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Whitney Leavitt attended the Broadway Breakout charity brunch in New York City on May 22.
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During the event, she told PEOPLE what was the most challenging part of playing Roxie Hart in the musical "Chicago"« on Broadway.
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The 33-year-old actress also reminisced about her childhood theatre days and revealed why performing in front of a live audience was her favourite part of the experience.
Whitney Leavitt first rose to fame thanks to the Hulu series «The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives» , and later expanded its audience through participation in show "Dancing with the Stars"« , but this year she stepped into a whole new world: Broadway.
In February 2026, Leavitt made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical "Chicago"« at New York's Ambassador Theatre, performing one of the most iconic roles in musical theater history. Reflecting on her time on stage during the Broadway Breakout Brunch on May 22, Leavitt admits that adapting to the theater's nonstop schedule was one of the "hardest parts.".
«"I'd never done anything before that I had to repeat over and over again," Leavitt exclusively told PEOPLE. "So I had to find ways to keep enjoying it.".
Whitney Leavitt in "Chicago." Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Shutterstock
According to the 33-year-old actress, participation in production of "Chicago"« meant total immersion in the rhythm of Broadway, where artists perform several shows a week, all the while trying to ensure that each performance remains original.
The legendary musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1975 and remains one of the longest-running shows in theater history, tells the story of Roxie Hart's rise to fame after being implicated in a murder scandal in 1920s Chicago.
Leavitt initially signed a limited-time contract, but her engagement was extended through May as interest in her candidacy continued to grow. While the busy schedule was a new experience for her, Leavitt says the connection with the audience quickly became her favorite part of performing on stage every night.
«I think the best thing is… nothing beats a live audience, and feeling that energy was the most enjoyable moment for me,» she says.
The Broadway role also brought Leavitt back to what she loved long before reality TV.
Growing up in Utah, she participated in theater productions from childhood and still remembers details of her very first play - «The Wizard of Oz.
«"I played Leo. All I remember is the amount of makeup my mom put on me and this homemade costume I put on my face, and I remember it itching because of the Velcro," she explains. "I can't even say anything about the performance itself, but I remember what I was wearing.".
Whitney Leavitt in "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives." Photo: Disney/Fred Hayes
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Leavitt's Broadway run ended on May 3, but she announced another major shift in her career.
During his speech at The Kelly Clarkson Show On May 15, the reality TV star announced that she plans to leave the series. «The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives» on Hulu after the fifth season.
«"It took about four years of my life," Leavitt told host Kelly Clarkson, 44.
«"Every time I've left, I haven't felt gratitude," she continued. "But this time, I do. It just feels like a chapter in my life has closed. My cup is full, and it feels like it's time. So I'm thrilled.".
Read the original article on People.