Ariana Madix Makes Razzle-Dazzling Debut in Broadway's Chicago with Support from Vanderpump Rules Costars

Ariana Madix is officially a Broadway baby!

The Vanderpump Rules star, 38, made her debut on the Great White Way Monday night, starring as Roxie Hart in the Tony-winning, record-breaking revival of Kander & Ebb's Chicago.

PEOPLE was at the Ambassador Theatre in New York City for the show, which as was attended by a packed crowd of Bravo fans and Bravo stars alike. Among those in audience were Madix's costars Lala Kent and Scheana Shay. The People's Couch alum Emerson Collins was spotted in the audience, too.

Madix's mother, Tanya, was also on hand to cheer her daughter. She sat alongside Daniel Wai, Madix's boyfriend (the two started dating shortly after her headline-making split from ex-Tom Sandoval in March 2023).

All beamed bright for the Dancing with the Stars finalist, who gave a killer performance with the polish and skill of a Broadway veteran. She received standing ovations by curtain's close and smiled brightly for the crowd as she took her bows.

She even blew a kiss to Wai from the stage.

Monday closed the loop on a goal Madix had long been working towards.

Prior to finding fame on reality TV, she studied musical theater at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla, moving to New York City after graduation with hopes to land a role in a Broadway show.

To pay the bills during the gruesome grind of auditions, Madix learned to bartend and kept the gig up when she decided to relocate to Los Angeles to build a résumé in Hollywood. There, she got a job at a bar called SUR ["Sexy Unique Restaurant"], which would become the setting of Lisa Vanderpump's Real Housewives of Beverly Hills spinoff, Vanderpump Rules.

A decade of drama on Bravo and one "Scandoval" later, Madix now finds herself right back where she started — this time with the Broadway contract she once coveted.

"To say this is a fulfillment of a lifelong dream would be an understatement," she told PEOPLE during a Chicago press call earlier this month at 48 Lounge in New York City. "This is quite literally everything to me. It's all I've ever wanted. And to be here now, having this full-circle moment ... I feel so beyond grateful."

That doesn't mean she's resting on her laurels. Madix knows the discipline it takes to do this job and is putting in the work to make sure audience members see every ounce of talent she has to offer.

"I'm keenly aware what brought me here, but I don't want that to be what people think about when they leave the theater," Madix says, hinting that this isn't just a stunt-casting like it might have been for others in the past. "As cool as it is, it's very Hamilton for me: I cannot throw away my shot. When I go out there, I really want people to say, 'She belongs here.' I don't want people to say, 'Oh, she got cast because of whatever and nothing else.' "

She added, "I'm here to prove to people that I deserve my opportunity."

Chicago was a flop when the original 1975 production premiered, despite the star power of legendary leading ladies Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera.

The story, about two murderous women who use their criminal notoriety to find fame in the Vaudeville circuit, was deemed too dark at the time but received a new appreciation when it was revived in 1996, this time with Ann Reinking and Bebe Neuwirth.

It won six Tony Awards including best revival, and is Broadway’s longest-running American musical in history.

Originally choreographed by the great Bob Fosse, his former flame and longtime muse Reinking restored his moves for this production. The score — with music John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb — remained in tact, and includes some of the most beloved songs in the musical theater cannon like “All That Jazz,” “The Cell-Block Tango,” “When You’re Good to Momma" and "Razzle Dazzle.”

A film was made in 2002, starring Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones. That won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress for Zeta-Jones.

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Madix follows in the footsteps of an impressive line of Bravo stars who have taken their turns in the show, including RHOBH stars Erika Girardi and Lisa Rinna, as well as Real Housewives of Atlanta stars Kandi Burrus and NeNe Leakes.

Reflecting then on what it would feel like on opening night, Madix told PEOPLE earlier this month that she imagines that's when her dream will finally feel like a reality.

"It's going to be a really emotional feeling," she said. "I think that's when it will really hit me. Because right now I'm remaining focused on learning the role as best I can. But that will be the moment it sinks in that I can do it. Because I did. I finally did."

Tickets for Chicago are on sale now at chicagothemusical.com.