Reece Weaver has officially traded her Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders uniform for a spot on the Broadway stage. The 25-year-old made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago on September 7, stepping into the iconic role for a six-week limited engagement at the Ambassador Theatre through October 18.
And through every step of the transition—from retiring from the DCC after three seasons to moving to New York City and learning the demands of musical theater—Weaver has had one constant supporter by her side: her husband, Will Allman.
“Will is literally my biggest advocate and cheerleader, and has held my hand through this entire process… just such a gift,” Weaver told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview. “All of this is really hard, stepping into one chapter and saying goodbye to another one, and to have him by my side has been such a blessing.”
For Weaver, the Broadway debut represents not just a career milestone but a full-circle moment—one that connects her performing arts training as a child with the public recognition she gained through the Netflix docuseries America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
Reece Weaver Makes Her Broadway Debut
Weaver’s Broadway journey began with an audition that moved faster than she might have expected. She started working on the material, attended a workshop and an in-person audition, and found out just hours later that she had landed the role of Roxie.
The role marks Weaver’s first professional theatrical performance. While she has extensive dance experience—she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the University of Alabama and performed as a member of the Alabama dance team—the demands of Broadway required a different kind of preparation.
According to Broadway.com, Weaver noted that while football season required endurance and stamina training, her focus has now shifted to her voice and learning to project and emote. She explained that she knows how to project through her body, but having to speak out loud and tell a story is completely different on the stage.
The transition has been physically and vocally demanding, but Weaver’s dance background has given her a foundation to build on. She grew up attending a performing arts middle school and high school, majoring in dance, and she has been familiar with Chicago‘s choreography style since childhood. She said she actually had a few dance teachers who train in the Bob Fosse style, and she was grateful to learn from them. She noted that one of her favorite styles in jazz is the Fosse style, just because it’s so smooth and so controlled, with such intention behind every placement.
Weaver’s Chicago run is a limited engagement, and she has been absorbing guidance from her co-stars. She said she’s absorbing everything from every single person who is involved and everyone’s so supportive, noting that’s what’s so special about the Broadway community—everybody wants each other to succeed.
From Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader to Broadway Performer
Weaver’s path to Broadway began in an unlikely place: the Dallas Cowboys sideline. She joined the DCC ahead of the 2023-24 NFL season, and her audition process was documented in the first season of Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
The docuseries transformed Weaver from a relatively unknown dancer into a public figure. Her story—a young woman from Jacksonville, Florida, navigating the pressures of one of the most visible cheerleading squads in the world—resonated with millions of viewers. She became one of the breakout stars of the show, known for her outspokenness about pay and her willingness to advocate for herself and her teammates.
But after three seasons with the DCC, Weaver made the decision to retire. It was not an easy choice. She told Us Weekly that going into season 3, her third year on the team, she just had so much gratitude. Her cup was filled to the brim even going into this year. She went into her last game not thinking and knowing it was her last, but she kind of treated it as it was her last, so she could really just soak it all in. She said she really needed that sense of closure for her mental state.
The pressure of the public spotlight played a role in her decision. In a candid conversation with Netflix’s Tudum, Weaver explained that the constant scrutiny was taking a toll. She said everyone has a right to their opinion, but some opinions are extremely loud and hurtful. The pressure of going to a game and knowing seconds later, as soon as the game ends, you’re going to see lots of videos of you, it’s constant pressure. If she messes up, it’s going to be online. All that really adds up.
The retirement also sparked rumors that her husband had influenced her decision—speculation that Weaver has firmly denied. She told Us Weekly that it was 100 percent solely her decision. She even remembered so many times Will was constantly reminding her that this is her decision only, and saying he was going to support her no matter what that was.
Allman himself dismissed the criticism with equanimity. He said Reece is a bunch of people’s favorites, and those people are going to find something else to blame if he wasn’t there, so it doesn’t really affect him a whole lot.
Who Is Will Allman?
Will Allman is Reece Weaver’s husband, a fellow University of Alabama graduate, and—by Weaver’s own account—her most important source of support during a period of significant professional change.
The couple met at the university while Weaver was cheerleading at a basketball game, according to Wikipedia. They became engaged in 2023 and married in April 2024, with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders performing at their wedding.
Allman has been a steady presence through Weaver’s post-DCC transition. He moved with her to New York City while she prepared for Chicago, and he has been actively involved in the daily realities of her new career. According to the Times of India, he walks her to and from rehearsals and prepares juices he jokingly calls “Roxtails.”
Weaver has described Allman’s support in direct and emotional terms. She told Us Weekly that Will is, like, her biggest cheerleader and biggest advocate, supporter, encourager, and she could not do this process without him. She said she’s just grateful for him to be in her corner and always supporting her and holding her hand throughout it all because it is a lot, but it’s also so fun to do it with your best friend.
She has also spoken about how the experience has strengthened their relationship. She told PEOPLE that you can truly get through any obstacle, any challenge, any trial or tribulation together if you have your best friend right next to you.
Why Reece Weaver Calls Will Allman Her “Cheerleader”
The word “cheerleader” carries a particular resonance in Weaver’s story. She spent three years as a literal cheerleader, performing on the sidelines for one of the most recognizable teams in sports. Now, she uses the same term to describe the person who has supported her through the most significant transition of her career.
For Weaver, the transition has not just been professional but personal. She has described the challenge of navigating public attention while trying to be a good wife, teammate, and performer. She told the Times of India that she didn’t know how just to navigate her emotions with her reality of trying to be a good wife, trying to be a good teammate, and also people telling her what they think about her on the internet. It was just so much. She credited therapy with helping her manage the pressure.
Through it all, Allman has been a consistent presence. Weaver told PEOPLE that one thing they have learned is there are always surprises in their relationship and it’s been fun to just kind of enjoy them together and have each other to experience life with. She said she’s so, so grateful for him, and he’s having a fun time in New York so far.
Reece Weaver’s Journey Beyond the DCC
Weaver’s career has unfolded in chapters that might seem disconnected on the surface: professional cheerleader, reality television breakout star, and now Broadway performer. But for Weaver, the throughline is dance and performance.
She began dancing at age three and attended Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville. She won Miss Jacksonville’s Outstanding Teen in 2017 and received the Outstanding Dance Award at Miss Florida’s Teen. At the University of Alabama, she earned a degree in dance while performing on the Alabama dance team.
The DCC chapter brought her public recognition, but it also brought pressures that she has been candid about. The America’s Sweethearts docuseries made her a recognizable figure, and with that recognition came intense scrutiny—particularly after she announced her retirement.
The Broadway chapter represents a return to the kind of performance Weaver trained for as a child and young adult. It is a different discipline from cheerleading, requiring vocal training and acting skills alongside dance ability. But Weaver has approached it with the same work ethic that carried her through the DCC audition process and three NFL seasons.
What Her Broadway Role Means for Her Career
Weaver’s casting as Roxie Hart is notable for several reasons. Roxie is one of the most iconic roles in musical theater—a character defined by ambition, manipulation, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve fame. It is a sharp contrast from Weaver’s public persona, which has been shaped by her cheerful demeanor and Christian faith.
Weaver has been open about the tension between the role and her personal values. She told the Times of India that the production has forced her to use language she rarely uses. She admitted she has never cussed more in her life than these past four weeks. But she drew a line at one thing: she would not use the Lord’s name in vain. She said that’s the one thing she made clear, noting there were a few times where Roxie said “G.D.,” and she was like, “I can’t say that.” According to Wikipedia, some lines were adapted for her due to her Christianity.
The role represents a significant opportunity for Weaver to establish herself as a legitimate theater performer, not just a celebrity taking a stage role. Her dance background and her willingness to put in the work have been evident in her preparation. The limited engagement through October 18 gives her a defined window to demonstrate what she can do on a Broadway stage.
Fans have responded positively to her debut. Clips shared on Chicago‘s official social media channels drew hundreds of reactions, with viewers praising her stage presence and calling her a natural fit for Broadway. One commenter wrote that her stage presence is UNREAL, while another said she was MADE for the stage.
What’s Next for Reece Weaver?
Weaver’s immediate future is defined by her Chicago run, which continues through October 18. Beyond that, she and Allman have said they are not making specific plans.
She told PEOPLE that she thinks Will and she have learned to accept anything that kind of just comes their way, and they wanna make the most of every opportunity. She said she doesn’t think they both expected their lives to look like this at all, but it’s been so fun to jump into this reality.
The couple recently purchased a home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Weaver described it as their “home base” while they pursue opportunities that take them elsewhere. She said they have their home base, and they also get to live this kind of Hannah Montana life of doing all the fun things, but also know where home is, too. Having that balance is really needed for their relationship and for their family. It really is the best of both worlds.
Weaver also has a book coming out: This Is Where You Bloom is scheduled for release in May 2027, according to Wikipedia and publisher information.
For now, Weaver is focused on the six-week run ahead of her, the support of her husband, and the opportunity to perform on a Broadway stage—a dream she has described as long-held. She told Us Weekly that Broadway has always been something that’s been on her heart and has been a dream of hers.
Reece Weaver and Will Allman: Key Facts
- Reece Weaver is a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and breakout star of Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
- She made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago on September 7, 2026, at the Ambassador Theatre.
- Her limited engagement runs through October 18, 2026.
- Will Allman is Weaver’s husband. They met at the University of Alabama, became engaged in 2023, and married in April 2024.
- Weaver has described Allman as her “biggest advocate and cheerleader,” crediting him with supporting her through the career transition.
- Weaver retired from the DCC after three seasons, a decision she has said was “100 percent solely my decision”.
- The couple moved to New York City for Weaver’s Broadway run while maintaining a home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
- Weaver’s book, This Is Where You Bloom, is scheduled for release in May 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role is Reece Weaver playing on Broadway?
Reece Weaver is playing Roxie Hart in Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre. Her limited engagement runs through October 18, 2026.
When did Reece Weaver make her Broadway debut?
Weaver made her Broadway debut on September 7, 2026.
Who is Reece Weaver’s husband?
Her husband is Will Allman. They met at the University of Alabama, became engaged in 2023, and married in April 2024.
Why does Reece Weaver call Will Allman her “cheerleader”?
Weaver has described Allman as her “biggest advocate and cheerleader,” crediting him with supporting her through her retirement from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and her transition to Broadway. He moved with her to New York and has been actively involved in her daily preparation.
Did Will Allman force Reece Weaver to retire from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders?
No. Weaver has explicitly denied this, saying her retirement was “100 percent solely my decision” and that Allman supported whatever choice she made.
What was Reece Weaver known for before Broadway?
Weaver was a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader for three seasons and became a breakout star of the Netflix docuseries America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
What is next for Reece Weaver after Chicago?
Weaver has said she and Allman are not making specific plans and are open to whatever opportunities arise. She has a book, This Is Where You Bloom, scheduled for release in May 2027.