Mark Ballas and Whitney Leavitt
Credit: Bruce Glikas/WireImage
NEED TO KNOW
Mark Ballas and Whitney Leavitt are taking the stage together in Broadway’s Chicago on April 6 — but the iconic reunion almost didn’t come to fruition
Ballas talks exclusively with PEOPLE about reuniting with his Dancing with the Stars partner
Leavitt’s run was recently extended through May 3
Mark Ballas is about to take the stage alongside his Dancing with the Stars partner Whitney Leavitt — but the iconic reunion almost didn’t come to fruition!
The duo, who captured hearts and minds as they twirled their way to the semifinals of the ABC competition show last fall, sent the internet aflutter in March when it was announced that Ballas, 39, would be assuming the role of slick-talking lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago opposite Leavitt’s Roxie Hart.
The 32-year-old breakout star from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives made her Broadway debut in the role on Feb. 2 — and made history with her run: in mid-March, Chicago earned its highest weekly ticket sales in the show’s 29-year history (she even got a tattoo to celebrate!).
But speaking to PEOPLE before taking the stage, Ballas reveals that the pair’s highly anticipated reunion almost didn’t happen.
“Ironically, when I booked the gig, our dates didn’t overlap,” he says.
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas
Credit: Emilio Madrid
Indeed, Leavitt was only initially slated to play Roxie through April 5, the day before Ballas began his run. But luckily, Leavitt’s run was extended through May 3 — meaning she’ll appear on stage with her DWTS partner.
“Luckily for extensions and whatnot,” Ballas tells PEOPLE with a smile, “here we are doing it together.”
While the pair showed off their dancing chops on DWTS, during the season, they also learned that they have incredible chemistry, both on and off stage.
“We connected right away,” Leavitt tells PEOPLE. “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,” adds Ballas. “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.”
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas
Credit: Disney/Andrew Eccles
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Even though Ballas’s opening night is mere days away, the pair reveal that they have only had a “couple” of chances to rehearse the show together, given Leavitt’s demanding performance schedule. But Ballas says he’s not worried: “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.”
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