Iconic Broadway Musical Just Had Its Biggest Week in 30 Years Thanks to a 'DWTS' Pro and a 'Mormon Wives' Star
Chicago the Musical is having a moment, and the Dancing With the Stars family is the reason.
On Wednesday, April 15, Mark Ballas went to Instagram to celebrate what he called "Broadway History." The Season 34 DWTS pro, who joined the long running revival as slick defense lawyer Billy Flynn on April 6, said the show had just logged its "highest grossing week in 30 years."
"WE DID IT!!" he wrote, thanking the cast, orchestra and crew and giving a shout out to the costar he happens to know very well: Whitney Leavitt, his Season 34 DWTS partner.
A 'DWTS' Partner Reunion, on Broadway
Ballas and Leavitt were paired on DWTS Season 34, finishing sixth after the semifinals. Chicago saw a nearly 30 percent jump in ticket sales the week Ballas debuted opposite Leavitt, who recently returned to the cast as Roxie Hart.
A Very Long Running Show
Chicago's current revival opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on November 14, 1996. It transferred to the Shubert Theatre the following year, then to the Ambassador Theatre in 2003, where it still plays. Per Playbill's anniversary coverage, it is the longest running American musical in Broadway history, and with The Phantom of the Opera having closed in 2023, it is also the longest running show currently on Broadway. In other words, breaking the right kind of record here is hard to do.
The 'DWTS' Family Showed Up in the Comments
Ballas's post quickly filled with familiar names. Leavitt replied, "🔥🔥🔥ayyyeeeeeeeeee." Ballas's mother, Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas, wrote, "Simply the best." Derek Hough added, "No doubts 🙌." Sharna Burgess, Maura Higgins, Lisa Rinna, Paula Abdul and Cameron Mathison all chimed in.
Ballas is playing Billy Flynn through May 3 as part of a limited engagement. Leavitt's run as Roxie is also limited, so anyone hoping to catch the DWTS partner pairing at the Ambassador will want to move fast.
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 6:57 PM.