Shannon Lewis (@realshanlew) is a veteran Broadway performer turned choreographer whose career spans more than 25 years on stage and screen. She made her Broadway debut in the original run of Crazy for You, later earning acclaim performing ‘I Gotcha’ in the original Broadway cast of Fosse. Shannon also went on to appear in beloved productions like Sweet Charity, A Chorus Line, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Beyond Broadway, she’s brought her choreographic eye to television hits like Saturday Night Live and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Now, she makes her Broadway choreographer debut with Just In Time, the new Bobby Darin musical.

In this conversation, Shannon reflects on the resilience it takes to sustain a decades-long career, the lessons learned from the roles she didn’t book, and why she’s driven to be part of the whole creative conversation—not just the performance. She opens up about creating choreography that resonates from the front row to the back of the house, the wild realities of working on SNL, and what it means to keep saying “yes” to the right opportunities.

This is a story about artistry, endurance, and learning to trust the moments when doors open—even if they’re not the ones you first imagined.

Chapters:

• 03:46 — Did Shannon ever imagine she’d still be working on Broadway 25+ years later?
• 06:10 — The roles she didn’t book (and what they taught her)
• 10:07 — Wanting to be part of the whole creative conversation in musical theatre
• 15:01 — Building choreography for both the front row and the back in Just In Time
• 17:28 — The impossible, exhilarating process of working on SNL
• 19:00 — Collaborating with Jonathan Groff in Just In Time
• 23:30 — Learning when to say yes in this business
• 27:30 — Watching others have their “moment”
• 28:58 — The conversations that happen on the other side of the table
• 30:56 — Navigating relationships in the business
• 33:20 — Getting out of your own way
• 36:44 — What Shannon hopes her legacy will be

Follow Shannon Lewis (@realshanlew) and Had to Ask (@hadtoaskpod) for more bold, unfiltered conversations — hosted by Melanie Sutrathada.

Co-produced and edited by Joseph Loper. Special thanks to The Chatwal in NYC for being the home of Had to Ask for Season 1!

⭐️ Loved the episode? Leave a review and share it with an artist who wants insight into building a career that lasts.

John Cardoza (@johnfcardoza) joins me on Had to Ask for a vulnerable, moving, and deeply human conversation about love, grief, and resilience. From touring the country in Moulin Rouge! to creating the role of Young Noah in The Notebook on Broadway, John has built a career grounded not just in talent, but in choosing what feels right and meaningful.

We talk about the unexpected loss of his mother, how grief has shaped him as an artist, and why nothing will ever be more important than being there for family when they need him. John opens up about navigating fear, vulnerability as a muscle you have to keep flexing, and the resilience it takes to keep showing up in this industry.

Of course, it’s not all serious — John also shares his irrational fear of tall buildings (tough luck in NYC), his Broadway diva fighter of choice, and his admiration for Solea Pfeiffer. Plus: what it was like finishing The Notebook with Jordan Tyson after three years of building those roles together, crying in grocery stores, and how following the path that feels right led him all the way to Christian in Moulin Rouge! on Broadway.

This episode is about love, loss, and why the sacrifices have to be worth it. If you’ve ever chased a dream while trying to hold onto what matters most, you’ll feel seen in this one.

Chapters:

• 6:03 John’s love for touring with Moulin Rouge
• 11:39 What really scares him
• 21:07 What led John to Young Noah in The Notebook
• 25:45 Crying in the grocery store and seeing the beauty in the everyday
• 31:08 Following the path of things that feel right
• 33:30 How proud John is to still be on his feet
• 42:12 The Tour of Moulin Rouge! Versus Broadway
• 49:20 Other John would go back to Moulin Rouge
• 53:19 The joy John is choosing next.

Follow John Cardoza (@johnfcardoza) and Had to Ask (@hadtoaskpod) for more bold, unfiltered conversations — hosted by Melanie Sutrathada.

Co-produced and edited by Joseph Loper. Special thanks to The Chatwal in NYC for being the home of Had to Ask for season 1!

⭐️ Loved the episode? Leave a review and share it with someone who knows that following your heart is always worth it.

Tony Award winner Matt Doyle (@mattfdoyle) — who you may know from Company, Spring Awakening, The Book of Mormon, and more — joins me on Had to Ask for a candid, hilarious, and heartfelt conversation about the highs, lows, and everything in between of life in the theatre. From falling head over heels for Sondheim to dreaming of playing Romeo, Matt shares how perseverance—not perfection—has carried him through an industry that never really gets easier.

We dive into mental health, imposter syndrome, and the self-sabotage that comes with being an “insecure mess,” plus his deep admiration for Audra McDonald, Joy Woods, and Gavin Creel. Matt opens up about Conversations with Mother, why building a life outside the work matters, and the joy (and nerves) behind stepping into Jay Gatsby’s shoes in The Great Gatsby.

Also on the table? Our mutual agreement that we’d both be terrible in jail, the unlikely way he met Bonnie Milligan, and his voice talent crush. Whether you’re here for the Broadway stories, the Gatsby gossip, or just to feel a little less alone in chasing big dreams, this one’s got it all.

Chapters:
02:41 Gossip Girl — and whether he’d choose Blair or Serena08:17 The first time Matt met Gavin Creel10:36 High school backstage on Spring Awakening13:23 Thinking he was done after The Book of Mormon18:18 His friendship with Bonnie Milligan25:23 The Broadway revival he’d like to see28:23 Falling in love with musical theatre through Sondheim31:59 Imposter syndrome and winning a Tony37:24 The pressure to bring Broadway back with Company45:40 The chicken soup for the soul that was Conversations with Mother49:09 Opening The Great Gatsby in South Korea

Follow Matt Doyle (@mattfdoyle) and Had to Ask (@hadtoaskpod) for more bold, unfiltered conversations — hosted by Melanie Sutrathada.

Co-produced and edited by Joseph Loper. Special thanks to The Chatwal in NYC for being the home of Had to Ask for Season 1!

⭐️ Loved the episode? Leave a review and share it with a friend who loves big laughs and bigger dreams.

You might know Burke Swanson (@burke_swanson) as Young Hopper in Stranger Things: The First Shadow on Broadway — but his path to the Upside Down started long before the Demodogs.

After making his Broadway debut in The Rose Tattoo, Burke has quickly become a performer to watch, blending physicality, poetry, and heart into every role. In this episode of Had to Ask, he shares the surprising, thoughtful, and often hilarious journey that took him from Back to the Future to Hawkins, Indiana — in just ten days. We talk about how he built his version of Hopper (yes, it involved cowboy boots in the woods), what it means to be a performing artist rather than just an actor, and why over 65% of the Stranger Things audience is brand-new to Broadway.

This show isn’t just expanding the world of Hawkins — it’s creating lifelong theatergoers and reminding us that storytelling is a team effort.

Also in this episode: stage combat, our love for stunt performers, zombie apocalypse prep, experimental poetry, cats, and why I might never emotionally recover from Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

Chapters:

• 11:40 – The IP of Back to the Future and Stranger Things and how they connect with audiences
• 17:46 – A ten-day turnaround between two massive Broadway shows
• 22:19 – From watching Stranger Things in 2016 to starring in it on stage
• 28:37 – Giving yourself permission to celebrate success in this industry
• 36:32 – Why the Broadway show is irreparably tied to Stranger Things Season 5
• 41:36 – Why supporting the arts is always worth it
• 45:27 – Theater beyond Broadway, and art beyond New York

Follow Had to Ask ⁠@hadtoaskpod⁠ for more bold, unfiltered conversations — hosted by Melanie Sutrathada.

Produced by ⁠@melaniesutra⁠ and ⁠@joehloper⁠ at ⁠@thechatwalny⁠.

⭐️ Loved this episode? Share it with someone who loves Stranger Things, Back to the Future, or believes in the power of the arts.

Had to Ask is back with the one and only J. Harrison Ghee (@jharrisonghee) — Tony Award-winner, Broadway trailblazer, and all-around radiant soul. In this episode, J gets candid about the fearless self-expression that’s defined their journey onstage and off.

From their first instinct reading the Some Like It Hot script to why playing Lola in Kinky Boots was a form of therapy, J opens up about what it really means to be seen — and to free yourself in order to see yourself. We talk about soulmates, creating chosen family, and the joy of putting their friends in drag (spoiler: it’s magic).

They also dive into what scares them, what they’d be doing if they weren’t a performer, and what their end-all, be-all dream looks like. Plus: how to ask for what you want, why they did Jerry/Daphne, and what either of us would do with “go-to-space” money (because why not?).

J’s presence is a celebration of possibility, authenticity, and unapologetic joy — and this conversation is a love letter to anyone who's ever dared to show up fully as themselves.

Chapters:

• 6:57 - Something that scares J
• 9:36 - Receiving love and asking for what you need
• 14:25 - Bright highlighter pink sweatpants and playing small
• 18:25 - Cultivating Crystal in Tokyo and where Crystal is today
• 27:27 - The 2023 Tony Awards and the moment when J found out they were even nominated
• 33:27 - What they would say to a younger version of themselves
• 39:26 - Their upcoming show, Saturday Church at New York Theatre Workshop
• 42:31 - Our new business venture and what we would do with go-to-space money

Follow Had to Ask @hadtoaskpod for more bold, unfiltered conversations — hosted by Melanie Sutrathada.

Produced by @melaniesutra and @joehloper at @thechatwalny.

⭐️ Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs a reminder that being exactly who you are is more than enough..

What happens when Broadway’s favorite Shakespeare gets real about love, legacy, and the role that got away? In this episode of Had to Ask, Drew Gehling (@drewgehling), currently starring as Shakespeare in & Juliet on Broadway, opens up about what it’s like to be part of a show he calls “the joy factory,” lighting up the stage eight times a week.

We talk about the thrill of watching audiences fall in love with & Juliet, his deep love for the theatre community (including a sweet shoutout to Erich Bergen) and the kinds of characters he keeps coming back to — especially the ones who are a little messy, a little vulnerable, and always trying to figure it out.

Plus, Drew also shares the story of his very first date with Julia Mattison, which happened right downstairs from where we filmed, and reflects on watching her rise as the co-composer and lyricist of Broadway’s Death Becomes Her.

It’s candid, funny, and packed with heart — just like Drew himself.

Chapters:

• 10:08 - The role that got away.
• 14:08 - Gravitating towards characters who are trying to show everyone they have it together.
• 27:02 - Literally rubbing noses with Joey Fatone.
• 29:34 - Drew's first date with Julia and being her biggest fan.
• 36:58 - Comparison and seeing the same 5 people in the waiting room.
• 40:22 - What happens when your hobby becomes your job.
• 43:42 - What Drew would be doing if he wasn't a performer.

Follow Drew @drewgehling and Had to Ask @hadtoaskpod for more bold, unfiltered conversations — hosted by Melanie Sutrathada.

Co-produced and edited by Joseph Loper. Special thanks to The Chatwal in NYC for being the home of Had to Ask for season 1!

⭐️ Loved the episode? Leave a review and share it with your favorite theatre nerd or future Shakespeare.

You may know Erich Bergen (@erichbergen) from Jersey Boys, Waitress, or playing the internet’s favorite political heartthrob on Madam Secretary  (Melanie's words, not his)— but in this episode of Had to Ask, he opens up about some of the moments that really shaped him.

We talk about how he got his foot in the door selling merch at the Shubert Theatre, what it’s like playing a full-on villain for the first time as mayoral candidate Raymond Demarest in Boop!, and the many ways we try to cover up our insecurities. (Spoiler: even Erich’s gotten his a** handed to him a few times.)

He shares what it means to always want to make things better, what it’s really like meeting your heroes, executive-producing his first network television special (Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute on Peacock), why he’s not watching Love Island, and what this chapter of his life would be titled.

Chapters:

• 04:00 The Title of This Chapter of Erich’s Life
• 10:38 Wanting Things to Be Better
• 13:15 Figuring Out How to Begin
• 17:17 The Impact of Blake on Madam Secretary
• 21:08 Seeing Ourselves in Art
• 24:19 Playing the Villain in Boop!
• 37:45 The Kinds of Roles Erich Loves
• 41:28 What Erich Hopes His Legacy Will Be
• 49:00 What the Future Looks Like
• 54:04 Letting Go of Comparison

Follow Had to Ask ⁠⁠@hadtoaskpod⁠⁠ for more bold conversations and unfiltered stories — hosted by Melanie Sutrathada (⁠⁠@melaniesutra⁠⁠)

Co-produced and edited by Joseph Loper (⁠⁠@joehloper⁠⁠). Special thanks to The Chatwal in NYC for being the home of Had to Ask for season 1!

⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it!

Before Real Women Have Curves closed on Broadway, Tatianna Córdoba (@tatiannasophia) sat down with Had to Ask to talk about everything this moment meant to her — and what it took to get there.

Tatianna opens up about the power of representation as a half-Filipina, half-Latina woman on Broadway, the pressure of societal expectations, and telling stories that reflect today’s reality — including the trauma of immigration enforcement and families being torn apart. We talk about her love for Lea Salonga, complicated family dynamics, and what it means to show up on a Broadway stage in a body that proudly defies outdated norms.

She also shares her deep pride in being from the Bay Area, the Broadway crush she’ll never get over (yes, she spills), and the stories that made her laugh, cry, and keep going.

Recorded before the announcement of Real Women Have Curves’ unexpected closing, this episode now feels like a time capsule — a love letter to resilience, representation, and rising through it all.

Chapters:

• 00:02:20 - Tatianna's Broadway Crush
• 00:07:51 - One "Real Women Have Curves" Line That Lives Rent-Free in Her Mind
• 00:10:59 - Her Love for the Bay Area and Representation Growing Up
• 00:13:29 - Meeting Her Heroes and How They Did Not Dissapoint
• 00:16:05 - The Call That Changed Everything
• 00:23:34 - Her Relationship to Her Body & Body Neutrality
• 00:28:53 - The Relevance and Importance of Real Women Have Curves

Follow Had to Ask at @hadtoaskpod for more bold conversations and unfiltered stories — hosted by Melanie Sutrathada (@melaniesutra)

Co-produced and edited by Joseph Loper (@joehloper). Special thanks to The Chatwal in NYC for being the home of Had to Ask for season 1!

⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it!

Meet Emma Pittman: Broadway’s rising star who’s breaking the mold, telling her truth, and giving us all the backstage tea in the very first episode of Had to Ask.

Emma Pittman (⁠@emmapittmanofficial⁠) is not just Cherry Valance in The Outsiders — she’s a vlogger, a Broadway scene-stealer, and forever the internet’s Roxie Hart. In this episode, Emma opens up about growing up in Mississippi, storytelling that honors the truth, and what it’s like stepping into a fandom-heavy show like The Outsiders.

We also talk about astrology (obviously), parasocial relationships, Broadway stunt casting, and her dream job as a kid. Plus: the iconic opening night dress she wore to Back to the Future (thank you, Brendan!) and what her For You Page is serving her lately.

Oh — and yes, we do talk about the Search for Dolly.

Tune in for surprising insights, heartfelt moments, and stories only Emma Pittman can deliver.

Chapters:

• 00:09:17 - Emma's Dream as a Kid
• 00:19:57 - The Search for Roxie & The Search for Dolly
• 00:24:21 - Stunt Casting, Especially in the World of Chicago
• 00:28:51 - The Gift of Playing Cherry in The Outsiders

• 00:39:12 - Parasocial Relationships in the Broadway Space
• 00:47:13 - What Emma Hopes for Her Legacy to Be

Follow Had to Ask ⁠@hadtoaskpod⁠ for more bold conversations and unfiltered stories — hosted by Melanie Sutrathada (⁠@melaniesutra⁠)

Co-produced and edited by Joseph Loper (⁠@joehloper⁠). Special thanks to The Chatwal in NYC for being the home of Had to Ask for season 1!

⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it!

🎭 Meet Emma Pittman: Broadway’s rising star who’s breaking the mold, telling her truth, and giving us all the backstage tea in the very first episode of Had to Ask.

Emma Pittman (@emmapittmanofficial) is not just Cherry Valance in The Outsiders — she’s a vlogger, a Broadway scene-stealer, and forever the internet’s Roxie Hart. In this episode, Emma opens up about growing up in Mississippi, storytelling that honors the truth, and what it’s like stepping into a fandom-heavy show like The Outsiders.

We also talk about astrology (obviously), parasocial relationships, Broadway stunt casting, and her dream job as a kid. Plus: the iconic opening night dress she wore to Back to the Future (thank you, Brendan!) and what her For You Page is serving her lately.

Oh — and yes, we do talk about the Search for Dolly.

Tune in for surprising insights, heartfelt moments, and stories only Emma Pittman can deliver.

Follow Had to Ask at @hadtoaskpod for more bold conversations and unfiltered stories — hosted by Melanie Sutrathada (@melaniesutra)

Co-produced and edited by Joseph Loper (@joehloper). Special thanks to The Chatwal in NYC for being the home of Had to Ask for season 1!

⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it!