Star Connor Leavitt
Connor Leavitt
It’s the best kind of party there is: “11 to Midnight”. This lively show unfolds over the course of an hour at a New Year’s Eve apartment party, somehwre in New York. Here, the music is on full force and the room is algow.
Get ready to dance! The wildly popular dance duo Cost n’ Mayor created this high-energy theatrical street-style dance party where it’s all about the moves on the floor.
Connor Leavitt, famous for his appearances on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and his weekly themed “Dancing with the Stars” outfits, recently joined the cast and will stay on for three weeks as of May 8th.
Where do you live in the city?
We call the Upper West Side of Manhattan home and we LOVE IT!
What is your favorite neighborhood in NYC and why?
Mine is Central Park. I know technically it’s not a neighborhood, but honestly it feels like it should be. Taking my kids there always feels special.
Every time we go, it feels like we’re discovering something new. Whether it’s a café, playground, musician, or street performer, everything feels like a hidden treasure waiting to be found. The other day, we randomly stumbled onto the carousel and the kids acted like we’d hit the jackpot.
So no, Central Park may not officially be a neighborhood, but for my family, it’s our favorite place in New York. Every visit feels like a little adventure.
Can you share some of your favorite spots in the Theater District and what makes them so great?
There are three spots that stand out most to me.
First, Bryant Park. It feels like a playground for theater lovers. There are restaurants, bars, performances, gardens, and people gathering before and after shows. It’s one of the best places to feel the pulse of the performing arts in New York.
Second is Shubert Alley, especially at night. Between the lights, the Playbill signs, and the crowds gathering at stage doors, you can physically feel the excitement in the air.
And lastly, honestly, stage doors themselves. Any stage door after a performance you loved.
One of the things that makes live theater so special to me is that it’s happening right there in front of you. You can see the sweat, emotion, and humanity of the performers in real time. Then afterward, you sometimes get the chance to meet the artists who just moved you emotionally for the last two hours. That connection feels incredibly unique.
The best place for a pre- or post-theater meal and why? What are the dishes to order?
I actually don’t love eating before a show because I like saving room for a cheeky treat during intermission, but post-show is a completely different story.
After a great performance, all I want to do is sit down with friends or family and talk about the show. So I love restaurants that encourage conversation while still carrying that Broadway atmosphere.
Places like Joe Allen or Sardi’s are perfect for that. Sardi’s has the legendary caricatures on the walls, while Joe Allen is lined with iconic theater posters. Both feel like extensions of the theater experience itself.
Plus, the food is comfort food in the best way. I love the meatloaf at Joe Allen or a pasta at Sardi’s after a show.
Any insider tips for enjoying an Off-Broadway or Broadway show?
Tip #1: Use the bathroom before the show. Those lines can get longer than the DMV.
Tip #2: Shows can be expensive, so please be respectful of the performers and the people around you. Theater etiquette matters, and everyone deserves to have a great experience.
Tip #3: Come open-minded and ready to share your enthusiasm with the performers. I’ve seen “Chicago” many times, and the performances where the audience was clapping and cheering always felt the most electric. When I asked performers about it, they told me they genuinely feed off the crowd’s reactions.
So don’t be afraid to show your excitement when appropriate. Chances are, the show will feel even better because of it.
What is the New York City theater you love going to most and why?
The Ambassador Theatre, home of “Chicago.”
That theater holds so much sentimental value for my family that it honestly feels like a second home. My wife’s name is painted on those walls.
On two-show days, I would bring our kids into the theater to have picnic lunches with Whitney between performances. We’d explore backstage, wander through the front of house, and sit in different seats throughout the theater. Sometimes our kids would even put on mini performances of their own for us.
Overall, the Ambassador is the place that gave Whitney the opportunity to showcase her talent, and it’s where I watched her perform 21 times from seat D114. At this point, that seat strangely feels like mine.
What other Off-Broadway or Broadway shows are on your radar right now?Off-Broadway:
“11 to Midnight.” It’s the best party in the East Village — arguably all of New York City if you ask me.
“Masquerade.” My jaw was on the floor by the end of it. I actually cried. It’s immersive, emotional, and visually stunning in a way that feels completely unique.
Broadway:
“Schmigadoon!” It feels very theater-coded in the best possible way. From everything I’ve heard, it captures that big classic musical spirit while still being self-aware and hilarious.
“Lost Boys.” I’ve heard it’s a massive spectacle, and since I’m a huge rock music fan, it immediately shot to the top of my list.
My favorite moment in “11 to Midnight” is…
There’s a scene where one of the characters, Lover Boy, dances with a broom.
Tyson Hill, who plays Lover Boy, does an incredible job communicating longing, vulnerability, humor, and the desire for companionship entirely through choreography.
That moment always sticks with me because it feels deeply human. We’ve all had moments where we freely express ourselves when we think no one is watching, only to suddenly feel timid once we’re seen.
It’s funny, emotional, relatable, and beautifully performed all at once.
My biggest takeaway from “11 to Midnight” is…
Give yourself ambitious goals and be proud of what you’re chasing.
At the beginning of the show, all of the characters are trying to come up with New Year’s resolutions. Throughout the performance, we watch them slowly commit to those goals and become courageous enough to pursue them.
My character’s resolution is: “Quest accepted. Become legendary.”
There’s a moment where I completely disappear into my imagination and go on this fantasy quest to slay a dragon. At the end of the scene, my friends basically look at me like, “What are you doing?”
But instead of shrinking or feeling embarrassed, I own it.
That’s probably my biggest takeaway from the show: go after what you want and don’t apologize for caring deeply about it.
My biggest challenge as a performer is…
Stillness.
It can be difficult for me to leave room for silence and stillness in a performance. I’ve had to learn that audiences need space to think, feel, and absorb what’s happening — and often that only happens in quieter moments.
There’s a temptation to constantly move, speak, or fill every second in order to stay entertaining. But I’ve realized that stillness gives meaning to movement. Silence can make a moment feel larger, more honest, and more emotionally impactful.