The Stars of 'Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)' Perform Live!

Summary

All Of It with Alison Stewart

Episode: The Stars of 'Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)' Perform Live!
Date: February 24, 2026
Guests: Sam Tutty & Christiani Pitts
Host: Alison Stewart

---

Overview

This episode of All Of It is a deep dive into the new Broadway musical Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). Host Alison Stewart sits down with the show's stars, Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts, for an engaging discussion about their characters, New York City, on-stage chemistry, and the universal themes of dreams, hope, and connection that thread through the story. The episode is interwoven with live, in-studio performances of standout songs from the show.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Broadway in a Blizzard: Performing for a Hardy Audience

• [02:08] Alison asks about the experience of playing a matinee during a snowstorm.
• Sam Tutty: “The benefit of doing a two hander is that your relationship with the audience is so, so personal… I really felt this sort of energy of like we’re all in this. We’re all out in public right now when imminently, a snowstorm could potentially hit us… It was really fun to have that relationship.”
• Christiani Pitts: “I could definitely feel the difference. But it was nice that people took the time to come hang out with us before it all happened.”

2. Cast Album Release

• [03:21] Announcement: The original Broadway cast album will be released on the 20th.
• Sam Tutty: “It was very much like a marathon session of singing...but really fun.”
• Christiani Pitts discusses the intimacy of recording as a two-person cast: “Scary and beautiful and intimate and all the things.”

3. Deepening Character Connections

• Dougal’s Growth
  • [04:26] Sam on Dougal: Initially played for comedy, now aims for genuine truth, finding humor in honesty.
    • “He doesn’t intend to be funny… I just play still. Truth, honesty.”
• Robyn’s Appeal
  • [05:21] Christiani relates to Robyn as a “homegirl”:
    • “I read that script and felt like I knew her so well that I was about to call her and set up brunch.”
  • She wanted the part so much, it made her nervous at the audition. Having an acting coach shift her mindset helped:
    • “Treating auditions like rehearsal instead of an audition.”

4. On-stage Chemistry

• [06:29] Sam: Chemistry “sort of just fell naturally… There was very much a clear sort of feeling in the room that this could potentially be really magical and really special.”
• [07:02] Christiani: Realized the vocal pairing worked after hearing Sam sing and imagining harmonies around him.

5. New York: Reality, Myth, and Representation

• Quintessential New Yorker
  • [08:52] Christiani on Robyn: “Her understanding of New York and just how expensive it is is so deep and real...that almost like disgust...but that frustration with, like, it used to be like this and now it's not.”
• Dougal’s Outsider View
  • [09:47] Sam: “My exposure to New York is through film and TV...there is never a single moment of New York not living up to Dougal standards at the start.”

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• [04:26] Sam Tutty on Dougal:

  “You have to cherish the moments of stillness because the rest is so chaotic.”

• [05:21] Christiani Pitts on Robyn:

  “She felt so close to me in my friend circle. And I’ve never seen that in a musical ever.”

• [06:29] Sam Tutty on Chemistry:

  “It was just a very clear sort of feeling...this could potentially be really magical.”

• [08:52] Christiani Pitts on New York:

  “I think a lot of people who have lived here and watched the city change can resonate with [Robyn’s frustration].”

• [21:28] Sam Tutty on Support:

  “Every single waking second I'm on stage...we have a conversation with each other just with our eyes, you know...Can you just...help me out?”

• [23:34] Sam Tutty on morale:

  “It’s the morale of it all...maintaining a great morale, so everyone can enjoy the show. They’re like, why am I enjoying this so much? And it's because we are as well.”

---

Live Performances: Notable Songs & Setups

[10:56] “New York” (Sam Tutty & Christiani Pitts)

• A rollicking, comedic number introducing Dougal’s mythic idea of New York, packed with pop-culture references and genuine excitement.
• Highlights:
  • “I'm already talking the talk in New York. I'm already popping the cork. Cause I'm ready, I'm ready to be in New York.” – Sam Tutty ([12:08])
  • Playful banter about NYC landmarks and the subway.

[17:45] “This Is the Place” (Christiani Pitts)

• Robyn revisits her old neighborhood, sharing both nostalgia and pride in her Brooklyn roots.
• Quote:
  • “This is the church where everyone knew me by name. This is the place where nothing changes and where nothing is ever the same.” – Christiani Pitts ([18:00])
  • Sam interjects with pop culture, “Wait, I know this place. This is the street from the beginning of Ghostbusters 2.” ([19:03])

[26:54] “American Express” (Christiani Pitts & Sam Tutty)

• Robyn and Dougal go on an extravagant spree with a borrowed credit card, playfully imagining what it’s like to be rich for a night.
• Fun exchange:
  • “We’re buying this tux. It’s 3,000 bucks… We’re gonna be hitchin’ a ride on the American Express.” ([27:09])

[34:53] “If I Believe” (Sam Tutty & Christiani Pitts)

• The show’s emotional closing number, expressing transformation through connection and shared experience in New York.
• Lyrics:
  • “If I believe the soul reason was predefined, I’ve changed my mind and I know he’s just a stranger heading back the way he came and I don’t know how to tell her if I’ll ever be the same…” ([36:43])

---

Deeper Themes & Character Journeys

1. Dreams and Stagnation

• Robyn's inertia – she doesn't know exactly what she wants, but "she just knows that she's stuck" and craves the feeling of happiness she had in childhood ([15:12]).
• Dougal introduces optimism, joy, and new possibility into her world; she has hope simmering below the surface.

2. Optimism vs. Pragmatism

• Sam describes the light/dark, humor/tragedy dynamic between Dougal and Robyn:

  “They are both so close together, like in real life...if it was funny, though, all the time, it's just like, okay, can we have some actual material here...” ([16:16])

3. Support and Trust Between Performers

• Both stars discuss relying on each other on stage for energy, chemistry, and motivation:
  • “Every single waking second I'm on stage...Can you just...help me out?” – Sam Tutty ([21:28])
  • “It grounds my show. It keeps me laughing, it keeps it alive. Between two people.” – Christiani Pitts ([21:53])

4. Family and Belonging

• Dougal’s Father: Sam reflects on Dougal’s lack of “hard feelings” toward his absentee father until Robyn challenges him to think more deeply ([23:56]).
• Robyn’s Family: Christiani notes Robyn copes by hiding and shutting down relationships, even from those best positioned to help her ([25:28]).

---

Audience Feedback & Reflections

• [31:09] Listener Text:

  “What a delightful show...charmed. It’s the perfect tonic for the times we’re in. Uplifting but not saccharine, hopefully, but sober, and most just incredibly entertaining.”

• Sam remarks on the show's emotional complexity:

  “They’ve created sort of this paradoxical piece of entertainment that exists in sort of all spectrums of any genre…”

---

Backgrounds & Personal Connections

• Christiani always wanted to be a performer:

  “Honestly? No [I didn’t want to do anything else].” ([32:14])

• Sam jokes he wanted to be an “ice road trucker” ([32:16]) before acting.
• Both share memories of their first Broadway experiences, highlighting the city's mythic allure for performers.

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:08] Broadway during the blizzard
• [03:21] Cast album announcement
• [04:26] Insights on playing Dougal and Robyn
• [06:29] On-stage chemistry
• [10:56] “New York” song performance
• [17:45] “This Is the Place” performance
• [20:58] Performing a ‘two-hander’ show
• [26:54] “American Express” song
• [30:23] The emotional symbolism of the cake
• [31:09] Listener feedback and discussion of tone
• [34:53] “If I Believe” (final performance)

---

Tone & Energy

Warm, playful, and deeply passionate about musical theater and New York City. Both Sam and Christiani bring authenticity, humor, and vulnerability to discussing their roles. The episode is peppered with laughter, inside jokes, and music that swings from exuberant to poignant, showing the emotional range of both the show and its performers.

---

Conclusion

This episode is a must-listen for Broadway fans, New Yorkers, and anyone interested in the power of connection and hope amidst city life. Through candid conversation and dynamic live songs, Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts showcase Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) as both a love letter to NYC and a fresh take on friendship, family, and starting over.

Transcript

[Christiani Pitts]

At vrbo, we understand that even the best of plans sometimes need a little support. So we plan for the plot twists. Every booking is automatically backed by our VRBO Care guarantee, giving you confidence from the very start. Whenever you need help, it's ready before your stay, through the moments in between and after your trip. Because a great trip starts with peace of mind and maybe a good playlist, but we've got the peace of mind part covered.

[Alison Stewart]

This is all of it on wnyc, I'm Alison Stewart. The new Broadway musical Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York is all about dreams. Robyn is a young woman from Brooklyn who used to dream big, but now she feels stuck in her life as a barista, struggling to get by. She has a strained relationship with her sister who's getting married to a very wealthy man. And she hasn't spoken to her grandma in a long time. Robin is played by Christiani Pitts, but Robyn is in for a surprise when she meets energetic Dougal fresh off the plane from the uk. He's played by Olivier Award winning Sam Tutty. Robin is in charge of picking him up from the airport. Dougal is very, very excited to be in New York. He wants to eat hot dogs and see the Statue of Liberty. He also wants to meet his dad for the very first at the wedding, Dougal's father is marrying Robin's sister. He left the family before Dougal's born. At first, Robin wants really not a lot to do with old, eager Dougal, but she reluctantly agrees to let her help him pick up her sister's wedding cake. And the two begin a journey around the city that will leave them both changed forever. The New York Times says the show, quote, delivers lavishly on the promise of a rom com, laughter, escape and and fantasy. Today we're in for a special treat. Stars Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts join me in studio to perform songs live on the air. But first we want to get to know them a little bit. Hi, guys.

[Christiani Pitts]

Hi.

[Sam Tutty]

Hello.

[Alison Stewart]

We're so happy to have you here.

[Sam Tutty]

Thank you for having us.

[Alison Stewart]

All right, so the blizzard on Sunday caused many Broadway shows to cancel their evening. But you had a 3pm matinee. I was there. We all had our hats on. Everybody was bundled up. Sam, what was your experience with the the near snow day almost show?

[Sam Tutty]

It was interesting. I thought it really lovely. Cause I think the benefit of doing a two hander is that your relationship with the audience is so, so personal. So you can really see that I really felt this sort of energy of like we're all in this. We're all out in public right now when imminently, a snowstorm could potentially hit us, like, record breaking snowstorm. So let's have fun. Let's see what we can do. You know, it's really, really fun to, like, have that relationship with the audience and to be that. So camaraderie that we have, it was really nice.

[Alison Stewart]

Could you tell a difference, Cristiani?

[Christiani Pitts]

Oh, definitely. Definitely. There was a. You said it best. He's like, I think people out there are a little scared.

[Alison Stewart]

You know what I mean?

[Christiani Pitts]

Like, knowing, like, what, are we about to go outside?

[Sam Tutty]

Am I gonna step outside and just see a wall of snow in the

[Christiani Pitts]

face with a blizzard? So I could definitely feel the difference. But it was nice that people took the time to come hang out with us before it all happened.

[Alison Stewart]

And before we go any further, you have an announcement to make about the cast album.

[Sam Tutty]

Oh, yes. Yes, we do. Yes. Releasing 20th Hooray.

[Christiani Pitts]

Original Broadway cast album.

[Sam Tutty]

Very fun, Very fun, very exciting.

[Alison Stewart]

When did you record it?

[Sam Tutty]

Oh, my gosh, Weeks. Months. Years, maybe decades. It was a few months ago. I think it was, like, I would say just over a month ago because, yeah, it was really fun. We were doing sessions in the morning and then shows in the evening, so it was like a really. I remember it well. It was very much like a marathon session of singing.

[Alison Stewart]

What was different about?

[Christiani Pitts]

Well, I. This is only my second time doing a cast album and this one was just the two of us. Oh, wow. And normally in a cast album, you get that amazing experience of stepping out and listening to everybody sing, or you're all. You're sharing a mic with somebody and there's all this camaraderie. And for us, it was just the two of us across from each other and it was like scary and beautiful and intimate and all the things. But that. That was something I've never experienced.

[Alison Stewart]

Sam, you've been playing Dougal for a long time now. You played it on the West End. What is something you understand about him now that you've played him for a while?

[Sam Tutty]

That he's. He doesn't intend to be funny. I think that my start, the start of my journey with Dougal was very much trying to play the joke. And now it's sort of evolved and drifted into just playing his truth, which is then, by coincidence, quite funny. And he's just far more grounded and intelligent and earnest and genuine, and he's still. I think the most important thing with Dougal is that you have to cherish the moments of Stillness because the rest is so chaotic. And that can as just as a. As an actual human being can be quite physically draining doing eight times a week. So I think just really leaning into be truthful and still when you can. And that just makes it so much more fun and real, I suppose. And I think it helps me earn the jokes and the laughter if I'm just playing still. Truth, honesty. It's really fun.

[Alison Stewart]

What drew you to Robyn Cristiani?

[Christiani Pitts]

I describe Robyn as one of my homegirls. She. I read that script and felt like I knew her so well that I was about to call her and set up brunch. Like, you just felt so close to me in my friend circle. And I've never seen that in a musical ever. I've seen it in different TV shows. I've seen it in different films even. I've just never seen it in a musical. So the idea that this person who I know so well gets the chance to like, express herself via song in front of all these people felt so exciting and almost. It's so exciting that I got really. I got in my head about the audition because I wanted it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.

[Alison Stewart]

Is your head a good place to be during an audition? No. Oh. I was about to say it's not

[Christiani Pitts]

a good place to be. But you know what? I had a brilliant acting coach who had me flip that on the script about relaxation and treating auditions like rehearsal instead of an audition. So I went in it thinking, like, I really want this job, so let me treat this like the two of us are just rehearsing it and then we'll see. And that's. I think that's what I did. And I'm thankful. Cause it's such a. I just love her so much.

[Alison Stewart]

Sam, how have you built an on stage chemistry with Robin?

[Sam Tutty]

I don't think anything was intentional. It sort of just fell naturally in the workroom and especially in the audition. It sort of was just a very clear. There was a very much a clear sort of feeling in the room that this was. Could potentially be really magical and really special. And it's very easy to get along with Cristiani. She's very, very fun to work with. So I think it just formed natur in the rehearsal process. Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Christiani, when did you realize that your voices were gonna work together? Cause you get along famously, but if your voices don't match on a certain level, right?

[Christiani Pitts]

Oh, that's such a good question. I think maybe hearing, you know, to give him his flowers, I Heard him sing something by himself, and I felt like, oh, if I could just, like, we were just actually joking about this offline about. He sings when he's on stage and I'm off and I'm hearing harmonies with his voice that are even in the show. So maybe it was just like this discovery of just hearing him play the role and then hearing, like, ways in which I could move around it vocally, that maybe that's when it was. That's a great question.

[Alison Stewart]

My guests are the stars of the Broadway musical Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York. Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty are performing live in studio in just a minute. They're performing at the Longacre Theater. So much of the show is about New York. What was it like to play it? Sam? Not in New York.

[Sam Tutty]

It's very surreal. And everyone asked me, leading up to, you know, in rehearsals and leading up to opening night, everyone was asking me that question. And I never really. I thought, yeah, it's really exciting. It's really cool and really fun. Until, you know, we had that opening night. It's actually. Actually, if I'm being honest, it was the first dress run that we did with invited guests, and people were laughing at jokes that even I, in rehearsals, never considered to be funny. You know, things like, oh, so you're from New York, so you must go up the Empire. The Empire. Statue of Liberty all the time. Empire State all the time. And it's like, no, I don't do that. You know what I mean? And it's like, oh, that is actually quite, you know, in the context, really fun. And so I think that was when I got big. I began to feel very excited about this show finally being like, home and where it belongs and for the people who deserve to see it.

[Christiani Pitts]

Yeah, yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Dougal sort of gets his ideas about New York from movies and from songs. But Robyn lives it. It's her real deal, living in New York. What are some aspects of Robyn's character that are quintessentially those of a New Yorker?

[Christiani Pitts]

Mm. I think one of them is living in different parts of the city in her life, so she understands just how expensive it is in a very real way. Cause she was there before her area was gentrified. She was there. You know, she grew up in Flatbush when it was how it used to be. So she. Her understanding of New York and just how expensive it is is so deep and real that I think a lot of people who have lived here and watched the city change can resonate with and that almost like disgust isn't the word, but that frustration with, like, it used to be like this and now it's not. And what they have to live with, that, I think, is something a lot of born and raised New Yorkers can. Can deal with or can resonate with.

[Alison Stewart]

So Dougal. Dougal, Sam. What is Dougal?

[Sam Tutty]

There's a thin line. It's a thin line.

[Christiani Pitts]

It's all right.

[Alison Stewart]

No, Sam is over here. Dougal's over here.

[Christiani Pitts]

I'm talking to Sam.

[Sam Tutty]

I'm confused sometimes myself.

[Alison Stewart]

What are Dougal's ideas about New York?

[Sam Tutty]

I think, and they are. It's funny, we joke about the name. They are very similar to mine. You know, being from England, you know, my exposure to New York is through the sort of films and TV and, you know, the sort of media that we all consume. And I remember my first time landing, I was 21 for another job. And it completely lived up to every single standard. And I think that's what I maintain in the show is that there is never a single moment of New York is not at the start of the show specifically. It doesn't. It does in no way not live up to Dougal standards. That is completely presented how it is meant to be presented. And that's very exciting for him that it's sort of like he can literally see where parts of a film. And that's exactly what I did, you know. Oh, my God, they filmed that there. And then that's the scene where they did this there. So those sort of things that are very exciting.

[Alison Stewart]

Well, we're gonna hear you sing about some of those ideas. This is our first song we're gonna hear. It's New York. Anything you want to add before we go into it?

[Sam Tutty]

I hope you enjoy it. It's a very fun song. And if you're, you know, listening, dance along and if you know the words, have a sing along. Help me out.

[Alison Stewart]

This is two strangers carry a cake across New York. This is Sam Tutty performing New York.

[Christiani Pitts]

So this is where we change for the subway.

[Sam Tutty]

Oh, the subway. Love it.

[Christiani Pitts]

You love the subway?

[Alison Stewart]

Love it.

[Sam Tutty]

New York's kind of my second home, you know.

[Christiani Pitts]

New York City.

Is that right?

[Sam Tutty]

Yeah. The Empire State, the White House, the Golden Gate Bridge.

[Christiani Pitts]

The Golden Gate is in.

[Sam Tutty]

It's the capital city of the usa.

[Christiani Pitts]

It's not the city I swore I

would see for myself one day.

But you've actually been to New York before?

[Sam Tutty]

Yes. No, but I have seen Home Alone 2 quite a few times.

[Christiani Pitts]

Are you serious?

[Sam Tutty]

There's pizza for Breakfast.

[Christiani Pitts]

There's steam in the air. It's candy, not sweets and the streets are called sidewalks There. My town where everyone has an apartment to spare. With a skyline view. Where even improbable dreams come true. Where everything comes with a smile, A high five and a side of cheers. I'm down on my knees.

That's our train.

New York. I'm already talking the talk in New York. I'm already popping the cork. Cause I'm ready. I'm ready to be in New York. And they're ready. Are they ready for me in New York? Is that Times Square?

No, that's Queens.

[Sam Tutty]

Awesome.

[Christiani Pitts]

She's called the Big Apple. No one knows why but she's my kind of town and I'm her kind of street smart guy. I'll stroll up the Broadway, I'll order a beer I'll scream at the Statue of Liberty.

Hey, lady.

I'm walking here. My home.

[Sam Tutty]

The city of stories.

[Christiani Pitts]

Where everything's 70 stories high. Where everyone kisses their blues goodbye. This cinema city. I've waited the whole of my life to see you talk about me New York. I'm already talking the talk in New York. I'm already popping the corkers. I'm ready. I'm ready to be New York. Are they ready? Are you ready for me in New York?

I'm just gonna stand over here.

[Sam Tutty]

Sure. It's a city of angels.

[Christiani Pitts]

It's a city of sin.

[Sam Tutty]

It's a city of immigrants.

[Christiani Pitts]

Buddy, I'll fit right in the land of the brave.

[Sam Tutty]

The home of the free.

[Christiani Pitts]

The Liberty City. Where even my father wants to hang out with me.

[Sam Tutty]

Home.

[Christiani Pitts]

The snow in the city tomorrow. To see it come twinkling down. And that's why they all call it Tinsel town. There's hundreds of thousands of people Just living the dream out there. There's love in the air.

Okay, we're about to get off the train. Then we're gonna be in New York.

[Sam Tutty]

Yes.

[Christiani Pitts]

You're not gonna freak out?

[Sam Tutty]

No.

[Christiani Pitts]

New York. I'm already talking to talk in New York. I'm already bumping the cork. Cause I' I'm ready to be in New York. Are they ready? Are they ready for me in New York? For two whole days? Are they truly be in New York? M OCDF K F B I C A C I'm already talking the talking. I'm ready. I'm ready to be in New York. Yes, I'm ready. Is it ready for me? Are they ready for me? Are you ready for me in New York?

[Alison Stewart]

We're gonna Clap. We're just gonna clap for that one. That was Sam Tutty and Christiana Pitts. They're performing from Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York. Let's talk about the dreams in this show. The dreams in this show are so. They just. They really touch you. When you least expect it, you're laughing, and then all of a sudden, something grabs you. What are Robyn's hopes and her dreams for herself when we first meet her? What does she really want out of life that maybe she doesn't know yet?

[Christiani Pitts]

Well, that's actually the thing is she doesn't know. She desires what she used to feel when she was a child, which is just utter happiness, comfort, safety, love, those things that she felt growing up with her grandma and her sister. And she doesn't realize that that's what she's missing, that feeling of happiness. So when we meet Robyn, she has no idea what she wants. She just knows that she's stuck. And she meets this lovely person who reintroduces the idea of joy and optimism and hope. And I do think that one thing Robyn does have is hope, but it's just bubbling under the surface. So her dream is to just be okay again. And I think it's, you know, it's a big dream to have, even though it doesn't seem like it.

[Alison Stewart]

So Dougal's a dedicated optimist, as opposed to Robin, as we'll call her. Pragmatic, in this case. Sam. How do those two. How do they create a fun dynamic on stage?

[Sam Tutty]

Well, I think it's the sort of. I think, you know, the light and the dark and the optimism and the realism and the humor and the tragedy. They are both so close together, like in real life. But what Cristiani's done masterfully is find so much humor within Robin's sort of pragmatism, as you mentioned, there is so many tiny looks and just micro beat that changes the color of the conversation. That really, really helps. Just, I don't know, keep it light, but also keep it very real. Because I think if it was funny, though, all the time, it's just like, okay, can we have some actual material here, please, that we can work on as an audience, you know, and then obviously, that works the other way as well. So I think. Yeah, I think this definitely. It's a testament to Cristiani's acting as well, that really, really glues us together.

[Alison Stewart]

The next song we're gonna hear is about Robyn's New York roots. It's called this Is the Place. What's going on with Robyn. When we hear this song.

[Christiani Pitts]

She's going to pick up the cake that her sister has sent her on a mission to get. And it just so happens that this cake is in the neighborhood close to where she grew up. And she hasn't been there in a while. So she's back. And she's back out in that childhood place I was just talking about. And all these memories start flooding in. And she's excited to show this person who hasn't seen. He hasn't heard about Flatbush. You know what I mean? He hasn't. He doesn't know that in New York. So she's excited to like show him her. Her New York. And so she's just taking him on a bit of a journey.

[Alison Stewart]

This is Christiani Pitts performing this is the Place from the Broadway musical Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New.

[Christiani Pitts]

This is the place. This is the preschool where we used to go. These are the streets. These are the dollar vans and delis that I used to know. This is the church where everyone knew me by name. This is the place where nothing changes and where nothing is ever the same. You wanna take a detour?

[Sam Tutty]

What about the cake?

[Christiani Pitts]

This way. Come on.

[Alison Stewart]

This is the street.

[Christiani Pitts]

What street?

This is the block where you can pick up whatever you need. Ten dollar shoes, fake nails, a broken record player. Cuban quesadillas and trees. I used to ride my bike around this neighborhood. I never thought I'd run outta. And the cats and the bodegas, the kids on every corner playing pickup and graffiti on a subway. Baby, this is the place.

[Sam Tutty]

Wait, I know this place.

[Christiani Pitts]

This is the street from the beginning of Ghostbusters 2. I don't know, maybe this is the scene we see. Sir Gunny Weaver stepping psycho magnatherical goo.

[Sam Tutty]

I can't believe it.

[Christiani Pitts]

Right over there. That's Brooklyn Public Library. My grandma used to take us to read.

And the sounds along the aven, Lights in every window.

If you're looking for the beating heart of Brooklyn, baby, this is the place.

And you actually lived here for 20

years in a tiny little apartment. My grandma, my sister and me.

And this still counts as real New York.

This is Brooklyn, man. This is the only part that's real. This is the place where you can come and watch the city on Saturday night. This is the place. That pizzeria makes the greatest white slice in South Crown Heights. Hundreds of cats fly by and demand Manhattan. Hundreds of trains roll down to Coney Island. Thousands of planes fly out and never mind whatever paradise they're trying to Chase. This is the place.

[Sam Tutty]

Yay.

[Christiani Pitts]

Yay.

[Alison Stewart]

We'll hear more from Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York after a quick break. This is. All of. You are listening to all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. My guests are the stars of the Broadway musical Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York. Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty are performing live in studio. The show is running now at the Longacre Theater. Cristiani. This is a true two hander. Aside from the band which is behind you, up on a rafter, it's just the two of you on stage the whole time. Not a lot of breaks. First of all, how do you keep up your energy during the show?

[Christiani Pitts]

Oh, man, that's a good question. I try to be as relaxed as I possibly can because there is no space for extra energy. So any moment I'm not off stage, I'm just sitting with my water take. Well, actually that's a lie. I'm changing clothes, but the second I finish changing clothes, I sit and I drink my water. So I just try to keep a level playing field. So that way when we are interacting with each other, it's like high energy and you know, Sam, when have you

[Alison Stewart]

had to sort of lean on Christiani?

[Sam Tutty]

Every single waking second I'm on stage every single minute. There are so many times where we have a conversation with each other just with our eyes, you know, like on stage where it's like, listen, I'm struggling right now. Energy wise, vocally wise. Can you just like, just put the foot on the gas on your side, Just like, just help me out, you know, things like that. But yeah, like literally every single second I'm on stage without a shadow of a double.

[Alison Stewart]

How about for you?

[Christiani Pitts]

Same. Yeah, same. But I, I, one of my favorite things about Sam is I was saying this the other day is that he's so good about the world of the show that we're in. Like saying truth to the world and doing subtle things that maybe the audience doesn't even catch better that reflective of like where we're at. So if he's walking through the turnstiles of a subway, he's like manipulating his body to like awkwardly get, you know what I mean? Like just doing something so silly and so small that that completely reminds you that like, oh yeah, there are 50 other people here on the subway cart, you know what I mean? On the subway car. There are just little things like that that to me, it helps, it grounds my show. It keeps me laughing, it keeps it alive. Between two people. And it doesn't make us forget that the audience is there, but it definitely does put us in a vacuum so that we can just really play off each other. Which I then think brings out more show to you guys. But it's. If you ever see the show again, look at these little things. It is so funny.

[Sam Tutty]

See if he can spot him.

[Christiani Pitts]

That turnstile gets me every time. It's ridiculous. It's honestly ridiculous.

[Alison Stewart]

Do you like having the band on stage behind you?

[Christiani Pitts]

I love it. I love it. If I could actually shout out our fabulous md, Ted is brilliant and there are moments in the show where we reference people who are not on stage. And Ted, it's a bit. He will pretend to be those people. He is not lit. No one can see him. It's just for us. But he's got. The other day he had props full being the person on the other. It's hilarious. But again, it's that same thing of, like, as long as we're passing good energy from the band to the. It just. It just pushes out into the audience in such a real way.

[Sam Tutty]

It's the morale of it all, you know, like, really maintaining a great morale, so. So everyone can enjoy the show. They're like, why am I enjoying this so much? And it's because we are as well.

[Alison Stewart]

You know, it's such a fun show, but there is a serious side to it. Dougal's never met his dad. He really wants to meet his dad. Why doesn't he have more questions about his dad and where his dad's been?

[Sam Tutty]

Yeah, I think that's a really interesting question, and it's one that I don't particularly have a definitive answer to. I suppose, if anything, it's his just general attitude on life. He himself has not completely struggled without him. There's just been this sort of reverence to him and how successful he is, and he's never met him anyway, so it looks like no hard feelings until Robin perhaps introduces an idea that there could be some hard feelings and that Dougal is worth more than what he's allowing himself. And that. And then when you spent an hour, you know, in act one, making people laugh, that sort of, like, u turn, like, what you're actually seeing is a deeply sad person. It's so, as an actor, taking away all the. It's so fun to play like that is like the chewiest, fattiest, like, oh, my God. And the choices you can make are endless. It's just. And that's a testament to the writing. Kit Buck And Jim Barnes and now director Tim Jackson. They have just created something so fun for actors that we can do this eight times a week because it's so interesting and so fun and so dense. Like, the spectrum of emotion in this show is so fun to play. So it just means that we can show up to work. We aren't bored. We aren't, like, you know, embarrassed to go out there. It's just a complete pride in our work. Yeah, it's really fun.

[Alison Stewart]

I don't want to give too much away, but Robyn has a strained relationship with her family members. How has she been handling this in her life?

[Christiani Pitts]

She's kind of shut down from everyone, and she has not communicated with people. She's kind of been hiding a little bit and just kind of going to work. And it's amazing because some of these family members are the exact people she should turn to to help her in this time. But shame is a hell of a thing, and it really keeps her, I think, hiding is how she's choosing to deal, which is why someone who is not hiding anything is so overwhelming to endure, because you're like, I just don't want to be seen. I just don't want to be seen. I don't want to be seen.

[Alison Stewart]

And here he is. All right, we're going to set up our next song, which is American Express. And this is a point when we see Robin making a really potentially reckless decision. Will you set this up for us?

[Christiani Pitts]

Absolutely. And you take over if you think I got more here. But yes, Robyn gets access to a credit card that is not her own. And she's a metal one, shall we say?

[Alison Stewart]

Yes.

[Sam Tutty]

Very fancy.

[Christiani Pitts]

Oh, you know the one with the. And she decides to show Dougal a part of New York that she doesn't even have access to, that she only sees in the movies. And she does just that.

[Sam Tutty]

Yeah. So. And by that respect, we're now. Dougal and Robin are now finally on an even playing field. You know, it's all anew, it's all fair game. Who knows what's gonna happen? Even Robin doesn't know the sort of, you know, ringleader of this New York City. Yeah. And we're very excited to sing it.

[Alison Stewart]

This is Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty with American Express from the musical Two Strangers Carry a ca cake Across New York.

[Christiani Pitts]

We're buying this tux.

We're buying this tux. It's 3,000 bucks.

Your attitude sucks. We're buying this tux.

We're buying this time.

We're buying success.

Hell yes.

Now swallow your pride.

I swallow my pride.

I'm Bonnie Clyde.

You're Bonnie. I'm Clyde. We're gonna be inching a ride on the American Express.

Strolling down the avenue together Dressed in shoes of alligator leather Swapping smart remarks

about the weather do you think it's going to snow?

I think we make it rain. Now that we've successfully defrauded now that

we can suddenly afford it New York City is in such a sordid town Putting on the glitz, putting on the

[Sam Tutty]

spritz yeah, we'll take a bottle, thank you.

[Christiani Pitts]

Sprinkling a little bit of glitter on my. We're grabbing a cab.

Sexy. We're having a crab waiter. It's on the tab.

[Alison Stewart]

It's on the tab.

[Christiani Pitts]

It's on the tab. Cruising, boozing up the rock A fella feeling sweet and swell A Cinderella that's the finest liquor in the cellar.

[Sam Tutty]

May I see some id?

[Christiani Pitts]

Are you.

You flirting with me? One more round of Lucia cappuccino. Excuse me while I instagram the vino.

New York City isn't such a mean old town. Where am I?

Just stick by my side.

I stick by your side.

I'm Bonnie Clyde.

Wait a second, wait a second. Which one's Bonnie and which one's Clyde? We're gonna be hitchin a ride on the American Express. That's great.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's get it.

[Christiani Pitts]

Let's get it, let's get it.

[Sam Tutty]

And we're really dancing in the studio right now. Let's go.

[Christiani Pitts]

I'll dance it.

I'll dance it. Let's go.

[Sam Tutty]

Ah, pity the rich.

[Christiani Pitts]

Wait. You pity the rich.

[Sam Tutty]

They'll never know what it's like to

[Christiani Pitts]

go to a laundromat.

To only be rich. To only be rich for one magical night.

Magical. I'm buying those stars.

I'm buying that moon.

I'm buying this car.

I've stolen this spoon.

I'm stunning my store and buying this whole impossible mess.

Where now?

The Plaza Hotel. Just follow my.

Follow your. Follow your stride. Bonnie, I'm part of your class.

[Alison Stewart]

New York.

[Christiani Pitts]

We're gonna be itching our ride on the American American on the American

[Alison Stewart]

Express.

[Christiani Pitts]

Penthouse suite, please. Woo.

[Alison Stewart]

That was Christiana Pitts and Sam Teddy with a live performance of the song American Express from the new Broadway musical Two Strangers Carry a Cake across New York. It's the Longacre Theater. Let's talk about the cake. Robyn goes and gets it for her sister. Why is that important? Why would she do that?

[Christiani Pitts]

Well, if I can say, you can do it.

[Sam Tutty]

Without giving too much away.

[Christiani Pitts]

You think so? Yeah. Okay. I think this cake represents their relationship in a lot of ways, and she has got to keep it together and keep it intact to rebuild their relationship as sisters, so nothing can go wrong. You got to come see the show to figure out why that is an impossible task.

[Alison Stewart]

We got a really nice text. I'm gonna read it to you. It says, what a delightful show. I saw it about a month ago and was absolutely charmed. It's the perfect tonic for the times we're in. Uplifting but not saccharine, hopefully, but sober and most just incredibly entertaining.

[Sam Tutty]

That's lovely.

[Alison Stewart]

That's a really interesting thing to say that. It's hopeful, but it's also sober. What does that say to you?

[Sam Tutty]

Well, I think that's, like I mentioned before, like a testament to Kit and Jim, our writers. They've created sort of this paradoxical piece of entertainment that is, you know, that exists in sort of all spectrums of any genre, which is why it's so fun to play. And I think that is, you know, obviously why it is so entertaining to the audience members. I think they're led down this sort of rabbit hole of what they assume this show is going to be, and then it just does a complete flip, but in a very tasteful, intelligent, classy way. It's not just trying to sweep the rug from under the audience. You know, we want to guide them through the story as well. We don't want to deceive them, but we just want to lead them down. You know, this story that just at the end of the day, just offers a bit of escapism from the world that we're living in now, you know?

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah. You know what? You both seem so at home as performers with each other. Christiane, did you have anything else you could do in life that you thought you would do in life besides being an actor?

[Christiani Pitts]

Honestly? No. No.

[Sam Tutty]

I wanted to be an ice road trucker. That's actually.

[Christiani Pitts]

Did you?

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah.

[Sam Tutty]

That's real.

[Christiani Pitts]

Well, he wins.

[Sam Tutty]

It's not over.

[Christiani Pitts]

He was not. Honestly. Go outside. You should stay. I didn't want to do anything else. And one thing the pandemic I think, showed a. Is like, oh, what else would you do? What else can you do? And that was a really scary time because I've loved this for so long. So I do feel really, really at home with this person, like I was saying earlier, who just feels like she was a friend of mine. And I feel really grateful, really blessed to be doing this. Eight shows a week. I really do.

[Alison Stewart]

And you're from Montclair, New Jersey?

[Christiani Pitts]

Well, I'm from Atlanta, but I did live. I did live in Montclair for years.

[Alison Stewart]

What was your experience with New York?

[Christiani Pitts]

Oh, my goodness, only shows. So I had. I wanted to be on Broadway my whole life, living in the south, but it was not a thing. I didn't see Broadway shows. Then I moved to New Jersey and we would take the train or take a car in or whatever to see Broadway shows. I remember the first one I saw was Aida.

[Sam Tutty]

Yeah, that's a good first one to see what.

[Christiani Pitts]

It changed my life and. And then it was like you go and you experience the city and you just head right back to Jersey. It's like. It's like you just got a little taste of this magical kingdom of a world and then you go back to your. Your normal life. So it's always been like a dream place for me. So to live here and do this is just wild.

[Alison Stewart]

Sam, what was the first show you saw on Broadway?

[Sam Tutty]

The first show was Dear Evan Hansen was the first show I did, you know, and that was obviously a work related situation. But one of the first shows I ever saw recreationally was the Notebook, actually. Yes, I know. Really? Yeah. It was that. That similarly changed my life. It was sort of reinforced. It really, really changed my perspective on what musicals could be. You know what I mean? Like, it was like, oh my God, it was so good. I loved it so much, truly.

[Alison Stewart]

We're coming towards our end, but we're gonna get one more song in. We're gonna hear if I Believe. You wanna set this up for us?

[Sam Tutty]

Yeah. Well, this is sort of the con, I would say conclusion, but sort of not even a full stop. A comma, I would say, on their. On their relationship. You know, it's definitely the final show of the. The final song of the show. Sorry, but I would say it's a sort of just a song that suggests a reflection of what they've experienced from each other and what they hope to experience in life and what they hoped to gain and their appreciation of each other in a. In a really sort of magical way. We sort of go through the city, explore, go for walks. Magical effects happen. I won't give too much away. You must, you must go and see. But it's a. It's a joy to sing. I mean, very excited.

[Alison Stewart]

This is Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts with a live performance of if I Believe from two strangers. Carry a cake across New York.

[Christiani Pitts]

Step outside, get some air, find a window, fix your hair Feel the wind blow down the street Sweet and cold Take his hand hold his gaze it's been a strange few days it's been a strange few years Truth be told but if I believed the girl I knew was left left behind I've changed my mind

[Sam Tutty]

Is it me?

[Christiani Pitts]

Has it changed? Has the city rearranged?

[Sam Tutty]

Is there something new and strange about this street? If I could, if I knew would

[Christiani Pitts]

I say Would I try to explain to ask him Could I find a

way Of a million people I could

of all the strangers did I believe that nights like these were hard to find in lies like mine Cause if I believed the soul reason was predefined I've changed my mind and I know

he's just a stranger Heading back the

way he came and I don't know how to tell her if I'll ever be the same But I see the way the snow falls out of sighting light how beautiful New York could look tonight if I believe a night like this and lights like mine could change my mind and if it is all all the dreams come true I ever find you change my mind.

[Sam Tutty]

We can't afford ourselves can't we?

[Alison Stewart]

That is from two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York. Big thanks to Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty for being with us. The show will be running at the Longacre Theater. Thank you so much for coming in and sharing your talents.

[Sam Tutty]

Thank you very much. It's been so fun. Thank you.

[Alison Stewart]

We're still digging out from yesterday's snowstorm. How did you spend your day? Coming up, we'll talk about what team all of it did, from baking muffins to taking some really exceptional snow sculptures in Prospect Park. Plus, we want to know what you did. Call us at 212-433-9692.

[Christiani Pitts]

Hiring isn't just filling a role. It's about finding people who can drive results. Indeed Sponsored Jobs helps you match with the right candidates f faster target candidates

[Alison Stewart]

by skills, certifications or location.

[Christiani Pitts]

Join the 3.3 million employers worldwide that use Indeed to connect with quality talent that fits their needs.

[Alison Stewart]

And listeners of this show will get

[Christiani Pitts]

a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves@ Indeed.com podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Hiring do it the right way with Indeed. Finding ways to be financially savvy is a smart move. And knowing you could be saving money for the things you really need. Want like that dream home or new ride is a great feeling. That's why the State Farm personal price plan can help you save when you choose to bundle home and auto bundling. Just another way to save with the personal price plan. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.