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.