Rumer Willis On How "Dancing With the Stars" Trained Her for a Broadway Win | Playbill

News Rumer Willis On How "Dancing With the Stars" Trained Her for a Broadway Win In the lead-up to her Broadway debut in Chicago Sept. 21, Playbill.com caught up with Rumer Willis. Fresh from her stint on the TV series "Dancing with the Stars," the actress opened up about her excitement in realizing her Broadway dreams and her future plans as a solo music artist.

"I'm really excited. I've always wanted to be on Broadway, and to be able to do it in one of my favorite shows is so exciting," she said. "I've seen the show more than any other show I think I've seen on Broadway. I used to come here all the time as a kid. It was my top choice."

When asked how long it's been since she's had her sights on Broadway, Willis revealed that it has been a fantasy since childhood.

"I've always loved musical theatre," she said. "It's one of those dreams that you have as a kid, but to actually see it happen is pretty incredible."

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Rumer Willis Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN

When asked if she will be celebrating with her famous parents following her first performance (she is the daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore), Willis said that she was expecting a visit. "I have a bunch of friends and family coming, so I'll probably just hang out with them and then potentially just go to bed because I have a show the next day."

While most performers making their Broadway debuts tend to find the rehearsal and show schedule intimidating, Willis said that the long hours of training for "Dancing with the Stars" made her well-prepared. "In terms of the stamina that you need and in terms of rehearsals, it's similar," she said. "I'm actually so glad that I got to experience that, to really set myself up to do eight shows a week, because it's definitely a new experience for me."

Ready to take on Roxie - See pictures of Willis greeting the press

Willis also opened up about her close relationship with her fanbase. Some Chicago ticket-buyers expressed disappointment at not being able to see Willis after her debut date was unexpectedly pushed back due to a foot injury. "I cannot begin to express how sorry I am," Willis publicly stated via her Twitter account.

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Rumer WIllis and Val Chmerkovskiy on "Dancing with the Stars"

"I felt such an incredible and overwhelming amount of support when I was doing 'Dancing with the Stars,'" Willis said of her fans. "I'm really grateful that there are people that have not only reached out to me, saying how much they enjoyed what I had to say and how much that meant to them and helped them, but people who, even after the show, have continued to come show their support and want to come see me [in Chicago]. It's amazing, it feels so rewarding to have a group of people behind you like that."

Willis was also able to reveal a few details about her upcoming solo album. "I'm still in the process of working on an EP," she confirmed. The sound? "I really love jazz and blues so it's a bit Amy Winehouse, a little bit of Adelle, all mixed together." She hopes it will be released by sometime next year.

For now, Willis is happy living out her Broadway dreams and hopes that she will continue to have the chance to perform on the Great White Way. "I hope more opportunities like this come up because I've had such a wonderful time so far and I feel like I really kind of fit."

To purchase tickets and for more information visit ChicagotheMusical.

 
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