This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Christiani Pitts: Hey, I'm Christiani Pitts and you're listening to Behind the Awards.

[0:21] Eila Mell: Hello and welcome to Behind the Awards. I'm Eila, as always, I am here with Bruce.

[0:26] Bruce Gotlieb: Hello there and Happy New Year, Eila.

[0:28] Eila Mell: Yes. Happy New Year, everyone.

[0:31] Bruce Gotlieb: Well, Holland Taylor forgot her glasses.

[0:34] Eila Mell: I mean, I understand it on one level because most, especially a woman, she's in a gown, she's probably, you know, not thinking about her purse and what she's bringing up with her. Right.

[0:48] Bruce Gotlieb: And she, you know, she's dressed for the night. She's not thinking about needing reading glasses, probably.

[0:51] Eila Mell: Right. But there are so many that get up there and they're like, wait, I don't have my glasses. I mean, we posted that one clip. Was it Lucille Ball?

[1:00] Bruce Gotlieb: She had the same issue.

[1:02] Eila Mell: Yeah, no glasses. Oh, well.

[1:03] Bruce Gotlieb: Well, she was a presenter.

[1:05] Eila Mell: So, yeah, you should have planned for it. But we'll give Holland a pass on that.

[1:11] Bruce Gotlieb: Yes, she's wonderful.

[1:14] Eila Mell: Do you have a favorite Holland Taylor performance?

[1:16] Bruce Gotlieb: The first one that pops into my head is probably Legally Blonde, actually.

[1:21] Eila Mell: Oh, OK. I forgot she was in that.

[1:23] Bruce Gotlieb: She always is.

[1:25] Eila Mell: It's always the similar character, though, that like snarky, strong woman.

[1:33] Bruce Gotlieb: Right. So you really you can't go wrong.

[1:36] Eila Mell: Yeah, I would say mine is one of those where she played, you know, a version of Nancy Pelosi in the play N.A.

[1:43] Bruce Gotlieb: Oh, yes, yes.

[1:44] Eila Mell: Yeah, she was great in that. And, you know, it was just a two character play. So she had so much to do. So it was a real showcase.

[1:51] Bruce Gotlieb: Oh, that's so funny.

[1:52] Eila Mell: So, yes. So you went to see Marjorie Prime.

[1:55] Bruce Gotlieb: I went to see Marjorie Prime right before the new year. So just a weekend or so ago, going in, didn't have a lot of expectation, was kind of on the fence about was I interested in it?

[2:04] Eila Mell: Even, you know, the interesting thing in the storyline is June Squibb. I mean, here she is at what, ninety four, ninety six, somewhere around there.

[2:20] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah. So going in, I said, well, she's probably going to just have a few lines here.

[2:25] Eila Mell: Yeah. Not knowing the play.

[2:27] Bruce Gotlieb: Right. Boy, is she carrying that show? She's got a lot of lines.

[2:30] Eila Mell: Yeah.

[2:32] Bruce Gotlieb: And they're helping her on and off in some aspects physically. But there are points where she's, you know, she's got her cane and she's getting herself to and from going into the city the day of. I wasn't sure if she was going to even be on because we had just had the snowstorm. But when I was walking up to the theater, I was happy to see her getting out of the car that brought her there.

[2:51] Eila Mell: Walking into the theater and she was so lovely to the people with her. It was so sweet.

[2:56] Bruce Gotlieb: But she's got to be nominated for a Tony.

[2:59] Eila Mell: Oh, yeah. She everybody in that cast is strong. The play is really strong. The staging, the direction is all done with really interesting intent and the play itself is really, really good.

[3:13] Bruce Gotlieb: I'm going to have to get there. I've only seen the movie, which is good.

[3:16] Eila Mell: Have you seen the movie version of it?

[3:18] Bruce Gotlieb: I'm not, but I did a little bit reading on the movie version and it seems there are a couple of differences, OK, from the play, which typically happens. So I wasn't so surprised.

[3:28] Eila Mell: And this play was a Pulitzer finalist. I want to say 2014. I just would say to everybody, get there if you can, because June Squibb, Cynthia Nixon, Danny Burstein, Chris Lowell, they're all doing really, really brilliant work up there and it's.

[3:49] Bruce Gotlieb: You get taken into the storyline and it really it's really moving, it's profound and in all the conversations that are had just in so many aspects of life, this AI conversation is it's so funny, right?

[4:05] Eila Mell: You look at something that's so relevant and relative now that was written in the past that you wouldn't necessarily know in 2026.

[4:16] Bruce Gotlieb: Right. That's what's so interesting. And there are so many plays like that. We have that discussion all the time.

[4:22] Eila Mell: I know. I feel like somebody has a crystal ball. Now, let me ask you a question. Is June Squibb the only nomination that you think is going to come from this?

[4:31] Bruce Gotlieb: I am not sure. I think it also depends on how she lead and Cynthia is featured, which is where I think it would go. And if that's the case, then you certainly could see one for each.

[4:46] Eila Mell: Yeah. If they're both featured, then then you get it gets a little dicey. Do you think the men have a shot to Danny?

[4:55] Bruce Gotlieb: I think Danny has a shot at supporting and Chris is doing a beautiful job. It's just Danny has more meat.

[5:05] Eila Mell: Right. Well, he's playing a person.

[5:07] Bruce Gotlieb: So there's well, there's more to do.

[5:09] Eila Mell: Right.

[5:12] Bruce Gotlieb: Well, I know people don't like to have this conversation too early, but I am going to say that I think that our guest, Christiani Pitts, has an amazing chance of getting a nomination for her work in Two Strangers. I if she doesn't get nominated, there'll be a riot.

[5:31] Eila Mell: There'll be a riot.

[5:32] Bruce Gotlieb: She is giving so much that I feel like the season, the show needs it's fresh. It's really grounded and layered. And we talk about that with her, about the layering of this performance. It's it's real, right? It's it's you would come and encounter this person in your everyday life.

[6:00] Eila Mell: Every day you see her every day. And, you know, it's not all the time in musicals that actors get characters so well written.

[6:06] Bruce Gotlieb: It's true. And and I know I said it when we spoke about the show before having had to sit down with her, that the book of this musical is really strong.

[6:17] Eila Mell: Right. And that's not to say that there are that other musicals aren't. But when you're thinking of a musical, that's what that's where they rely heavily on is the music.

[6:26] Bruce Gotlieb: Well, because the songs serve a purpose. So it takes, you know, a lot of that emotion is in the songs. And in this show, the songs are used in a slightly different way.

[6:36] Eila Mell: So the actors get more, you know, spoken word opportunity. And and we said this to her, like you could take all the music away, just put it up with a book. And I think it's still as successful a piece.

[6:51] Bruce Gotlieb: It still works.

[6:52] Eila Mell: Yeah. All right. Let's bring Christiane out because she has so much interesting stuff to say about this show.

[6:57] Bruce Gotlieb: Absolutely. Well, one of the biggest shows of this season is this little show that could it's called Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York. And we have one of the two stars, Christiane Pitts. Welcome.

[7:12] Christiani Pitts: Hey, thank you. Thank you so much for having me.

[7:16] Eila Mell: Thank you for joining us. We're so thrilled to have you. So everyone is talking about your show and 100 percent of the people that I talk to love it.

[7:25] Christiani Pitts: Yes.

[7:28] Eila Mell: So I'd love to hear that. And nobody knows what it is. And I think that's great because people are intrigued, you know, so much, you know, you come in already knowing you've seen the movie or, you know, you have an idea and this is a fresh idea.

[7:40] Christiani Pitts: And I think people really respond well to that.

[7:43] Eila Mell: Yeah. My favorite thing at the stage door is people coming in saying I had no idea what to expect, but I loved it.

[7:50] Christiani Pitts: Right. They're like, this is a risk. But I know that I'm like, oh, that's good.

[7:54] Eila Mell: Yes. I thought that the show was literally going to be about the two of you transporting this cake across New York.

[8:01] Christiani Pitts: And I thank you for being willing to come on that journey.

[8:04] Eila Mell: Yes.

[8:07] Christiani Pitts: And it is it is so much so much more. I mean, not not just we don't want to obviously spoil things for people, but the other thing that I've heard also from people is there's no cake.

[8:20] Eila Mell: People are showing up like expecting, I don't know, cake at their seat.

[8:23] Christiani Pitts: I'm not.

[8:24] Eila Mell: Yeah, it's true. It's true. I keep wondering, I'm like, I wonder if there will ever be a time where you can get cake at the you know what I mean? I just want to know.

[8:33] Christiani Pitts: That would be nice.

[8:36] Eila Mell: They can make a lot of money at that concession stand.

[8:38] Christiani Pitts: That's right. That's right. We also don't get to see the cake and I'm kind of curious what it looks like, but that's OK.

[8:44] Eila Mell: I like the boxes. They're nice stacked boxes.

[8:47] Christiani Pitts: That's fun. Yeah, it's so fun. And it's like you said, no spoilers. But there's this moment in the show where we get a really audible audience response, OK, and we and it's so cool because it's like we all know that it's that that that it's this is a pretend journey that we're on and we're also in it.

[9:08] Eila Mell: It is. It's like the magic of theater. Like we're locked in.

[9:11] Christiani Pitts: Yeah, we're so invested because the cake is so important.

[9:17] Eila Mell: Right. There's a lot of symbols in this play and the cake is a big symbol. Obviously, it's in the title. But, you know, so when something might not go right with the cake.

[9:27] Christiani Pitts: Right. Big.

[9:29] Eila Mell: Yeah. But then also, you know, some of the other symbols that you can't help but notice are the stoplight. I mean, even the lighting in the show is based on that and there are lyrics in the song. What does that mean to you as an actor?

[9:42] Christiani Pitts: Oh, my goodness. It's it's one of the most brilliant set sort of lighting design elements I've ever had the pleasure of working with because it is exactly that everybody is paying so much attention to the details of the layers of these people.

[10:03] Christiani Pitts: Of all of us trying to navigate this city of like today, I got it tomorrow. I don't got it. Like, right. It's just there's so many layers to trying to exist here.

[10:12] Eila Mell: Right. And every department was like, OK, I bet that like let me it's like every department took that challenge and was like, OK, what's like nuanced way? I could do it without over planning it.

[10:25] Christiani Pitts: That's another thing. I feel like this show is challenging the audience to, like, go as far with their imaginations as we are. And we're not force feeding anything like we're just we're just kind of laying it out there. And if you catch it, you catch it. And if you don't, that's fine, you know, because you're still on a great journey.

[10:43] Eila Mell: Yeah, exactly. Exactly. You're going to have fun. When you sit down in the seat before the show even starts and you see the set, you know, this this turntable and you see all the suitcases.

[10:55] Christiani Pitts: And so you're like, OK, no, you're there for, you know, OK, so there's we're traveling. You you get to start the imagination process before you even step out.

[11:07] Eila Mell: And then things that evolve from these structures that don't they move, but they don't ever move from where they are.

[11:16] Christiani Pitts: Speak on it. Did you hear what you just said?

[11:19] Eila Mell: Yes, it is.

[11:20] Christiani Pitts: So it is so emotionally that that just not triggered, not triggered in a bad way. But that just got me. It does not move from where it's at. But there are so many different parts of us that can be opened up and that can be transformed without going anywhere.

[11:35] Eila Mell: And that, you know, my character doesn't. I don't know if that's a spoiler, but I stay I stay kind of where I was always from.

[11:45] Christiani Pitts: Yes. Well, that's you know, that's the most important.

[11:48] Eila Mell: Right. But also it's the set is the luggage, which is baggage. It's the character's baggage. We can't escape it. I mean, it's right there for us.

[11:57] Christiani Pitts: So, I mean, you have to it's it's not the elephant in the room. It is the room.

[12:03] Eila Mell: Correct. So, you know, I don't know how much of Robin is you and, you know, I'm sure there's threads, obviously, as you create this character.

[12:14] Christiani Pitts: Right. But your portrayal of her is I just I love it so much. It was the perfect amount of sass, the perfect amount of of street of like New York, like there's a vibe that you get from Robin that is like the.

[13:05] Christiani Pitts: I've grown a lot from playing Robin because of her inability to like people, please. Oh my goodness. And I just love that about her. So yeah. I'm learning a lot from her, for sure. So Bruce saw the show before I did, and he said to me, the book is so good. And the acting is so good that you could do the show without the music, even, and it would still be best ball. What a treat! Because in a musical, you don't always get this level of acting scenes.

[14:30] Bruce Gotlieb: Right, right.

[14:31] Christiani Pitts: And don't get me wrong. There are songs that you're bopping and you're C2. Oh, the music's great. And you guys sound great. Yeah. It's just the story was so rich that there were times when a song would start. And once the song started, I was in it. But when I heard the music, I was like, no, no, no, no, don't stop. Yo, keep going. Yes, yes. Yeah. I heard it described before I auditioned as a play with music. And I was like, oh, that's interesting. Because I had only heard the music. Yeah. I was like, this music is fire. Right. I was so confused by that. And it's a lot of music. It's not, you know, the music doesn't support it. The music helps tell the story. But in a different way, right? The music is different in other musicals. Sometimes it's not even all that musical.

[15:40] Bruce Gotlieb: Right, right.

[15:41] Christiani Pitts: Our director would always try to, like, get the singing out of us for certain songs. Right. Like, we get it. We get it. You sound pretty great. Exactly. Let's take that. That's not what's important here. Like, so that was really fun. And our writer was describing Kit, who was just, don't get me started talking about these people, y'all. I love these people so much. Kit was saying the show is like a playground for actors.

[16:10] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah.

[16:11] Christiani Pitts: And Sam and I are really, really lucky. Because it's so witty. It's so dense. And there's a lot, even as full as the book is, for my character specifically, there's so much that we don't answer. And it's up to me to sort of, like, to carry it on stage and let the audience go with me or not. Right?

[16:32] Bruce Gotlieb: Right.

[16:33] Christiani Pitts: It's so cool. But it's like a playground. Even with the set. You guys are running around. It's crazy.

[16:41] Bruce Gotlieb: I know.

[16:42] Christiani Pitts: It's like a jungle gym of luggage. It really is. Jumping off, hoping we land.

[16:46] Bruce Gotlieb: Right.

[16:47] Christiani Pitts: Now, at what point did you realize that your abs were going to be so featured in the show?

[16:52] Christiani Pitts: Can I tell you something? I didn't know that. And I saw the crop tops. And I said, okay. I said, now we know it's the winter. Okay. But Robin's just that cool. Got it. Got it. Got it. I have to give it to you. Wow.

[17:10] Bruce Gotlieb: No. You look amazing.

[17:12] Christiani Pitts: Thank you so much. Let's get that out of the way. Because, wow. I'm inspired.

[17:18] Bruce Gotlieb: I appreciate you.

[17:20] Christiani Pitts: I am working really hard. I had a conversation with someone in this business who I love and look up to more than anything. Patina Miller.

[17:30] Bruce Gotlieb: Oh, wow. I love Patina.

[17:31] Christiani Pitts: She's brilliant. And I had just had my baby. And we were filming the third season of the show Raising Canaan. And I was just asked because she's a mother as well. And she is a fitness icon, if you will. So, I asked her. And she sort of just kind of walked me through, like, the best ways to take care of myself. Not just aesthetically. But, like, how to get back to feeling like myself post-baby. So, I got it. It's Patina Miller. I think that's the answer.

[18:00] Bruce Gotlieb: Wow. Well, whatever she's doing is really working for you.

[18:03] Christiani Pitts: Thank you. She's like your fairy godmother there.

[18:08] Bruce Gotlieb: Literally.

[18:09] Christiani Pitts: And anybody who knows me knows I've manifested some Patina Miller since college. I've just always been, like, that's the one.

[18:14] Bruce Gotlieb: Oh, wow. She's the one.

[18:16] Christiani Pitts: Yeah. Did you see her Pippin?

[18:18] Bruce Gotlieb: You must have.

[18:19] Christiani Pitts: Did I see her? Right? She changed my life. Okay?

[18:23] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah.

[18:24] Christiani Pitts: That and Sister Act. I was like, great.

[18:26] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah.

[18:27] Christiani Pitts: That's a trend.

[18:29] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah, exactly.

[18:30] Christiani Pitts: And I love that you get to dance in the show. You can tell that you've got some skill there.

[18:33] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah.

[18:34] Christiani Pitts: It's so fun. There's so many, like, we get to tap in all the different styles in the show.

[18:39] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah.

[18:40] Christiani Pitts: And just be silly. But, like, really, the silliness is in playing it truthfully. You know?

[18:45] Bruce Gotlieb: Right.

[18:46] Christiani Pitts: So we get to, like, really go Fred and Ginger and, like, really.

[18:49] Bruce Gotlieb: Right.

[18:50] Christiani Pitts: Yeah. It's just so funny. I know. It's like there's a lot of fantasy in this very realistic show.

[18:57] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah.

[18:58] Christiani Pitts: You know, as realistic as a musical can be.

[19:01] Bruce Gotlieb: Right.

[19:02] Christiani Pitts: But, you know, what I love about this is, you know, Robin is someone who I see every day in my life. Now, let's just go into the characters. We said no spoilers, but, you know, let's get into it a little bit.

[19:14] Bruce Gotlieb: Let's do it.

[19:15] Christiani Pitts: She is her own worst enemy. She is so unforgiving of herself. I hope that that's not something that you do in your own life.

[19:22] Bruce Gotlieb: Oh, my goodness.

[19:23] Christiani Pitts: I do. I do. Not as bad, I think. I think I'm also a little bit older than Robin, and I sometimes think about, like, where I was at her age. It was just a couple years ago, but still.

[19:32] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah.

[19:33] Christiani Pitts: I think I was a little harsher on myself. And then with life experience, you know, sometimes you're like, you know what? I probably shouldn't have done it, but oh, well.

[19:42] Bruce Gotlieb: Right.

[19:43] Christiani Pitts: Exactly. Right. As opposed to, like, beating yourself up.

[19:46] Bruce Gotlieb: Oh, yeah.

[19:47] Christiani Pitts: And Robin is really, really struggling. I was saying she's really disconnected from her childhood self. Like, extremely disconnected. And she's actively trying to get back because she remembers that's when she was happy. Like, that's when she had some sort of happiness. And to watch her get back to that is, I think, really interesting for audience members. And then for me, my three-year-old is just in just peak happiness. She's just so happy. And so I'm often confronted, like, what it means to just be, to wake up every day like, what's today got to offer?

[20:20] Bruce Gotlieb: Right.

[20:21] Christiani Pitts: You know what I mean?

[20:22] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah.

[20:23] Christiani Pitts: Well, it's a choice, right? You have to decide if you're going to, you know, sometimes we can't be happy even with the choices we make, but we can at least aspire to that.

[20:33] Bruce Gotlieb: Right, right.

[20:34] Christiani Pitts: And I love, we talked about this in the rehearsal process, you know, the words mental health or the word depression is never mentioned in the script, ever.

[20:41] Bruce Gotlieb: Right.

[20:42] Christiani Pitts: But it's also no secret that my character is deeply struggling. And what I love about that, though, is that it doesn't look like how sometimes we assume mental health crisis look like where Robin's getting out of bed every single day. She's a functioning person.

[21:01] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah.

[21:02] Christiani Pitts: Yeah. Yeah. She smiles. She's not, you know, she's, she has, she's, she's having fun.

[21:07] Bruce Gotlieb: Right.

[21:08] Christiani Pitts: And yet she's still really struggling. And I think it's important for, for people to see that and say, oh, shoot, I guess I, you know, you get so caught up in the day of the day that you don't even realize.

[21:18] Bruce Gotlieb: Right.

[21:19] Christiani Pitts: But I just, yeah, I love that that we don't have to sort of force feed a condition that she's experiencing and yet you can see it and say, ah, okay. The other thing that's also interesting too, in that scene being is that then you have this character Dougal that comes in and there's a stranger doesn't know her, but recognizes all of which all what she's trying to so hard to hide from everybody else.

[21:45] Bruce Gotlieb: Yes.

[21:46] Christiani Pitts: And he won't let it go as much as she's like, okay, we're done here. He's like tapping, keeps tapping on her until he's going to crack through.

[21:56] Bruce Gotlieb: Yes.

[21:57] Christiani Pitts: Yes. Yes. And what happens when someone pays that close attention?

[22:00] Bruce Gotlieb: Exactly.

[22:01] Christiani Pitts: How lovely. Right. And he's really the only person who is making that much of an effort for her. It's, it's, it's hilarious that someone she doesn't know.

[22:11] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah.

[22:12] Christiani Pitts: And I think a part of the way, sometimes I think I internalized it when we first did it is that, well, because he doesn't know me again, so deep in her shame spiral, that's why he can be kind to me. He doesn't know what I'm capable of. He doesn't know what I've done. And when the reality is I'm not my mistake, I'm not, you know, I'm, I'm still, I'm still capable of doing wonderful things. I'm still a good person. And that's what he's picking up on.

[22:37] Bruce Gotlieb: Now, did Robin make that big mistake that is central to the plot because of the depression or did that help bring on the depression?

[22:47] Christiani Pitts: 1000%. I think it was, I think it was a reaction to her experience. There's also such a complicated relationship with her and her sister that is so nuanced. I love it so much. I think there's a whole spinoff series about black families and what happens when someone makes it out of a circumstance and becomes the family member.

[23:16] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah.

[23:17] Christiani Pitts: Really successful. And if that person then leaves people behind and what that looks like. And that, that's, again, is a whole thing that is not necessarily on the page, but it's implied, you know, my grandma, for example, doesn't go to the big event that we're trying to help.

[23:33] Bruce Gotlieb: Right.

[23:34] Christiani Pitts: Because we're left behind. We're not included in, in this beautiful, in what it means to be successful. And I think not being what I perceived to be successful had put, already put Robin down in a spiral that then caused her to make a bad decision that also was forced upon her. She, she didn't, you know, that she didn't seek this person out in any way.

[24:06] Bruce Gotlieb: Right.

[24:07] Christiani Pitts: So yeah, yeah. But yes, yes, it would happen. And then things took another turn.

[24:13] Jasmine Amy Rogers: Hi, I'm Jasmine, Amy Rogers. You are listening to Behind the Awards. We'll be right back.

[24:17] Bruce Gotlieb: You know, the listeners, those that haven't had the opportunity to see the show yet should know that again, it's only two characters on the stage, you and Sam. So those interactions with the grandmother character, with the sister character, all of that, you get crystal clear.

[24:28] Christiani Pitts: Yes.

[24:29] Bruce Gotlieb: Like that lift that you're carrying is, you know, is so, so large, but done perfectly where you get, you feel like there is that interaction even though you never see another person.

[24:45] Christiani Pitts: So thank you. I, I, it's a real, I love doing it acting wise. It's really fun. But I also have to give an immense amount of credit to our director because he took the time to, to really write out. We wrote out the conversations. So anytime we're on the phone with somebody, it didn't, it didn't make it into the script, but it has been written out. So everything is sort of fully fleshed. Those relationships are so fleshed out.

[25:09] Eila Mell: Welcome back to Behind the Awards. We are thrilled to have Christiani Pitts with us today, who is currently starring in the new musical "Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York" at the Longacre Theater.

[25:39] Bruce Gotlieb: Christiani, it's so great to have you here. I mean, you're making waves on Broadway right now! Can you tell us a little bit about your character, Robin?

[25:59] Christiani Pitts: Thank you so much for having me! Robin is such a vibrant character. She’s a dreamer, and she has this incredible journey throughout the show. The story really revolves around her relationships and the challenges she faces while trying to achieve her dreams.

[26:29] Eila Mell: That sounds amazing! What do you think are the key ingredients that went into baking this show?

[26:49] Christiani Pitts: Oh, definitely the music and the writing! The score is so beautiful, and the lyrics really capture the essence of the characters. Plus, the chemistry between the cast is just electric. It all comes together to create something really special.

[27:09] Bruce Gotlieb: You made your Broadway debut in the same theater with "A Bronx Tale." How does it feel to be back in that space?

[27:29] Christiani Pitts: It feels surreal! Coming back to the Longacre Theater is like coming home. I have so many fond memories from my debut, and now to be back in a leading role is just a dream come true.

[27:49] Eila Mell: And you also starred in "King Kong." What was that experience like for you?

[28:09] Christiani Pitts: "King Kong" was such a unique experience. It was my first major role on Broadway, and I learned so much from it. The scale of the production was incredible, and working with the creative team was a highlight for me.

[28:29] Bruce Gotlieb: You’ve also been involved in television, like "Power Book III: Raising Kanan." How do you balance stage and screen work?

[28:49] Christiani Pitts: It can be challenging, but I love both mediums. Each has its own rhythm and energy. I try to immerse myself fully in whichever project I’m working on at the time, and I think that helps me stay grounded.

[29:09] Eila Mell: Speaking of projects, what’s been the most rewarding part of working on "Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York"?

[29:29] Christiani Pitts: The collaboration with the creative team and my fellow cast members has been incredibly rewarding. We all bring our own experiences and perspectives to the table, and it’s been a joy to create something together.

[29:49] Bruce Gotlieb: That’s wonderful to hear. And what do you hope audiences take away from the show?

[30:09] Christiani Pitts: I hope they leave feeling inspired and uplifted. The show is about connection and the beauty of human relationships, and I think that resonates with everyone.

[30:29] Eila Mell: Absolutely! Now, let’s switch gears a bit. Bruce, you wanted to discuss Holland Taylor’s recent Emmy win?

[30:49] Bruce Gotlieb: Yes! Holland Taylor won an Emmy for her role in "The Crown," and it’s such a well-deserved recognition. Her performance was phenomenal, and it’s great to see her talent celebrated.

[31:09] Eila Mell: I completely agree. She’s such a powerhouse in the industry.

[31:29] Christiani Pitts: I love Holland! She’s such an inspiration, and her work has paved the way for so many actors.

[31:49] Bruce Gotlieb: Speaking of inspiration, let’s talk about the recent review of "Marjorie Prime" starring June Squibb, Cynthia Nixon, Danny Burstein, and Christopher Lowell.

[32:09] Eila Mell: Yes! The reviews have been quite positive. It’s fascinating to see how these talented actors bring such depth to their roles.

[32:29] Christiani Pitts: I’m excited to see it! The cast is incredible, and I’ve heard great things about the writing as well.

[32:49] Bruce Gotlieb: It’s definitely a must-see.

[33:09] Eila Mell: Christiani, we’re so glad you could join us today. Before we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with our listeners?

[33:29] Christiani Pitts: Just that I’m so grateful for the support and can’t wait for everyone to see "Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York." It’s a show that truly celebrates life and connection.

[33:49] Bruce Gotlieb: Thank you, Christiani! We can’t wait to see it either.

[34:09] Eila Mell: And thank you to our listeners for tuning in. Be sure to check out Christiani’s performance and join us next time for more behind-the-scenes stories!

[34:29] Christiani Pitts: Thank you both for having me!

[34:49] Bruce Gotlieb: It’s been a pleasure!

[35:09] Eila Mell: Until next time, everyone!

[35:29] Christiani Pitts: Bye!

[35:49] Bruce Gotlieb: Bye!

[36:09] Eila Mell: Bye!

[36:29] Bruce Gotlieb: Bye!

[36:49] Eila Mell: Bye!

[37:09] Bruce Gotlieb: Bye!

[37:43] Eila Mell: Welcome back to Behind the Awards. We are here with the fabulous Christiani Pitts, who is starring in the new musical "Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York."

[38:14] Bruce Gotlieb: Christiani, it’s so great to have you here. I mean, you’ve had such an incredible journey on Broadway. Can you tell us a bit about your character, Robin, and what drew you to this role?

[38:39] Christiani Pitts: Thank you for having me! Robin is such a vibrant character. She’s a dreamer and a bit of a romantic, which I really connect with. The show is about connection and the unexpected moments that can change your life, and I love that Robin embodies that spirit.

[39:04] Eila Mell: That sounds amazing! You’ve had quite the journey, making your Broadway debut in "A Bronx Tale" at the Longacre Theater. What was that experience like for you?

[39:17] Christiani Pitts: It was surreal! I remember stepping onto that stage for the first time and feeling a rush of emotions. It was a dream come true, and to be back at the Longacre for this new show feels like a full-circle moment for me.

[39:37] Bruce Gotlieb: And then you went on to star in "King Kong." What was it like to take on such an iconic role?

[40:02] Christiani Pitts: Playing Ann Darrow was a huge honor. The show was visually stunning, and I loved the challenge of bringing that character to life. It was a unique experience, and I learned so much from it.

[40:27] Eila Mell: You’ve also been busy with television projects. I saw you in "Power Book III: Raising Kanan." How do you balance stage and screen work?

[40:52] Christiani Pitts: It can be challenging, but I love both mediums. Each has its own rhythm and energy. I try to stay grounded and focus on the story I’m telling, whether it’s on stage or in front of the camera.

[41:17] Bruce Gotlieb: That’s a great perspective. Now, let’s talk about the show "Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York." What can audiences expect from it?

[41:37] Christiani Pitts: Audiences can expect a heartfelt story filled with humor and warmth. It’s about the connections we make with strangers and how those moments can lead to something beautiful. Plus, there’s some fantastic music that really brings the story to life.

[42:02] Eila Mell: I can’t wait to see it! Speaking of awards, Holland Taylor recently won an Emmy. What do you think about the significance of awards in the industry?

[42:27] Christiani Pitts: Awards can be a wonderful recognition of hard work, but I think what really matters is the impact we have on our audiences. It’s about the stories we tell and how they resonate with people.

[42:47] Bruce Gotlieb: Absolutely. And you’ve certainly made an impact with your performances. What advice would you give to aspiring performers looking to make their mark on Broadway?

[42:57] Christiani Pitts: Stay true to yourself and keep honing your craft. It’s a tough industry, but persistence and passion go a long way. Surround yourself with supportive people and never stop learning.

[43:17] Eila Mell: Wise words! Now, before we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with our listeners?

[43:37] Christiani Pitts: Just that I’m so excited for everyone to see "Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York." It’s a special show, and I hope it brings joy to everyone who comes to see it.

[43:57] Bruce Gotlieb: Thank you so much for joining us today, Christiani. It’s been a pleasure chatting with you!

[44:17] Eila Mell: Yes, thank you! We can’t wait to see what you do next.

[44:37] Christiani Pitts: Thank you both! I appreciate it.

[44:57] Eila Mell: And to our listeners, make sure to check out Christiani’s performance in "Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York."

[45:17] Bruce Gotlieb: And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram at @behind_the_awards for more behind-the-scenes content.

[45:37] Eila Mell: Until next time, keep celebrating excellence in theater, film, and TV!

[45:57] Christiani Pitts: Bye everyone!

[46:17] Eila Mell: Bye!

[46:37] Bruce Gotlieb: Bye!

[46:58] Eila Mell: See you next week!

[47:26] Bruce Gotlieb: Take care!

[47:46] Eila Mell: Bye!

[48:07] Bruce Gotlieb: Bye!

[48:32] Eila Mell: Bye!

[49:00] Bruce Gotlieb: Bye!

[49:20] Eila Mell: Bye!

[49:40] Bruce Gotlieb: Bye!

[50:00] Eila Mell: Bye!