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!

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