Had to Ask: Maria Wirries on The Lost Boys: Manifestation, Authenticity, and Finding Your Place

Maria Wirries (@maria_wirries) has built a remarkable Broadway career by trusting her instincts, embracing authenticity, and staying open to unexpected opportunities.

In this episode of Had to Ask, Maria joins Melanie Sutrathada for a thoughtful, funny, and personal conversation about her journey from Dear Evan Hansen to Old Friends and now starring as Star in The Lost Boys on Broadway.

Together, they discuss manifestation, learning to advocate for yourself, navigating the pressures women face around aging in the entertainment industry, and the importance of choosing projects that genuinely resonate rather than trying to fit a mold.

Plus: pig calling, giraffe weevils, low-rise jeans, plant pathology, and an unexpected Broadway booking story.

Chapters:

• 05:54 — How manifestation helped Maria find her way to Broadway
• 09:18 — Working with Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga in Old Friends
• 10:48 — From the BMI Writing Program to plant pathology
• 14:39 — The famous pig call that helped her book a role
• 22:31 — Choosing authenticity over trying to fit a mold
• 28:19 — Aging, reinvention, and being a woman in entertainment
• 44:15 — Learning to advocate for herself on Broadway
• 52:03 — Starring as Star in The Lost Boys on Broadway

Follow Maria Wirries (@maria_wirries) and Had to Ask (@hadtoaskpod) for more bold, unfiltered conversations — hosted by Melanie Sutrathada.

Co-produced and edited by Joseph Loper.

Special thanks to Thompson Central Park New York for being the perfect space for this conversation with Had to Ask.

⭐️ Loved the episode? Leave a review and share it with someone who needs the reminder that the best things often happen when you stop trying to fit a mold and start showing up as yourself.