InFrame

'Dancing With the Stars' Pro Mark Ballas Leaps Back to Broadway in 'Chicago'

This image released by Disney shows Whitney Leavitt, left, and Mark Ballas from the dancing competition series "Dancing with the Stars."Photo Credit: Andrew Eccles/Disney via AP

by Mark Kennedy  Mar 10

Mark Ballas is returning to Broadway in “Chicago” and the “Dancing with the Stars” pro will be reuniting with an old friend.

Ballas, playing slippery lawyer Billy Flynn starting April 6, will share the stage with his Roxie, Whitney Leavitt, the “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star who was his dancing partner on “Dancing with the Stars” last year.

“I think it’s going to be so fun. We work so well together," says Ballas, a three-time Mirrorball Trophy winner who has who has done stints on Broadway before in “Jersey Boys” and “Kinky Boots.” “I never thought I’d be surprised by things that come from the show, but here we are.”

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

AP: You were originally a theater kid, right?



BALLAS: Yeah, I started when I was 11 at the Italia Conti Academy of Theater Arts in the U.K. They have a high school portion and a college portion. So I did the high school for five years and then I did college for three years. Musical theater and music were my majors.

AP: How did you start your career?



BALLAS: I grew up in England, so I was out there auditioning for West End shows. This is actually a wild, full-circle moment: One of the first shows I auditioned for was “Chicago” in the West End. I got right down to the end. I was only 18, still paying my dues, trying to figure it out. So this is super full circle.

AP: You didn't get it back then?



BALLAS: No. I went in for the ensemble. I got right down to the end. I think I had like four or five callbacks and in the end, I was too short. I was joking with them. I was like, “You know, my height was on the resume!”

AP: The stars seemed to aligning when you and Whitney performed “Cell Block Tango” from “Chicago” on “Dancing with the Stars.”



BALLAS: We did “Cell Block Tango” because we had to pick a song that a previous couple had danced to. “Dancing with the Stars” has a bit of strategy to it and you want to have your banger numbers at the right time. So when I saw the list of music, “Cell Block Tango” was on that list. We just picked that song and it’s all very serendipitous. The next week, Whitney was going to audition.

AP: Now you're together again, this time on Broadway.



BALLAS: I had been in talks with “Chicago” on and off over the years. The timing just didn’t really work out. Whitney booked the gig and then I sent in tapes, went in for my audition and that tango happened, Whitney went in for it and then they were interested in having me. So it just like it was meant to be, you know.

AP: You were in New York recently to get ready?



BALLAS: I’ve already learned the show. I’m ready to go. I went and watched it every night. That’s part of my learning process. Like when I did “Jersey Boys,” I did the same thing. When I did “Kinky Boots,” I did same thing. I’ll go have my rehearsals — I take my little notepad — and then I’ll watch what I rehearsed and see it on its feet. I think that’s probably the dancer in me.

AP: Do you have a long history with “Chicago?”



BALLAS: I love this musical. I grew up learning this music. Going into the rehearsal, I knew these songs backwards. Over my lifetime, I’ve probably seen the stage show 30-plus times. When I think of iconic, classic theater, I think of “Chicago,” I think of “Les Misérables,” I think of “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

AP: What's it like to join the longest-running American musical in Broadway history?



BALLAS: To be a part of that legacy and to step into this character that’s held so much weight for so many years — and had iconic people like Usher, Patrick Swayze play this role — is very cool.

AP: It also has dancing inspired by the great Bob Fosse. As a dancer, how do you view him?



BALLAS: When someone asks me, “Who is your favorite dancer or choreographer of all time?” I would say Bob Fosse. I’m always trying to have my stuff look so clean, that my partner and I are doing the same things at the same time, and that concaved, kind of tortured style. I love that.

AP: Is it true you were an extra in some of the “Harry Potter” movies? How did that happen?



BALLAS: Because you needed so many kids to be extras, they used all the theater schools for kids that were interested in film and theater and acting. So they hired all those kids to be the extras. I was an extra in the first three.

AP: Can we spot you?



BALLAS: I was kind of in my awkward, emo phase, and I had a mouth full of braces and like spiky, Linkin Park hair. The one time I was about to be on full view — I think we were playing wizard chess — they moved me out the shot. But you can like see me lurking in the back if you’re very, very quick.

Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Gosling, Lord and Miller Make Science Fun in ‘Project Hail Mary’

This image released by Amazon MGM Studios shows Ryan Gosling in a scene from "Project Hail Mary." Photo Credit: Jonathan Olley/Amazon MGM Studios via AP

by Lindsey Bahr  Mar 10

It’s been a minute since we’ve had a big screen space epic that’s as fun as it is awe inspiring. The last memorable one might have been “The Martian, ” so perhaps it shouldn’t be all that surprising that the drought is ending with another Andy Weir story adapted by Drew Goddard.

Billy Porter Returns to Producing After Near-Fatal Sepsis Battle; Opens Up About Managing Diabetes and Surviving Life Support

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 20: Billy Porter attends "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)" Opening Night at Longacre Theatre on November 20, 2025 in New York City. Photo Credit: Theo Wargo

by Chris Tremblay  Mar 10

Billy Porter, the Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award-winning actor known for his trailblazing roles and open advocacy as a gay man, has resumed his theatre work after a severe health scare. He is co-producing the London transfer of Sam Morrison’s acclaimed solo show "Sugar Daddy" at Underbelly Boulevard in Soho, running from March 5 to April 4, 2026. The production, which follows its Off-Broadway run in New York City in 2023, is a semi-autobiographical piece blending Morrison’s experiences with type 1 diabetes, love, and loss amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Manfred is Soft Power, With a Hard Body

ManfredPhoto Credit: Manfred / Instagram

by Timothy Rawles  Mar 10

“Soft power” has become a modern term, and perhaps social media hottie Manfred represents its definition almost down to a tee.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Ties Wilt's Record and Hits Winning 3 As Thunder Beat Nuggets 129-126

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Monday, March 9, 2026, in Oklahoma City. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Gerald Leong

by Cliff Brunt  Mar 10

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drilled a step-back 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left to cap a frantic final minute on a night he matched Wilt Chamberlain’s record for consecutive 20-point games, and the Oklahoma City beat the Denver Nuggets 129-126 on Monday night.

Margot Robbie, Oprah Watch Blazy Transform Chanel With Color and Craft

A model wears a creation as part of the Chanel Fall/Winter 2026-2027 Women's collection presented in Paris, Monday, March 9, 2026. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard

by Thomas Adamson  Mar 10

Chanel 's Matthieu Blazy is still building.

Director Mendonça Filho of 'The Secret Agent' Reflects on Memory and Success of Brazilian Cinema

Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho, director of the Oscar nominated film The Secret Agent, poses for a portrait in Mexico City, Dec. 9, 2025. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Berenice Bautista

by Berenice Bautista  Mar 10

For the second consecutive year, the hypercompetitive category of best international film at the Academy Awards includes a Brazilian film that has also earned a nomination for best picture, best acting and achievement in casting.

Gay Hockey Player Matt Kenny Hailed as Hero by 9-Year-Old Fan at NHL Pride Cup

Photo Credit: Matt Kenny / Social Media

by Chris Tremblay  Mar 9

The third annual NHL Pride Cup took place on February 28, 2026, in Surrey, British Columbia, southeast of Vancouver, featuring a matchup between leading LGBTQ+ hockey associations from the Pacific Northwest: Vancouver’s The Cutting Edges and the Seattle Pride Hockey Association. The Cutting Edges won gold, with Seattle taking silver, and the NHL donated $25,000 to each team to support their community efforts.

Kesha Condemns White House Use of Her Song 'Blow' in Military TikTok Video, Calls It 'Disgusting and Inhumane'

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 17: Kesha attends iHeartRadio Hot 99.5's Jingle Ball 2024 Presented By Capital One at Capital One Arena on December 17, 2024 in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)

by Chris Tremblay  Mar 9

Pop artist Kesha has publicly denounced the White House for using her 2010 hit song "Blow" in a TikTok video that showcased military footage, describing the move as "disgusting and inhumane."

Tiffany Pollard Confirms Non-Binary Identity and Pronouns in Recent Interview

Photo Credit: E Entertainment

by Chris Tremblay  Mar 9

Tiffany Pollard, the 44-year-old reality television star known for her roles on "I Love New York", "Celebrity Big Brother", and "House of Villains", has publicly confirmed her non-binary gender identity and clarified the pronouns she uses in a recent interview with comedian Ziwe Fumudoh.