Will Mark Ballas Return to 'Chicago'? Star Speaks Out After Illness Forces Exit
Mark Ballas shared a heartfelt apology to fans after being forced to leave the Monday, April 20, performance of Chicago on Broadway during the first act.
"Thank you all for being so patient with me, no one is more disappointed than I am," the Dancing With the Stars pro shared via his Instagram Story on Tuesday, April 21. "I truly appreciate everyone who has reached out and shown support, it means more than you know."
Ballas, who is suffering from an undisclosed illness, revealed that he will not be able to return for the Tuesday, April 21, performance.
"I came back a bit prematurely, and after listening to my doctors, it's clear I need to take a little more time to recover properly," he continued. "Huge shoutout to [James T. Lane] for stepping in and holding it down."
The illness also forced Ballas to sit out during his scheduled performances over the weekend, later sharing his disappointment.
"This illness has hit me and my whole household very hard. I have been doing everything I can to get back," he announced on Sunday. "This is a massive disappointment for me & again I can't apologize enough. Thank you for understanding."
Ballas reunited with his season 34 partner, Whitney Leavitt, as they both landed roles in the iconic musical.
"After spending the last few months in the world of The Traitors, where everything is about lies, murder, and deception, stepping into Chicago feels like a pretty natural next move," Ballas told People in February. "I'm so excited to be returning to Broadway, this time as Billy Flynn, and even more excited that I get to share the stage with Whitney, who's already killing it as Roxie Hart. I'm excited to get this partnership back together and make DWTS history."
With his limited engagement scheduled to conclude on May 3, Ballas is anxious to get back on stage.
"I can't wait to be back with you all very soon," he concluded his Tuesday apology.
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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 1:56 PM.