Whitney Leavitt has had a busy start to her 2026, and she’s leaning on those close to her through it all
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The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is in the middle of a record-breaking run as Roxie Hart in Chicago after making her Broadway debut in the role in February
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“I keep my circles small, and those are the people that help keep me grounded,” she tells PEOPLE
Whitney Leavitthas had a busy start to her 2026, and she’s leaning on those close to her through it all.
On Feb. 2, theSecret Lives of Mormon Wivesstar, 32, made herBroadway debutplaying the iconic part of Roxie Hart inChicago, kicking off a lucrative run for the long-running musical, which notched itshighest weekly ticket salesin the show's 29-year history with Leavitt at the helm. Her run has since beenextendedtwice, and on April 6, she’ll reunite on stage with her formerDancing with the Starspartner-turned-bestieMark Ballaswhen he starts his own run as slick-talking lawyer Billy Flynn.
“It feels overwhelming, but it’s overwhelming in a good way,” Leavitt tells PEOPLE when asked to reflect on her blockbuster last two months.
Amid Leavitt’s nonstop performance schedule, March also saw the release of thefourth season ofMormon Wivesand the shocking news that production for the fifth seasonhad been haltedin the wake of newdomestic violence investigationsnaming costarTaylor Frankie Paul.
Leavittbriefly addressed the controversywhile speaking toInterview Magazinein March, telling the outlet, "I have a lot of emotions about it and I’m still processing everything that’s happening, but the safety of human beings, especially children, comes first" — but has otherwise avoided weighing in.
So, how does the reality TV star-turned-stage actor stay level-headed through the nonstop headlines?
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“My husband,” Leavitt says, referencing hubbyConner, to whom she tied the knot in 2016. “My family, my really close personal friends — I keep my circles small, and those are the people that help keep me grounded.”
These days, that circle also includes Ballas, as the pair are in the midst of rehearsals for their on-stage reunion, introducing their much-loved chemistry fromDWTSto a Broadway audience.
“We connected right away,” Leavitt recalls to PEOPLE of their time on the ABC competition show. “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.”
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While Ballas’s opening night is mere days away, and the pair have only had a couple of chances to rehearse the show together because of Leavitt's demanding performance schedule, Ballas tells PEOPLE 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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