NEED TO KNOW
Whitney Leavitt is revealing who will be supporting her on the opening night of her Broadway debut.
The 32-year-old breakout star from The Secret Wives of Mormon Wives — and recent semi-finalist on Dancing with the Stars — was recently tapped to play the Roxie in Chicago, assuming the iconic role for a six-week run on Feb. 2. And naturally, all eyes will be on her opening night, where Leavitt says she expects the audience to be filled with family, friends and followers who have been by her side since the beginning of her ascent to stardom when she joined TikTok in 2020.
“I wish that I could see everyone that supports me virtually, but I’m excited to meet some of those people and see some of those people in person — because I also wouldn’t be here without them,” she tells PEOPLE in an exclusive conversation ahead of her debut.
But will Mormon Wives cast members be in attendance during her sold-out Feb. 2 show?
“Yes!” she exclaims. “Most of them are going to be there opening night, so I’m excited to see them.”
Disney/Fred Hayes
Mormon Wives, which made its splashy debut on Hulu in 2024, has continued to captivate audiences as it shows the inner lives of the Mormon mom influencers — including their dramatic feuds and an especially buzzy swinging scandal. Its third season was released on Nov. 13 — and filming for the fourth is well underway.
In a Nov. 26 interview on Alex Cooper’s podcast Call Her Daddy, Leavitt acknowledged that she had been depicted on the series with a “villain” persona, and even said that she expected it to follow her when she competed on DWTS last fall.
She also addressed a viral moment during the Oct. 28 episode of DWTS, where she could be seen seemingly smiling before quickly covering her mouth as it was announced that her Mormon Wives costar Jen Affleck had been voted off — fueling rumors of a feud between the two.
“I thought I was getting eliminated every Tuesday,” said Leavitt. “Every single Tuesday, I was like mentally preparing myself.”
But there was “no excitement whatsoever,” she clarified, adding that she was simultaneously relieved that she had made it to the next week and sad that her friend would be exiting.
Bruce Glikas/Getty
Gearing up for her Broadway debut, Leavitt admits that she is “feeling all the feelings” — nervousness, excitement and everything in between.
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Luckily for her, she’s had a pro to lean on throughout the rehearsal process: her former DWTS dance partner Mark Ballas, who notably played Frankie Valli in Broadway’s Jersey Boys in 2017.
Leavitt tells PEOPLE that Ballas has shared everything from the “technical things,” like how to take care of your voice and body through grueling rehearsals, to bigger philosophical advice.
“Live in the moment and just be present,” she says Ballas has told her, “because that will be the most enjoyable. And you’ll obviously perform better rather than just anticipating the next thing.”
