Had to Ask

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!

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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!

Stay tuned for our official launch!

Follow Had to Ask at @hadtoaskpod for more bold conversations and unfiltered stories — 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!

⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with your fellow theatre kids!