Derek Hough Ditching ‘DWTS’ For ‘Singin’ In The Rain?’

Could Derek Hough be leaving Dancing with the Stars for good to continue working on Broadway? There’s some buzz that the six-time Mirror Ball Trophy winner’s recent casting in Singin’ in the Rain could signify the end of his DWTS career. Getting the chance to fill Gene Kelly’s shoes is likely a dream come true for Derek, but preparing for such a huge role could make it difficult for the professional dancer to compete on Dancing with the Stars.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, producer Harvey Weinstein made the announcement that Derek Hough would be starring in the Broadway revival of Singin’ in the Rain during his pre-Oscar dinner on Saturday night. The last Broadway production of Singin’ in the Rain was directed by Twyla Tharp and ran for less than a year starting in 1985.

Derek proved that he’s the right man to play Gene Kelly’s character, silent film star Don Lockwood, by performing two numbers from the show in front of the rest of Weinstein’s dinner guests.

Singin’ in the Rain won’t open on Broadway until January 2017, but BuddyTV speculates that Derek Hough is going to sit out Season 22 of DWTS so that he can focus on preparing for his new gig. Derek tried to balance Dancing with the Stars and Broadway last year when he was performing in Weinstein’s New York Spring Spectacular, and flying back and forth between Los Angeles and New York turned his schedule into a complete disaster — he and partner Nastia Liukin had a hard time finding enough time to work on their routines together, and they ultimately finished in fourth place on DWTS.

In the eyes of most musical fans, Singin’ in the Rain is a much bigger deal than Derek Hough’s last Broadway gig, so Derek might decide that he needs to put all of his energy toward doing Gene Kelly justice. PureDWTS is reporting that Derek definitely won’t return for Season 22 of Dancing with the Stars, and BuddyTV speculates that he will be so busy with Singin’ in the Rain that he’ll also sit out Seasons 23 and 24 of the reality competition. Hough might decide not to return to the ABC show at all after winning Season 21 with Bindi Irwin — if he doesn’t come back, he can say that he went out on top.

Derek Hough’s Singin’ in the Rain character, Don Lockwood, is a silent film star who can’t stand the irritating, self-absorbed leading lady that he’s always paired with, Lina Lamont. The 1952 film is set right when “talking pictures” are becoming all the rage, and Lockwood and Lamont have to adjust to the new format. However, they face a huge conundrum: Lamont has a terrible voice and can’t carry a tune.

So far there’s been no word on who will be starring alongside Derek Hough in Weinstein’s Singin’ in the Rain. The show’s other main roles include Lamont’s laugh-loving pal Cosmo and Kathy Selden, a chorus girl who becomes Lockwood’s love interest. Her impressive singing voice is used to dub over Lamont’s terrible one.

Derek Hough performed to the Singin’ in the Rain title song during Season 19 of Dancing with the Stars, and he and his celebrity partner, Bethany Mota, actually got the blessing of Gene Kelly’s widow before they perfectly executed a jazz routine that included a few fun umbrella tricks. Patricia Kelly even dropped by one of Derek and Bethany’s rehearsals to offer them a little encouragement.

According to Derek, “Singin’ in the Rain” was one of the first songs that he ever danced to.

“My very first dance performance ever was to ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ and I was about 3 or 4 years old. I don’t remember it at all,” Derek wrote on his TV Guide blog.

“It’s me running around the stage with an umbrella. I was the only boy with a bunch of girls.”

Derek Hough also sang and danced to “Singin’ in the Rain” during the New York Spring Spectacular.

Do you think Derek Hough was the right choice for Singin’ in the Rain?

[Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for FIJI Water]