Former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Reece Weaver has officially traded the football field for the Broadway stage, making her debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago — but stepping into the iconic role has come with some unexpected challenges.
Speaking exclusively with Us ahead of her debut at New York City’s Ambassador Theatre on Sunday, September 7, Weaver, 24, said one of the toughest moments in the show comes during the song “Funny Honey.”
“I think my biggest [challenge] right now is probably ‘Funny Honey,’ because you’re on this really tall ladder, and you’re eye level with the balcony,” she explained.
Weaver joked that the key is simply trying not to look down too often.
“[I’m] just reminding myself not to look down often,” she said, noting that the height really puts the moment into perspective.
Because Chicago marks her Broadway debut, Weaver expected there to be plenty of obstacles. However, she said the challenges go beyond the physical demands of performing.
Emotionally, Weaver has had to stay completely focused on Roxie for the entire two-and-a-half-hour production.
“We all have such a fun time backstage, but it is so easy just to get sidetracked,” she said. “And so I had to really just be focused and locked in the whole time.”
Despite the pressure, Weaver is especially excited to perform some of the musical’s most recognizable numbers. She named “Roxie” as one of her favorites, along with the more dance-heavy “Me and My Baby.”
News of Weaver’s Broadway casting came in August following her departure from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. She celebrated the announcement on Instagram by calling the opportunity “A DREAM COME TRUE.”
Fans were first introduced to Weaver and her husband, Will Allman, through Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, which premiered in 2024. After three seasons with the team, Weaver announced her retirement, though her passion for performing never disappeared.
Her connection to theater actually began long before her DCC career. Weaver attended performing arts middle and high schools and later majored in dance. She also participated in several musicals, including The Wizard of Oz, Fame and Cats.
However, those earlier roles were mainly ensemble performances, making Roxie Hart a major step up for Weaver as a soloist.
She also revealed that she became more serious about singing over the past year because she wanted to push herself creatively.
“I wanted to do something that challenged me, pushed me,” she said, admitting that Broadway was not initially part of the plan.
That work eventually paid off with the opportunity to join Chicago.
Weaver has also received support from her former DCC teammates, some of whom traveled to New York City for her debut. She said former Roxie Hart performer Whitney Leavitt also reached out with encouragement, and the two hope to meet in person to discuss tips from Leavitt’s own run in the production.
Weaver praised the current Chicago cast as well, saying everyone has been welcoming and supportive throughout the experience.
Her limited engagement as Roxie Hart is scheduled to run for six weeks through October 18.
