Mormon Wives’ Conner Leavitt to Make Off-Broadway Debut

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Conner Leavitt is taking a page out of his wife’s playbook.

Reality TV star Whitney Leavitt, known from Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, is now performing magic on stage in Chicago. She’s part of the off-Broadway show 11 to Midnight.

Conner will be the lead actor in a play about seven friends and their relationships as they await the new year. The play will run for three weeks, from May 8th to May 27th, as announced on May 1st.

Get ready for a special performance! The popular DadTok creator will be sharing the stage with Heather Morris from Glee and Nia Sioux from Dance Moms as he makes his first appearance in a New York stage production.

After the news was released, Whitney—known for her record-breaking performance as Roxie Hart, which brought in the highest weekly earnings in the show’s 29-year run—shared her excitement and support for her husband’s new project.

She shared her excitement on Instagram Stories on May 1st, writing, “I’m so incredibly thrilled about this! Congratulations!”

As a dad to three little ones – Sedona, who’s six, Liam, four, and baby Billy, who’s just eighteen months – I always love to celebrate what my partner, Whitney, accomplishes. And honestly, her success is a huge part of what allows me to take on new challenges, so I’m happy to give her all the credit!

He told People magazine on May 1st that the reality star has consistently inspired him to pursue his dreams. He also shared that watching Whitney perform helped him develop a love for the theater.

It’s not surprising that Whitney’s run in Chicago has been extended several times. Originally scheduled for six weeks and expected to end in March, she’s now performing with her Dancing With the Stars partner, Mark Ballas, until May 3rd.

The 32-year-old was surprised by all the love her dog, Roxie, received, particularly because she’d gotten some negative feedback after being on the show SLOMW.

I was really surprised,” she shared with The Hollywood Reporter in March. “Honestly, the incredible ticket sales for Chicago wouldn’t be possible without the amazing support of the community who are cheering me on. It was a truly moving and wonderful experience for me.”

As Conner gets ready to star in 11 to Midnight, here’s a look at other performers who’ve made impressive debuts.

Robert Downey Jr. has moved from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the stage, recently making his Broadway debut in Ayad Akhtar’s play, McNeal. The play centers on Jacob McNeal, a writer facing a terminal diagnosis who receives a Nobel Prize and then ironically decides to use artificial intelligence to help him write a final novel, despite previously being against the technology.

As for why the Iron-Man star decided to hit the stage in the Bartlett Sher-directed production?

He told Vogue in October 2024 that the new play tackles a relevant topic and features a talented cast, including Bart. He praised Ayad’s writing style, explaining that Ayad often presents opposing ideas within the same line of dialogue, immediately challenging or undermining his previous points.

Before starting his new role, Robert reached out to Bradley Cooper—a fellow Marvel actor who received a Tony Award nomination for his 2015 performance in The Elephant Man—to ask for guidance.

I’ll never forget what he told me before I went on stage. He said, ‘You’re going to be really aware of your feet, you’ll feel them in your shoes. And when you walk out there, the audience will feel incredibly supportive, like a soft pillow.’ It actually calmed me down a lot! I thought, ‘Okay, I’m going to channel Bradley Cooper and just let the experience be amazing.’

Whitney Leavitt quickly transitioned from competing on Dancing With the Stars – where she was eliminated in November 2025 – to performing in Chicago on Broadway. Originally scheduled for a six-week run as Roxie Hart ending in March 2026, strong audience demand extended her performance into April.

Whitney is a lively personality on the Hulu reality show alongside Taylor Frankie Paul, Mayci Neeley, and other popular “MomTok” influencers. However, before becoming a reality TV star, she was a dedicated competitive dancer and even studied dance at Brigham Young University in Utah, always hoping to perform on stage.

She told Playbill in March 2026 that a love of performing has always been a core part of who she is. As a child, she’d often put on shows for her family – choreographing dances or making music videos – and would gather her cousins to create performances for the adults.

And yet she still had nerves about taking her dance skills from TikTok to the Great White Way. 

In a February 2026 Instagram video, she shared how overwhelmed she was feeling. She admitted she was especially nervous about singing solo in front of a live audience for the first time. After preparing extensively, she hoped she’d feel comfortable and confident when she performed, and that everything would come naturally. Ultimately, she just wanted to trust in her preparation and herself.

Pamela Anderson showed she could handle the stage when she played Roxie Hart in the Broadway musical Chicago. She connected with the story on a personal level and performed the role for two months, finishing her run in June 2022.

She told TopMob News in April that she’d lived a full and eventful life, with both great joys and difficult times. She admitted she never fully understood what she was working towards, but now realizes she was building towards something bigger than she ever expected.

She felt a connection to Roxie, recognizing both her fragility and resilience. Like Roxie, she understood what it was like to face difficulties with humor and poise, to be misjudged by the media, and ultimately, to find positivity even in the most challenging situations.

Although the former Baywatch star was enthusiastic, she understood she had a lot of preparation to do before she could convincingly play Roxie and wear the character’s famous fringed dress.

She confessed she’d never pushed herself so hard, but she was thriving on it. She enjoyed the demanding rehearsals and the feeling of satisfaction that came with being completely exhausted at the end of the day. She was learning everything she could, feeling like a sponge absorbing all the experience. She’d always dreamed of being a performer, but never believed it would actually happen.

And the former Playboy model admitted she was surprised to be cast in the role.

I can’t believe they chose me, it feels a little wild, but I’m incredibly thankful,” she said. “It’s a big risk for all of us, but I’m learning so much about singing – it takes both bravery and skill, like building a muscle – and I’m getting better and stronger with each passing day.

Tom Felton charmed audiences during a nearly 20-week performance of Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, where he returned to play Draco Malfoy as an adult.

Nearly two decades after the Battle of Hogwarts, the story centers on an unlikely friendship. Albus Severus Potter, son of Harry and Ginny, and Scorpius Malfoy, Draco’s son, both find themselves in Slytherin House and become friends.

Tom described the experience as surreal, saying it felt like a dream. Speaking on Today in June 2025, five months before the new project began, he explained that he had moved on from the character 16 years ago, and was excited to revisit him – this time as a father – in a fresh story.

Despite appearing in all eight Harry Potter movies as the well-known villain, the actor admitted he didn’t quite bring the same level of performance to the stage.

He explained that the play feels like a completely separate story from the Harry Potter movies he remembers from childhood. Now, instead of being the young audience, he and others are now the parents watching. While revisiting a familiar role, it’s also a new and different experience for him.

Charli D’Amelio first became famous on TikTok, then showcased her dancing on TV with a 2022 appearance on Dancing With the Stars. Now, in October 2024, she’s making her Broadway debut in the musical & Juliet.

I was so thrilled when Charmian was announced, and honestly, I was a little sad to hear she’d be leaving in January 2025. But then, amazing news! Her run got extended – not once, but twice! As a big fan, I’m just so grateful we get to enjoy her performance for longer.

She expressed immense excitement about joining the Broadway scene, something she’d dreamed of since childhood. In a statement released in September 2024, ahead of her almost year-long engagement, she said making her Broadway debut – and especially being part of the cast of & Juliet – felt like a dream come true, and she was eager to share the experience with audiences.

Although it was her Broadway debut, performing a demanding dance role as a member of Shakespeare’s acting troupe felt surprisingly comfortable, thanks to her years of experience.

She shared with ABC7 that November that dance had always been deeply meaningful to her. She explained that it allowed her to express herself when words weren’t enough.

Though, it was still hard to grapple with such a prestigious honor.

Charli, also a winner on Dancing with the Stars, shared that she never imagined she’d be where she is today, admitting she often doubted herself while growing up. She expressed deep gratitude to everyone who supported her, especially her mom, who tirelessly drove her to dance classes and competitions, and always encouraged her to pursue her dreams, even when she lacked confidence.

Similar to Whitney and Pamela, Ariana Madix was excited to play Roxie Hart in Chicago. The Vanderpump Rules star earned the opportunity after a difficult time – she was asked to perform just nine months after her very public and dramatic split from her former co-star, Tom Sandoval.

Understandably, she described that chapter in her life to TopMob News as “the rollercoaster.”

Ariana, who performed in the musical from January to April and again from August to September in 2024, explained that it was difficult to sum up everything that happened.

For the reality TV personality, this experience allowed her to transform a difficult time into a major triumph.

She’s incredibly skilled at manipulating emotions,” she said about Roxie. “She can be incredibly charming and flattering, but if you don’t immediately meet her demands, she’ll quickly turn on you.

Julianne Hough dreamed of performing on Broadway, but she wanted to wait for the perfect role. When she came across the play POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, she felt it was exactly what she’d been waiting for.

From April to August 2022, Alfonso Ribeiro, known for co-hosting Dancing With the Stars, played Dusty, a public relations staffer for a controversial U.S. president. He starred alongside Rachel Dratch, Vanessa Williams, Julie White, Lilli Cooper, and Lea DeLaria as the seven women worked to manage the politician’s image and keep him from facing further scandal.

She mentioned discussions about performing on Broadway, but told TopMob News in May 2022 that she didn’t want it to be just a one-time achievement. She wanted to truly become involved with the Broadway community, learn from others, and be a genuine part of it, rather than just making a brief appearance.

Nicole Scherzinger always dreamed of stardom. While she experienced a glamorous life touring the world and performing as the lead singer of The Pussycat Dolls, her biggest ambition was realized when she played Norma Desmond in the musical Sunset Boulevard from October 2024 to July 2025.

Nicole, the 2025 Tony Award winner for Best Actress in a Musical, shared with TopMob News that she always felt unfulfilled. ‘I never felt like I was truly living my purpose or happy with who I was,’ she explained. ‘I knew I had more to offer, and this role finally allowed me to fully express myself. It’s been life-changing, and I’m incredibly grateful.’

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2026-05-01 20:19