckily, they were wrong.

Following the couple’s elimination, Alex Cooper invited the pair to Call Her Daddy to perform what would have been their big finale freestyle routine had they made it to the DWTS final show. Ballas and Leavitt danced to a stunning, jazzy rendition of “My Way” by Frank Sinatra.

Back on Broadway

Chicago isn’t Ballas’s first show on Broadway. In 2016, he debuted as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boysand later starred as Charlie Price in Kinky Boots in 2018. Ballas trained in musical theater as a child and in college.

Ballas will perform as Billy Flynn in Chicago from April 6 through May 3.

With Ballas and Leavitt remaining in the spotlight following their time on DWTS, fans are wondering what comes next for Ballas. Will he return to DWTS again this fall? Ballas has yet to share his decision.

Ballas’s return to DWTS for season 34 was a surprise to many fans. Ballas took a break from DWTS after he and his partner, Charli D’Amelio, won the mirrorball trophy in season 31. Ballas told Cooper on Call Her Daddy that he stepped away to give his body time to recover and focus on starting a family. After having his son and giving his body a much-needed break, he decided to join the cast again.  

No matter what’s next for Ballas, Chicago feels like the perfect way to soothe the sting of Ballas and Leavitt’s disappointing end of DWTS season 34. We love seeing the couple get a second chance to share the spotlight.