This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Christiani Pitts: Hey, I'm Christiani Pitts, and you're listening to The Art of Kindness.

[0:09] Robert Peterpaul: Hello, beautiful people. Welcome to The Art of Kindness, where we have compassionate conversations with artists from all areas of the entertainment industry who are using their voice to spread joy and make this big spinning planet in the universe a better place to be. I'm Robert Peterpaul, and I'm so glad you're here.

[0:30] Robert Peterpaul: Hello, friends. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones. I know I did, and wowee, am I thankful for leftovers, including cake. Yes, oddly, I had a lot of cake over Thanksgiving, and they weren't turkey shaped, which was even more odd, but we had a lot of birthdays to celebrate, including my mom's and our Aunt Linda and Uncle Jack. Happy birthdays. Luckily, all I had to do was slice up the cake and carry it over to my place at the table. Today's guest, well, she's carrying cake across New York City. Christiani Pitts can currently be seen in the new musical comedy Two Strangers, Carry a Cake Across New York, which opened on Broadway this season and is being decorated with scrumptious reviews.

This interview is a little time capsule of the extra sweet moment right before Christiani started her run, and we had a blast. Christiani previously starred in A Bronx Tale and as Ann Darrow in the Broadway musical King Kong. On screen, she's appeared in shows like Starz's Power Book 3, The Good Fight, Elementary, as well as the Netflix feature Resort to Love. I truly cannot wait for you to hear this profound and all-around delightful conversation. We give you all the flavors. This cake has many tiers. I hope you'll join us for more fun on social media at Art of Kindness Pod and at Rob Peter Paul, as well as our YouTube channel, which is popping off. You can watch full video conversations on there, my friends. Now, without further ado, let's slice up a piece of cake and sit down with the kind Christiani Pitts.

[2:47] Robert Peterpaul: How are you?

[2:48] Christiani Pitts: Hey, I'm good. How are you?

[2:50] Robert Peterpaul: Hi, I'm good. I just popped a Grethers. I'm like, yes, come on, come on, clear throat. I love your sweater.

[2:56] Christiani Pitts: Thank you. It's a little something something. I also just got my haircut. I'm looking at myself in the thing. I'm like, oh, who is she?

[3:03] Robert Peterpaul: Who is? You're looking good.

[3:05] Christiani Pitts: Yeah, I feel like I don't even know who I am, but you look great. Also, I love your podcast. I love it. I was listening to it last night. I listened to the Norm Lewis episode and it lulled, it was at, you know, midnight and it was like lulling and so I had to wake up. It started to get, it was so good.

[3:22] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, thank you. What a special person. I loved getting to talk with Norm. Talk about a class act of kindness.

[3:28] Christiani Pitts: Oh my gosh. Yeah.

[3:30] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. Thank you for the kind words. I really appreciate that. We're thrilled to have you on. I gotta say, Christiani, I saw you in King Kong and you reigned supreme in that show. I was gonna say Queen Kong, but then I watched the incredibly moving interview you had with your father and he already took that. So I guess I just said it too, but you know what? I walked away from that show. Obviously the puppet is dazzling, but to have, to compete with a puppet of that caliber and sort of have audience members walk away saying, who is that? This human being is equally as just marvelous as this giant creation. I mean, insane. So that's kind of what, how I connected with you and first got to see you and I just wanted to share that. I think you're so talented.

[4:19] Christiani Pitts: Oh my gosh. And you seem like such a kind soul. So I'm thrilled you're here today.

[4:22] Robert Peterpaul: Thank you. I'm so happy to, I really appreciate you saying that. And I, you know, that was a journey, a beast, if you will. I'm glad. I really am glad to hear you say that. Thank you. Yeah, I had some mutual friends that worked at the show and, you know, I know it was just even a longer process because people would want to go on stage and take pictures with the puppet after the show and it was sort of like a theme park in that way too.

[4:49] Christiani Pitts: Yes.

[4:50] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, definitely. And that's a lot. And then we're going to get into a smaller show today, which is awesome. So maybe you'll have a different experience, although it's certainly already making waves. Before we get there though, you said you listened, which is really kind. You may already know. I like to start the show by asking, how are you at receiving compliments?

[5:07] Christiani Pitts: I don't think I'm great. I don't think I'm great.

[5:11] Christiani Pitts: Well, I will often, like, immediately put it back on the other person and find something that you've got that I'm like, and I like your, you know what I mean? Like, I just think it's awkward. But yeah, I mean, it's nice to hear, but it makes me a little awkward.

[5:29] Robert Peterpaul: I feel that. I'm always awkward. I have resting awkward face. I'm sure you've already seen it at this point, but I get that. It's tough, but it is nice because I know when I give someone a compliment, I want them to feel it. So it's a tricky journey to learn just to say, thank you. And you're about to get so much of that with the stage joy. You're going to be filled with compliments and love. So report back on the journey there. We're here to talk about kindness today, and I would love to know what is your definition of kindness? And how do you think it's evolved over the years?

[5:56] Christiani Pitts: I think for me, being kind is using your heart to show up for somebody in some way, not expecting like anything back. And that feels so clear to me because I used to conflate kindness and like niceness of being nice. And they're so different.

[6:23] Christiani Pitts: Yeah, they are so different. And I really appreciate what people are like, so kind. Or when something happens and I'm like, oh my God, they did not have to do that. They did that out of the kindness of their heart. You know what I mean? Like people say, but I think it's this thing where like, it's not about, it's not conditional. It's not like, it's not about what you can do for me. It just comes from my heart and it happened.

[6:50] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. Yeah, that's beautiful. That's a beautiful definition, especially as I looked up your name for some reason and it means anointed one. Did you know that?

[6:58] Christiani Pitts: That's right. I didn't know that. But well, maybe I didn't know that.

[7:02] Robert Peterpaul: Anointed one?

[7:03] Christiani Pitts: Anointed one. I mean, this is AI Google. So don't hold me to it.

[7:09] Robert Peterpaul: But it's now on a podcast recorded. So it's what it means. We're going to run with that. I got to say, if the creators of Two Strangers are watching this, they would, they're going to get a kick out of that because, and I promise you, I didn't know that. But when I was auditioning for it and I heard the song, This Is The Place, there's a line where she says, this is the church. And then there's an organ, baby. I said, I said, that is a very anointed. That is a very anointed chord. That's a very anointed moment in the show. And there are these like, you know, British guys who are like, well, I don't know. What does that mean? Like they were like, what do you mean by that? I said, y'all don't get it. Like it's, it's, and I kept using anointed throughout the rehearsal process.

[7:52] Christiani Pitts: Wow.

[7:52] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. So I didn't know that. That's wild.

[7:55] Christiani Pitts: Yeah. And that's not really a word that kind of just rolls off people's tongues on the daily.

[7:59] Robert Peterpaul: No, that's a very specific word. So there's something there.

[8:01] Christiani Pitts: Yes, and you should save it for when it is because not everything is, you know what I mean?

[8:05] Robert Peterpaul: Okay, opening night. We need to bring you a cake that says anointed and travel across that to you.

[8:11] Christiani Pitts: Look at this sweater. I didn't even see the arms. Oh my gosh, the detail. I love that.

[8:15] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, it's a giving chic cringe.

[8:19] Christiani Pitts: No, what's his name? Who lives in the garbage?

[8:21] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[8:23] Christiani Pitts: Oh, yeah. Grouch.

[8:25] Robert Peterpaul: It's giving Oscar the grouch. Let's manifest that. And speaking of, we have a surprise guest.

[8:29] Christiani Pitts: No, I wish that would be so cool.

[8:31] Robert Peterpaul: Would you imagine? I know that you've been obsessed. I heard with performing since you were a kid and we share that in common all things creative and arts and speaking of kindness from the heart and what you were just talking about. Is there an act of kindness that you feel like early on changed your trajectory and got you on this path as an artist that you're on today?

[8:52] Christiani Pitts: Oh, that is such a good question. Okay, something that comes to my mind is my high school drama teacher. Linda says that makes you rest in peace was the most incredible one. Like I was so scared of her my entire high school like my all four years. I was terrified of her but I loved her so much and I wanted her to like me. So I was doing kind of what I was talking about earlier things that were like nice things that were not really rooted in like they weren't genuine. I just wanted her to like me really bad and then I think that made her harder on me because she was like it. What is this fake? Sugar honey iced tea that you're doing. You know what I mean? Like what is it?

[9:30] Christiani Pitts: Yeah, I'm trying to get past it. So I was like, oh she hooked me but it's fine. New Year. We're doing Aida and we were in rehearsal. She always wore these beautiful bangles from I think she got them in Ghana and she always wore them and one day I was like, oh Miss Stevenson. Can I wear those like the show like they just feel very and she was like no girl. What? Like no, absolutely not. I was like, that's fine. We finished the show. They bring like flowers up for the seniors like some of the underclassmen bring flowers up and Miss Stevenson talking about the seniors and how you know, lovely it's been when she brings me my flowers and she takes these bangles off of her wrist and she like puts them on baby.

I was I I cried it was I just I was so moved by for me that was like the ultimate act of like this is for you go on and be great go on and check it. It was just it was like the ultimate thing of kindness and it made me feel like I could do like I'm ready. It was I don't know what it was a physical thing, but it literally made me feel like oh baby. I'm going to Rob. Yeah, I just felt so fast.

[10:45] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, the bangle was anointed with more than maybe she knew.

[10:49] Christiani Pitts: Correct. Correct.

[10:50] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. Yeah, Linda Stevenson the ultimate.

[10:55] Christiani Pitts: Wow.

[10:56] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, you know in acting class that I mean, you know, this sounds so like what am I explaining acting class to anybody but please let's talk about it. Do you know that thing in acting class where they say imbue an object with history or experience? That's what came to mind there. It's like imbuing that bangle with that beautiful story and it is sort of like armor. It's it's power to have that from another person, especially a teacher shout out to teachers.

[11:20] Christiani Pitts: Yes.

[11:21] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, and they deserve a lot more in this book from a little young age. Like yeah, it's this important to pour into, you know, especially you know, the ones that you can tell like are not doing this for anybody's elective or for anybody like they love it.

[11:35] Christiani Pitts: Yeah, that's why she was teaching. That's why she was so hard on me because she was like, you know, this isn't this isn't just fun for you, but I can tell there's something else going on.

[11:44] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, different kinds of kindness there. Shout out shout out and you know, it reminds me to you know, speaking of just being an emotional mess when you got the bangle. I was an emotional mess sitting there watching your father interview you about King Kong. I did not know your dad was this TV news legend.

[12:02] Christiani Pitts: Come on. Let it come on. Bits be pits.

[12:06] Robert Peterpaul: It's not just Brad Pitt.

[12:07] Christiani Pitts: Well, yes, that doesn't make sense.

[12:08] Robert Peterpaul: What have you learned from him about working kind of in this business growing up because they're they're different arenas, but there's a lot of similarities and ultimately it's all the same.

[12:17] Christiani Pitts: Yeah. Yeah, and it's so funny. I never looked at him as a creative growing up which is such a disservice to what he does. Like he's he is an investigative journalist. He has to not only like find these four of me dark things, but he has to like make people care who wouldn't otherwise care like he's a great writer. So he's which is it's I didn't realize that he was a creative until I was adult and that's what you do with a character.

[12:40] Christiani Pitts: Yeah, exactly. Exactly. And he feels like he could never do what I do. I feel like I could never do what he does but but you know, it's so funny about my dad. He is so big on kindness. He is so big on kindness to the point where like growing up that was like a just a big part of like, how do you treat people? You know, we're Southern. So there was a lot of like, yes, ma'am. No, ma'am. Yes, sir. No, sir. Like he just really.

[13:07] Christiani Pitts: Embedded kindness, manners, showing up for people in a certain way. A little bit I think rooted in trauma might be a big word, but I think rooted in survival and safety. He's a black man from the South by way of Baltimore. He didn't move to Baltimore, but being kind was a protective mechanism for him. So he gave on that for me and my sisters. And it's paid off because I was able to take the things that I feel like weren't going against who I was as a person, that weren't like genuine, and then keep the things that I was like, oh yeah, it does. It feels really good to just show up the way you want somebody to show up for you. See, that hit on my mom. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. Oh, it sounds like you're very lucky to have them. Thank you for sharing that. I wonder how did that extend to you then entering this industry, which so many wonderful people and wonderful things, but isn't always kind to us when we're starting out?

[14:01] Christiani Pitts: Yes. Yeah. That, you know, it's funny. I like, I think that's getting in the business is how I learned the difference between nice and kind. I didn't realize that they, like I told you earlier, I didn't know that those were different. And I remember being like very nice because I wanted to be liked by people, but not always moving in a way that was like genuine to my heart because I wanted to play the game to get seen. And that's what I think is happening with a lot of people. You're being nice to get something versus like showing up authentically being kind because it's authentic as to who you are. And then what is for you is for you and what is, you know, so I, because I was dead set on again, I was raised to be kind.

So kindness came naturally, but I was trying even harder to be like nice and be liked and the business don't, don't care about that. So things would happen and I'd be like, but I, but, but, and I learned very closely, like, that's not what this is about. Yeah. You have to treat people with kindness and you have to do the work and everything else that happens is, you know, it's a part of the game. Like you can't, can't take things personal. So I don't know. I think I'm still like navigating it a little bit, but yeah, I think I just learned very quickly, like, oh, they don't care about, you know what I mean?

[15:25] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, that's a, it's, it's a tricky thing and leading the two person shows is probably going to be a slightly different arena. And I'm sure you'll experience maybe being on the opposite side of that, which could be kind of cool. Maybe judging if someone's being kind to you genuinely or because, you know, they want a house seat or they want to come backstage or whatever, I didn't know what I mean. So it's tricky now.

[15:46] Christiani Pitts: Yeah. Yeah. And it's like, no matter what you want to be kind in return, but there is that, like you just said, that balance of being kind to yourself and that's what it is. That's what it is. It's, I think when you're being, when you're so caught up on the trying to be liked and the trying to be accepted, which is such a natural thing to do, you end up being so unkind to yourself that it's, it would be impossible for you to be genuinely kind to someone else. I, I, that's, I think that the pandemic too, everything's stopping and, and you happen to ask yourself like, oh, like, I don't know if you had to ask yourself this, but the, who am I, if I'm not doing the arts and the things like, what, like who, I had no idea. I had no idea. So a lot of learning and being kind to myself.

[16:42] Christiani Pitts: Yeah. Re-centering that. Someone said to me on this podcast once the re-centering for them is what am I doing this all for? It sort of like re-centers you of not just the sense of you and your love for it, but the people, your community, your team, which isn't just your agents and your publicist, it's your mom, it's your friends, it's your, the people that lift you up. So that's helped me recently. I mean, learning from people like yourself on this show is an invaluable experience because in these times, we need kindness more than ever, like on multiple fronts, ourselves, we need to give it more. And I'm grateful that you're sharing a lot of this here today, but of course we got to talk about kindness in the cake, in the frosting. Let's ice this cake. Two strangers carry a cake across New York. How, which honestly sounds like my Thursday. How are you feeling and what's your mindset? I guess going into what I'm sure is going to be such an amazing adventure.

[17:41] Christiani Pitts: Yeah, I feel good. I feel excited. I feel like, um, what a blessing, like what a blessing. I keep forgetting. I'll tell somebody about the show and I'll be describing it and then say, wait, wait, so it was just y'all two. And then I forget. And I wear, I feel this weird pressure for like five seconds because I'm like, Oh God, it is just, but the show is so not that it's so much bigger than these two people. It's this big world. And these two people are doing their best to function around it, which is like literally what we're all doing. So it doesn't feel the weight of like, oh God, it's a team hand. I don't feel that. I feel like I am so excited to get up there and tell this person's truth, this character Robin, who I love.

I've like, she feels like she would be my home girl. She feels like she would be like in my sister's circle. Like she's just such a, a real person that deserves like the spotlight. You know what I mean? So I'm just like, I'm like, let's go. Like I'm ready to get back to it.

[18:43] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. I love that. You know, I think for some people, when they hear the word kindness, it isn't always associated with, I guess, being real, being truthful. And I haven't seen the show, correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've gathered, your character is more of the grounded sort of gritty kind of, and then there's sort of like this buddy, the elf can't wait to be in New York city vibe, which again, can't wait to see it. How do you treat a character with kindness when, I mean, you just said you're in love with her, but when maybe you don't agree with some of the decisions they're making or what they're saying, like, is that big for you approaching a character with empathy?

[19:18] Christiani Pitts: Yes. Yes. It's huge. I, I, I'll find myself too sometimes, which I'm like, especially in this two-hander, I care so deeply about her that I'll, that something will be on the page and we'll be going back and forth. Like, well, yeah, but like, I'm in defense mode of her. You know what I mean? Like, I feel like I don't want her to be misunderstood. I don't want her to be. And I had to like, let that go because she is in a, she's in a complicated place where she doesn't necessarily understand herself a lot of the times. So I, you said it so beautifully earlier about being kind to yourself. She, Rob is not good at that. Like, she's really not good at that. And she doesn't know that she's not good at it.

She hasn't even given herself the time to think about it. So I feel like in this weird, like it, this is okay. This is a bit of a rabbit hole. Go with me here. Let's go. I got my bunny shoes on. I'm hopping. So I have a, well, she's now three. She turned three, two days ago. I have a three-year-old and happy birthday. Thanks. Sorry. I'll leave her girl. Um, and this, and okay. So I have a three-year-old in real life. This character Robin is, is very, um, disconnected from her child, from her inner child, which is very disconnected and like desperately wants to figure out how to get back to that happiness she had as a kid. I've never resonated with something more when I had my daughter and I could see happiness in real time bouncing around.

It made me confront my own unhappiness in a way that like is I've just never experienced. So when I'm working on this character, I almost feel like I'm mothering her in a very weird way, like outside of myself, like every turn I see where she's like, ah, she just loved herself a little bit more. She wouldn't have done that. Oh, she just, if she did. And so I, it's like this weird push and pull of being authentically her and then trying to, um, get her to where she needs to be by the end of the show. And I feel like I can only do that because I'm someone's mom now. It's so weird.

[21:27] Robert Peterpaul: Wow. That's really cool. It's very like this, a very kind of loopy, but it's, it's wild. And it's, it is rooted in like being so kind to yourself and you see someone who the world hasn't gotten to them yet. So they only know to be kind to themselves. Like that's what they got, you know, not you should, but you could teach an acting class all about, I guess, like approaching characters with motherly love, because that is sort of the highest form of love. One of them, in my opinion, and obviously, and approaching characters in that way that is approaching them with love and not judging them. And I think that's so cool. And it also reminded me of something I've worked on over the years, which is just getting back to your inner child in the sense of why we love doing what we do, because you enter this industry.

And then all of a sudden, the business things, you take classes and all these things are in your brain and you're like, oh, it's TV. Don't move my face. Oh, it's a Broadway. And stuff that doesn't really matter. And you kind of lose that childlike sense of being on the playground and just you're, you are the character. You didn't do like 20 hours of prep. You're just like, you're the, whatever, the dragon. And I think it's cool. You would say that, like, is that something you feel like you've, I know you mentioned it briefly, but had to face in your own career as an actor, sort of like letting little Christiani come out, anointing her?

[23:49] Christiani Pitts: Yes. You know, as an actor, she's so present. My younger self, I, it's, it's a little creepy, but because I wanted Broadway so bad as a kid, my younger self was always like, yes, you know what I mean? Like, like so present. It's when I'm not performing that I have to, you know what I mean? Like those in-betweens that I have to remind myself of like, what else? Cause there's some, I played sports as a kid. Like there's a lot of other things I did that I really loved. So it's, it's outside of the work that I have to connect to my inner self when I'm working. Oh my goodness. I feel like I'm, you know, eight years old again, getting my sisters downstairs to learn this two steps.

[24:19] Christiani Pitts: Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah. Yes. It could have been called kid at heart or something. Yeah. We'll talk. We'll make it happen. I love that. Well, okay. First of all, though, you got to lead this new Broadway show and leading a show, let alone on Broadway is no joke. And I know you don't feel that pressure, which is amazing. I just wonder from a kindness standpoint, what are the things you think about as a leader, as someone high up on the call sheet going into this? Is that something you're, you're kind of percolating?

[24:36] Robert Peterpaul: I love that. Yeah. I get that. That was like me making little fake tickets and putting on a magic show without really a plan on the living room table and making everyone sit down. And then I'm just like waving a wand. Like what am I really doing? But that's, that's the fun of it. I did also had a mini library. I would put index cards and books and like, let my family check them out. There was, there was no organization, but you said that's the system, babe. There was, there was people would come over for playdates and I'm like, we're making a short film. And they're like, dude, I just wanted to like ride a bike. And I'm like, you ready for your closeup? We would have been locked in. I would have had a production company by now.

[25:49] Christiani Pitts: Yes. Yep. And the thing that came to my mind just now, when you just asked me that is like listening, I feel like it's so important when you're higher up on a call, what, when you're in some sort of position of life, some eyes are on you. Yeah. I think a lot of times people are listening to you and people at the top forget to listen. Like they often forget to listen to other people. And I think is that's like my, my thing in this space is to listen to obviously our directors, our, our creators, absolutely. But our, our wardrobe department, our, our lights, our, our front of house, everybody just like, like engage in genuine conversations and like listen to where everybody's coming from. That is like, I think that's, that's the, I'm not going to say the only way to go, but I feel like that's the way that I, I'm going to try to move.

We did the show at ART before coming here. I mean, Cambridge, it was just so awesome. And I got to know so many people from every department in a way that I realized like, Oh, the way to really get this thing going, it's a way to really get this cake across the street for like, you know what I mean? Is to like, everybody has to like be equally invested and like inspired and everybody has ideas.

[26:16] Christiani Pitts: So it was just listening to everybody was like, it informed every game, like, I love that. Yeah, you can't carry a giant cake across New York City if you're not listening to your partner, you can't make a cake with somebody else if you're not listening to each other, you know what I mean? So I think that's super special. And it kind of speaks to the theme of the show, which, yeah, from what I gathered, again, is like these two different perspectives coming together. And your partner in this is Sam Tuddy, who has been with the show for a while now. Talk me through the kindness of Sam and how you two are working together or carrying things together.

[26:53] Christiani Pitts: Okay, so he probably I don't know how I feel about saying this, but you know, it's so funny about Sam. In real life, I feel like he's closer to Robin, and I'm closer to him in a lot of ways. And then in real life, he is very much also Dougal in a lot of ways, but like, he's such a kind, such a kind person. And we got really close in rehearsal and things would happen. For example, we take an Uber together from rehearsal. And I would be in the Uber as myself, but very much like Dougal, my interaction with the Uber driver. And he's over there interacting like Robin. And we laugh because we're like, oh, wait, this is actually really funny. Like we're not weird. It's acting like it doesn't you know what I mean?

We are not people for real. But he's still very kind. He just actually, you know, kind of like, yeah, he's just he's very grounded and rooted in a way where he's like, very just sure of a lot of things. And so he doesn't put on any of like, unnecessary niceties in a way that I think is so special. He also has had such an interesting like, intro to the business because he, you know, he won an Olivier really kind of out there. And that's a lot of like pressure. And that's a lot on somebody so young and like fresh in a lot of ways. So to have all that happen and him still be like, just rooted in the work, grounded in the word, like, describing him as kind, honestly feels like an understatement. Like he does. Yeah, he is. He's something else. And I'm so happy we get along. Because baby, can you imagine?

[28:34] Christiani Pitts: Oh, yeah, that carrying a cake with somebody that I don't know what would happen. That cake would land on the ground, probably. I don't think it could work if he didn't get along. No, no, it's good. And that's something you do have to navigate in this business sometimes. Yeah. But you know, I do think unkindness, or like a mean person. It's almost synonymous with misunderstanding. Because if you don't understand someone, you just think they're being mean. But if you have their perspective, or you learn more about them, you at least understand why they're acting the way they're acting. And it might still not be that they're making good decisions. But you sort of, it's like, you know, building a character, have that understanding.

So I'm glad you two get along, because that would just be, that'd be a rough journey. It'd be hard. There's so much trough that has to happen with each other on that stage. We just, you know, and sometimes if you don't, if you're not really working with somebody, it's hard. I don't want anyone to make eye contact with you. And now we're on different. So, you know, we're professionals. So I think we could, we could get it done.

[29:33] Christiani Pitts: Yeah. But there's, there's this like, there's this energy that anybody...

[29:39] Robert Peterpaul: Yes, I've experienced.

[29:40] Christiani Pitts: Yeah, yeah. People like talk about it. Like they feel it from their, their seats. So I'm happy we have that.

[29:47] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, that's, that's amazing. And I mean, it's, it's really cool to have this story come out in this time. Because again, it centers on two people with completely different outlooks on the world and on life. And one is coming from another country and sort of has rose colored lenses on about New York City and the other ones, you know, living there. And it's almost like a, it seems like a Glinda Elphaba dynamic in some ways. So what has being a part of this story so far taught you about finding common ground with strangers?

[30:19] Christiani Pitts: I think we all could use a little lesson in that.

[30:21] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, yes, we could. That's such a good question.

[30:26] Christiani Pitts: It's a tough one.

[30:27] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, it is.

[30:29] Christiani Pitts: A process. There's something we realized when we were doing like table work once, that it's so easy to look at Robin's character and feel like she is closed off and like avoidant and not open and just like this. And then we're like just doing table work and realize that like, oh, Dougal's doing the exact same thing. I ask him a question and then he'll completely like switch the subject. And because he's so high energy and has such a warm spirit, it doesn't seem like he's closed off, but he's doing it the whole show. So I think we learned that like in order for people with differences to find some common ground, there's like a vulnerability that has to happen that strangers are just too afraid to have, which I understand who wants to be vulnerable with a stranger. I know.

[31:23] Christiani Pitts: I get it, but I think I'm learning like to at least observe the guards that I put up in my own life when I'm not sure who someone is. Like at least observe it and then wonder like, huh, that's weird. I have no idea who that person is. And I just made that, you know what I mean? I just randomly like am talking different and like.

[31:43] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, yeah.

[31:45] Christiani Pitts: It's the awareness.

[31:46] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[31:47] Christiani Pitts: And like the masks we all put on with like different people in our lives or different situations, and it could be vulnerable even just to say hi to a stranger on the street.

[31:55] Christiani Pitts: 1000%. Especially in New York. Some people, I'm from the South. When I moved to New York, I would very much do that, speak to everybody.

[32:01] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[32:02] Christiani Pitts: Sometimes people look at me like, are you good?

[32:05] Robert Peterpaul: Yes.

[32:06] Christiani Pitts: Are you okay?

[32:07] Robert Peterpaul: Yes. During the pandemic, I had the mask on. I'm like, hi. They're like, oh my God, call the police.

[32:14] Christiani Pitts: I'm like, no, I'm just saying hi.

[32:15] Robert Peterpaul: Who's that guy?

[32:16] Christiani Pitts: Yeah. And that's a kindness thing too. It's like some people might not experience you stopping to say hi as like kindness. Like it's so personal for everybody.

[32:24] Robert Peterpaul: Yes.

[32:25] Christiani Pitts: That finding these ways to unite and have common ground is special. So I'm glad that's the theme of the show because I think I would love to talk to you later after the show comes out and just see like you're probably going to experience so many people leaving as a community versus like the different folks coming in together.

[32:43] Robert Peterpaul: Yes.

[32:44] Christiani Pitts: That's something that's special about theater is especially when it's centered on a theme like this. It's like people might leave kind of helping each other or smiling at each other or eating cake together.

[32:54] Robert Peterpaul: Yes, they will. And like laughing together and crying together too. There's a lot of tears, but it's like, yeah, definitely a sense of community. And we found that with each other. Like I was absolutely ready to be the outsider because here are these people who've been working on the show for years. And, you know, I fell in love. I hadn't heard the show before I auditioned, but when I got the audition, I started listening and I was like, oh, I was obsessed with the soundtrack. It was so good.

[33:28] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[33:30] Christiani Pitts: Yeah.

[33:31] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[33:32] Christiani Pitts: Yeah.

[33:34] Christiani Pitts: So I remember coming in very nervous and like, okay, here I go. And it took up like us meeting myself and the creatives and Sam, like getting to know each other, being like super vulnerable, dropping guards down as much as possible to get comfortable to do the work. Like, you know what I mean? We have to do that. With any show, we have to do it. You know, we're all very different. So it was like, yeah, it's cool.

[34:06] Christiani Pitts: It's the common ground of working on that show together, which is another reason why I love theater. It brings people together.

[34:12] Robert Peterpaul: It does from all walks of life.

[34:15] Christiani Pitts: We need everybody.

[34:17] Robert Peterpaul: You know, you kind of touched on it a little bit, but I believe he's in love with this ideal of New York City and made me wonder what's sort of your relationship with having ideals or building up experiences and expectations like before the Broadway show even happens? I feel like that can be tricky in this career, like coming in with the awe of musical theater and then you quickly learn things and you're grounded. How do you navigate that? Because our minds are so powerful that sometimes we can like future trip and then it does us a disservice.

[34:49] Christiani Pitts: Oh my goodness. That is such a good question. I am so happy you asked me that. And let me just share. I had to learn a lesson about that. Because I thought when I was doing King Kong, I remember thinking like only about I had all these other things I wanted to do, but I didn't do them because I was like waiting to see what would happen with this thing that I'm doing. Like waiting, putting myself on hold artistically because I was like, you know, it's expectations, expectations. And that's not how I ever want to go about this again. Like the expectations, I think, is how you'll very quickly like lean into misery because things might not go the way you want them to go. So more so just like being really present and being really engaged in what you're doing and giving it your all, but also listening to yourself to say like, no, I want to write a song right now and put it out.

You know what I mean? And I'm going to go ahead and do that. Like I want to I have this script. I kind of want to get some friends together and like do the thing. Yeah. And because then it helps. It helps if things don't go the way you thought they were going to go. The expectations weren't so high. So you're not like, you know, you're not like, yeah, because there's so much that we can't control.

[36:12] Robert Peterpaul: I think that was a fantastic answer because it's sort of like follow the feeling like in any given day, even if you have a to do list, if the next thing on it, you're not feeling it, do the one you are because it's better to approach things with that joy and that passion in that moment. And it's so fleeting, right? And if you're holding out for this idea of something, it's never going to match. Even if it has a positive outcome, it's never going to match what was in your head. And so I don't know. Sometimes I think my brain, like I booked something recently and I'm like, before it even starts, I'm like, I think my brain can psych me so much out of it with expectations that then you show up and you're kind of like, I have imposter syndrome.

[37:00] Christiani Pitts: Yes. Yes. Or something. You know, absolutely. Why do we do that?

[37:04] Christiani Pitts: I think maybe to protect ourselves, to ease the, not even the pain, but like the impact of starting something new. Yeah, maybe. I don't know. But I think you're right, though. I think listening and being present is the answer because it kind of puts it on the other people. Sort of show up, be curious and have fun and easier said than done. But something I wonder for you from what I know, I've heard a few of the songs and again, like your voice is just like butter in a cake. It's so beautiful. Sugar, butter, flour. I wonder as you're breaking down these songs, which appear to be a lot of musical monologues in a way, how do you go about approaching those as a performer? Do you feel like it's a little different?

[37:44] Christiani Pitts: Yeah, I do. I do. And only because I like to treat them, and this is a credit to our director, Tim Jackson, always talks about, specifically in our show, that even though it is a solo or a monologue, try to treat it like a duet. Even if the other person is yourself, if it's an inner thought. Approaching it very clearly with another point of view of another has been really helpful. And in this show, there's a lot of talking to yourself, I mean, for the most part. But to always think about, well, what if, say I'm talking to myself, but about my sister. Like if something's going on with my sister, what would happen if she heard me? And have that inner life kind of going on. It's changed how I approach any song, really, that thought.

[38:39] Christiani Pitts: When he said that, I was like, oh, okay, Tim. That's super cool. Kindness is a duet. I like that. I think in life, approach it like a duet. Stop thinking about yourself.

[38:48] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, yeah. Because like there's somebody else.

[38:50] Christiani Pitts: That's brilliant.

[38:51] Christiani Pitts: Like, you know, sometimes when we're talking to ourselves, and we're all in our head, it's typically like creating another life that hasn't happened yet.

[38:57] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[38:58] Christiani Pitts: You know what I mean? Like we're all kind of doing it, but we don't think about it that way.

[39:02] Robert Peterpaul: True. I saw this quote recently that I'm going to butcher it, but it was something on Instagram, basically, of course, because that's where we live, which was like, you can overthink the positive things too.

[39:12] Christiani Pitts: Oh my goodness, can you? And now it's negative. You're like, what?

[39:17] Robert Peterpaul: And I'm like, wait, I can overthink the positive things. I can't overthink the positive things. It's like, no, that's all, now you're being negative.

[39:23] Christiani Pitts: It's a while, but I think mindset is so important, especially in this industry, in the throes of a Broadway show. I mean, if your mindset is off, it affects everything. But also, it helps to realize like, you could have a bad mindset and just be feel like you're phoning it in. And then afterwards, people had the time of their life. So it's sort of like, what's going on in our head isn't reality.

[39:45] Robert Peterpaul: It's not. It's not. And if we're not present, and we're thinking about it, we're not. That's why I feel like you just got to stay in it. Stay in it. Yeah, there's because there's only the two of us, we can hear everything that's happening. And it's so hard, obviously, not to react or not react, but like internalize audience response. Yeah, remember, there was one particular I was like, Oh, baby, the oof, oof, these jokes are lousy. The girls, oh, that's the worst.

[40:12] Christiani Pitts: Yeah. And then, and then it ends and people are on their feet. Before the blackout, even it like more lights come up. And after the show, everybody's so kind. And I literally was like, Okay, so maybe everybody's listening. Like, maybe, maybe, yeah, maybe I should stay present. And stop. Yeah. Yeah. And I mean, like, yeah, yeah, that's so true. I know that exact feeling. And even in the audience, if it's a quieter show, some of you're afraid to be the one that's very vocal.

[40:42] Robert Peterpaul: Because that's vulnerable, too. Although, shout out to my best friend, Everton, who's never afraid. He's so interactive, which is fun, because it gets people going. Yeah, it's sometimes it's that too. It's like you really need a couple people to be doing that for it to start. And if you're listening, do it. Everton! I'm gonna bring Everton. We're gonna have a good time. We'll carry a cake on in. Everton's the best. Oh, I can't wait. Such a talent. Okay. So I thought it'd be fun if we could play a little game.

[41:11] Christiani Pitts: Oh, okay. It's called two strangers, although I feel like we're friends now play a game about cake. And I'm gonna read you. I'm gonna read you a little riddle about iconic cakes featured in pop culture, like TV shows and movies. And you have to guess which mostly movies that they are from. Oh, this is okay. I think it'll be fun. Are you ready? I'm ready. Are you ready? Okay, here we go. Oh, I should have. You know what I discovered recently, Christiani?

[41:39] Robert Peterpaul: I have a little soundboard here. And I should just play around with that more. What's a good? Yeah. Shout out to whoever wrote that. Okay. Oh, keep it going. Keep it going. As I read your first riddle. But you know what, they're on in your head. And that's all that matters.

[42:10] Christiani Pitts: Okay, here's your first riddle. Okay. Bear with me, everybody. I wrote these and they're not great. Okay. Chocolate cake piled so high. It's hokey. A student must finish it or end up in the chokie.

[42:33] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. Oh, you're brilliant.

[42:34] Christiani Pitts: Oh, that's kind. That is Matilda.

[42:36] Robert Peterpaul: Eat the cake. I was gonna say eat the cake anime, different movie. Matilda is one of my favorites. I was gonna name my daughter Lavender. So yeah.

[42:45] Christiani Pitts: I love that for her. Me too. Oh my gosh. That's amazing. That's okay. It all worked out how it's supposed to. That Matilda cake. I've dreamed about that many times like eating like I'm like, I wish I was forced to eat that cake.

[43:02] Robert Peterpaul: Yes. Okay. I wanted to be forced to eat that cake, which is kind of sick as well.

[43:05] Christiani Pitts: But, you know, it looks so good. I, Bruce, we're the same because I asked you to be like, Hey, if I just had a little spoon, Bruce, like, thank you, Bruce. I'll take a little bite.

[43:12] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, like oozing. There's a restaurant somewhere, I think in Europe, because of course, that I saw on TikTok, and they they have the cake, and they take it off and it just oozes. I think it's called the Matilda cake. That's my dream. I gotta get there. But you know what else? Okay, so I know we gotta keep going.

[43:32] Christiani Pitts: No, we don't. You know how sometimes people will do something in a film, and then they make it look so good. Yes, the chocolates that they stole that that Miss Honey and Matilda stole when they Oh, yes, yeah, I am so dramatic that anytime I get a box of chocolates, I'm like, you pretend. I'm like, the trench coat.

[44:02] Robert Peterpaul: Okay, make some face make a tick tock of that, like use the sound and just be like, I don't even know in your dressing room or something.

[44:10] Christiani Pitts: I did this when I was little. This is really embarrassing and weird. But do you know in Willy Wonka when he takes a bite of the flower during the song? If you really wish to be in anybody's. My mom had a flower that looked like that. And yes, it was made of ceramic. But I was alone one time. And I did like take a little nibble. I was like, and it's like a wonder I have a throat, honestly. Because on the inside.

[44:21] Robert Peterpaul: You said, glad I did it.

[44:22] Christiani Pitts: Yeah, I did it. He said pure imagination. Don't do it again. Yep. Leave it to the movies. Okay. Anyway, crazy. Okay. I'm still crazy. Okay, they're gonna get slightly harder.

[44:30] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, okay. But your next one is a birthday spell. A prick to doom us all. This lopsided cake could be a birthday cake.

[44:51] Christiani Pitts: Harry Potter.

[44:52] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, close. Okay. Okay. Wait, wait. Okay. Say one more time. Say one more time. A birthday spell. A prick. A prick to doom us all. This lopsided cake could easily fall.

[45:21] Christiani Pitts: Oh, wait. The prick is something. The prick is something. Not as in, you know, people, but okay. And I'm over here at the doctor's office.

[45:30] Robert Peterpaul: Okay, what is it? I don't know. It's not Harry Potter. It's not Harry Potter. But the prick is, is it sound like a spindle? Right? Something like that. Okay. It's Disney.

[45:39] Christiani Pitts: Okay. Cinderella?

[45:40] Robert Peterpaul: No. No. Close. What is it? What is it? Sleeping Beauty.

[45:50] Christiani Pitts: Oh. That's okay. That was tough. Baby, we would have been here for 15 hours. I would have named every other movie. But I'm down.

[46:00] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, I know. Well, it's a famous, I guess people love the cake because it's like a lopsided one the fairies make or something.

[46:10] Christiani Pitts: Okay. It magically stands out. I've never seen Sleeping Beauty.

[46:13] Robert Peterpaul: Well, it's probably problematic. I haven't seen it since I was a kid. But it's a classic.

[46:17] Christiani Pitts: Yeah. Yeah. Good songs. Once Upon a Dream. You could cover that. You would kill that.

[46:22] Robert Peterpaul: Well, let me put it in my book. Okay. Get it in there. 16 bars. Next time I see you. I'm on a roll.

[46:30] Christiani Pitts: I think you're gonna get some of these. I mean, I know you're gonna okay. Debbie's character bursts from the cake with a flare. Then frost Lena Lamont in the hair.

[46:40] Robert Peterpaul: Um, hair?

[46:41] Christiani Pitts: No, no. This is tough. This is tough. Lena Lamont is one of the characters. Debbie is the actress. There's a there's a listener right now who was screaming the answer.

[46:50] Robert Peterpaul: That's so fun though. Can I phone a friend? What is it?

[46:53] Christiani Pitts: You can phone a friend. I don't know. What is it? Okay. Singing in the Rain.

[47:00] Robert Peterpaul: Oh. I know. My mom would get me. That's one of her favorites. Sorry, Shay. That's hard. It's okay. She burst out of a cake. There's yeah, there's a moment. Shay's screaming. She's screaming.

[47:10] Christiani Pitts: Well, Shay can cheer because you're gonna get this next one. Okay. The Boy Who Lives Cake is misspelled. Sparks of Magic are soon compelled.

[47:20] Robert Peterpaul: Okay, baby. That's my good sis, Harry.

[47:22] Christiani Pitts: That is your sis, Harry. Yes. Yes. Come on, Harry Potter. Oh my goodness. Yay, yay, yay.

[47:30] Robert Peterpaul: Okay. Stick the landing. Stick the landing. Okay. Metal. Kindness metal. That was Harry Potter.

[47:34] Christiani Pitts: Okay, we have we have two more left. Okay. This is good.

[47:37] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, thanks. This is kind of fun.

[47:39] Christiani Pitts: Okay. Yeah. I mean, I think it's fun. Eat a slice and grow or shrink. A tricky cake makes you stop and think.

[47:57] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, oh. And I do have a hint if you need it.

[48:00] Christiani Pitts: Give me the hint.

[48:02] Robert Peterpaul: Okay, eat a slice and grow or shrink. A very unmerry cake makes you stop and think. Is this a film?

[48:12] Christiani Pitts: This is a movie similar to one that also stumped you.

[48:15] Robert Peterpaul: Okay, okay, okay. Okay. Is it Disney?

[48:18] Christiani Pitts: Is it James and Diane Peach? Something about you saying slice.

[48:21] Robert Peterpaul: No, but I love that movie. I love that movie.

[48:25] Christiani Pitts: Okay. The way I wanted to eat that peach, you know, when they start serving it and it looks like a slushie.

[48:30] Robert Peterpaul: It's exactly what we're talking. Yes. I know exactly what you mean. Cut into it and just take a little bite and wave it around your body.

[48:40] Christiani Pitts: Yeah. Yeah. And it's dripping.

[48:42] Robert Peterpaul: Oh my gosh. I'm really, I'm actually worse at this. And I thought, I want Sam to play too, because I wonder, he'd be really good at it.

[48:50] Christiani Pitts: Okay, we'll do this with Sam. This is, okay. It's hard. Alice in Wonderland.

[49:00] Robert Peterpaul: I would have, I should have, okay, I should have thought harder.

[49:03] Christiani Pitts: No, I would have got that. That was hard. Because like, was it cake or were they cookies? I don't really know. But remember, there's like the birthday scene.

[49:10] Robert Peterpaul: Yes, yes. It was hard to think of iconic cake. It was a cake.

[49:13] Christiani Pitts: Okay, okay, we got two more. This, this one is hard, actually.

[49:16] Robert Peterpaul: Where's Jared getting me?

[49:18] Christiani Pitts: She brings cakes to bars to get a date. Yara Shahidi is looking for a mate.

[49:29] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, is that something about, was Sons in the title of this film?

[49:31] Christiani Pitts: No, but it's a new, it's a new movie.

[49:34] Robert Peterpaul: Shout out to Resonate Entertainment, because I had a little part in this movie. Actually, that's probably why I put it in here.

[49:39] Christiani Pitts: Oh, well, I'll definitely be seeing it.

[49:42] Robert Peterpaul: Okay, it's actually a really beautiful movie. Yara Shahidi is the star.

[49:47] Christiani Pitts: And everybody, it should be on your list. It's called Sitting in Bars with Cake.

[49:52] Robert Peterpaul: And it's based on a true story. And this girl couldn't get a date. And her friend was going through an illness. And so she started baking cakes and bringing them to bars. And then the guys would be like named after cake. And yeah, it's a cool, it's a cool story.

[50:03] Christiani Pitts: Wait, I would love, I want to see that. Sitting in Bars.

[50:06] Robert Peterpaul: It'll get you though. Sitting in Bars with Cake.

[50:10] Christiani Pitts: Oh, that sounds-

[50:11] Robert Peterpaul: To strangers.

[50:12] Christiani Pitts: Yeah. Yeah. Sounds like I gotta see it.

[50:13] Robert Peterpaul: Well, okay, last one. And I think you probably saw this.

[50:15] Christiani Pitts: Okay.

[50:16] Robert Peterpaul: And if you didn't, we're gonna talk. Oh, this, oh, this will be good.

[50:20] Christiani Pitts: There's no doubt or fire, merely lies, a sloppy refrigerated disguise.

[50:28] Robert Peterpaul: Ooh, um, um, you're like, this one's easy.

[50:34] Christiani Pitts: Oh, okay. Think of the first line. The first line. There's, there's no doubt or fire, merely lies.

[50:41] Robert Peterpaul: Oh my God. Okay. Oh, right, right. Okay. This is good. This is good.

[50:45] Christiani Pitts: Okay.

[50:46] Robert Peterpaul: This is not fire.

[50:47] Christiani Pitts: Yes.

[50:47] Robert Peterpaul: Specifically the face cake.

[50:50] Christiani Pitts: Oh, that's really good.

[50:52] Robert Peterpaul: That was good. You got it.

[50:54] Christiani Pitts: Oh, oh, that was. Yay.

[50:56] Robert Peterpaul: And you know what? Christiani, you got most of them. And so you win being a lead in a new Broadway show.

[51:02] Christiani Pitts: Come on.

[51:04] Robert Peterpaul: Thank you, Jesus. All right. I'm coming to New York.

[51:08] Christiani Pitts: Oh, coming to New York.

[51:11] Robert Peterpaul: Okay.

[51:14] Christiani Pitts: Wait, that was really good.

[51:17] Robert Peterpaul: The game, you had fun?

[51:18] Christiani Pitts: The game was great. The writing was so smart.

[51:22] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, that's not me. That's really, that's good.

[51:25] Christiani Pitts: Well, it'd be, it'll be a warmup. Cause I imagine during this press circuit, you're probably going to be playing a lot of cake games.

[51:29] Robert Peterpaul: Oh my goodness.

[51:30] Christiani Pitts: Get your stomach ready and get your mind ready.

[51:32] Robert Peterpaul: And if someone takes that one, I'm going to say, um, excuse me, turn into the A-okay baby.

[51:37] Christiani Pitts: Okay.

[51:40] Robert Peterpaul: Did you get those?

[51:43] Christiani Pitts: Yeah.

[51:48] Robert Peterpaul: Okay. Most important of all though. What is your favorite cake?

[51:51] Christiani Pitts: Okay. Red velvet, red velvet cake.

[51:55] Robert Peterpaul: But yes, my aunt used to make it and I don't like, she used to put, I guess, maybe pecans, some sort of like nut on the outside, but a little bit, not too much.

[52:02] Christiani Pitts: Oh, it's like a like crusted.

[52:03] Robert Peterpaul: Oh my gosh.

[52:05] Christiani Pitts: So red velvet cake, but like that one.

[52:06] Robert Peterpaul: That one.

[52:07] Christiani Pitts: You know what I mean?

[52:08] Robert Peterpaul: And it was probably made with more love.

[52:09] Christiani Pitts: Oh yeah.

[52:10] Robert Peterpaul: So much love. It wasn't Thanksgiving if she didn't bring that cake, everybody go home.

[52:14] Christiani Pitts: Yeah. You know what I mean?

[52:16] Robert Peterpaul: Pack it up.

[52:17] Christiani Pitts: Yes. I've been, maybe I'll come to every show and just like bake a cake in the lobby.

[52:21] Robert Peterpaul: Did you ever see waitress? They used to do that. They used to bake the pies and then serve them.

[52:26] Christiani Pitts: I don't know.

[52:27] Robert Peterpaul: We need to do something like that. Cause that would be.

[52:29] Christiani Pitts: BYOC.

[52:30] Robert Peterpaul: Please, and eat and be merry and enjoy.

[53:00] Christiani Pitts: Please, and eat and be merry and enjoy.

[54:01] Robert Peterpaul: I love that. And I have to say a lot of people struggle with that question. And so I think it's really cool that you are kind to yourself and you kind of like know the ways you are.

[54:10] Christiani Pitts: Yes. I love it. I love it. It's my favorite thing.

[54:14] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, it's my favorite thing. Well, maybe not your favorite thing as we addressed earlier is compliments because we love them but they can be hard and I have a surprise game called the compliment game for you to play. Basically, I reached out to someone in your life for a compliment about you. I'm going to read it to you and then you have to guess who said it.

[54:27] Christiani Pitts: Okay, and you can ask me yes or no questions. I don't really know anything and we'll just say you get three guesses. See what happens.

[54:44] Robert Peterpaul: Okay. You ready?

[54:47] Christiani Pitts: I'm ready. I'm ready.

[54:48] Robert Peterpaul: Okay insert cheesy theme song here not going to play it on the soundboard because it's frightening.

[54:54] Christiani Pitts: He didn't book.

[54:55] Robert Peterpaul: He didn't book.

[54:56] Christiani Pitts: Okay, it's me. Everyone's beautiful in their own way. It's the compliments game on me.

[54:59] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, okay. It's the compliment compliment game.

[55:07] Christiani Pitts: I feel like working in theater. I'm fortunate to meet plenty of vibrant people but Christiani has a special sunshine that just radiates out of her in the relatively short time I've known her I've noticed how she navigates the world with a true generosity of spirit balancing being a brilliant mom friend to many and always a consummate professional. One of my favorite things is the way Christiani includes everyone in her joy and laughter. It's clear that she chooses to see the best in people and when she's engaging with those around her. She's always really listening. She fully listens and therefore she gets to fully connect. It's a really special quality.

[55:58] Christiani Pitts: I know that was beautiful. My goodness.

[56:01] Robert Peterpaul: It was me. I wrote that.

[56:05] Christiani Pitts: I wasn't going to blow up your spot. But when you created that fake email and emailed it to me, I was a little sus. I was sort of like this is strange, but I'll go with it.

[56:13] Robert Peterpaul: Signed. Wait, that was that.

[56:17] Christiani Pitts: You know, I know why I know who it was. I think yeah, because of some of the word choices felt particularly British.

[56:29] Robert Peterpaul: Was that Sam?

[56:31] Christiani Pitts: It was British, but it was not Sam.

[56:33] Robert Peterpaul: It wasn't Sam?

[56:35] Christiani Pitts: No, but I'm sure Sam feels that way.

[56:36] Robert Peterpaul: Was it was it Tim?

[56:38] Christiani Pitts: It was Tim Jackson.

[56:39] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[56:40] Christiani Pitts: I'm not going to make him cry.

[56:43] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, wow.

[56:44] Christiani Pitts: Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.

[56:46] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, that's gonna get me. Tim and you talked a lot about listening today. And that's one of the things he picked up on about you is that you're such a good listener.

[56:58] Christiani Pitts: This is beautiful. It's long too. It's one of the longer ones I've gotten in a long time. I DM Tim. Thank you, Tim.

[57:04] Robert Peterpaul: And right away. It was a yes. Tim was like and then after Tim sent it. He was like, it's just okay. Like he really wanted it to be good for you. So we appreciate you Tim. That was lovely.

[57:16] Christiani Pitts: Can I talk about Broadway's Tim Jackson for a second?

[57:19] Robert Peterpaul: Please talk to us about Broadway's Tim Jackson.

[57:22] Christiani Pitts: Okay, this man. I'm doing my business hands because I mean business. I have said. You are carrying your own cake. Okay, and it's okay. When I auditioned for two strangers. It was the no exaggeration best audition I've ever had in my life. Not me not meaning like that. Damn. I was good like not in that way. It was exactly what I would always want something to feel like it was the room was so gracious. The work was being done like we were playing. I left being like, oh, whoa. Okay. So that's what those things are supposed to feel like.

[58:01] Yeah, it was so good that I always leave auditions whether they went well or not being like, I don't know. Like I just never thought I never feel like I'm going to get anything. And so I remember thinking like I got to retalk to this man just to say. You're you're you're doing something that is beyond anything I've ever experienced in an audition space and I really want you to please do that because every actor who auditions for you is going to leave better and I didn't say it because I was like, okay big creepy. You know, I was like, I would have the same struggle.

[58:37] Yeah, I mean like relax like so I didn't send it didn't but I thought but I wanted to. Then I got a call back and I was like, I want to didn't say it. I was like, I just was like, I would like gave him a direct eye contact like thank you. Like, yeah, I mean, you're beaming it.

[58:55] Robert Peterpaul: You're like you are nice.

[58:56] Christiani Pitts: Yeah, but like again didn't want to say anything and then when I got it, I think I finally communicated to him in the best way I could that like he is like different. He's different. So Tim is he can do all things. He is a musician. He is an actor. He is a dancer. He is a brilliantly kind person. He does all things. And so in that in that space, he could very easily step on everyone's toes because he knows how to do everybody's job. Not better, right? He but what he does the complete opposite. He understands everybody on such a real level that he can listen so intently to what this musician is trying to say communicate it to this actor and then can we in like this while still doing his job as a director.

[59:47] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, that's special.

[59:48] Christiani Pitts: And like all of that is just his how he shows a professional and that doesn't even speak to who he is who his heart is and and he and he you you think that like is it just me like it is this our thing but no, that's how he that's how he moves through the world and and when we were closing out two strangers Diane Paulus made it a point to say I just want everybody here to know I've been doing this for however many years Tim Jackson was the first person who wrote a thank-you note to every single person in this building.

[1:00:22] Robert Peterpaul: Wow.

[1:00:23] Christiani Pitts: I don't know how long that man was working on those. This man is working on multiple shows at one time. He's not based in the state. So he's got and he just he's like I could talk about him. I'm so happy that he feels that way about me because he is quite literally the goal one of the greatest directors I have ever worked with all of it being one of the best people.

[1:00:48] Robert Peterpaul: Well, give me time my Broadway.

[1:00:49] Christiani Pitts: Send Jack.

[1:00:49] Robert Peterpaul: I love that. Let's go.

[1:00:51] Christiani Pitts: Let's go Tim. Thank you so much because we need more kind leaders, especially leaders that make you feel like the leader the best kind of leaders are the ones that make everybody around them the leaders and then kind of oversee it and it's just so heartwarming to see good people like Tim and you win and go to Broadway because the odds are so thin for this kind of amazing dream to happen.

[1:01:15] Robert Peterpaul: I don't know. I love hearing that especially the leader the director choreographer is someone who's putting kindness first and the thank-you notes. I mean if you have arthritis call us and we'll pay for your appointments or whatever happens with your hands.

[1:01:27] Christiani Pitts: What is that?

[1:01:28] Robert Peterpaul: You must yeah, I mean the space is like safe. It's so safe and it's it's like fun. We have so much fun in rehearsal and I remember there's this particular moment in the show. That's like really heavy for my character and for me personally and I couldn't stop like crying. I couldn't really finish and I was like, sorry like I thought I brought the energy down in the room because we have so much fun and and Tim not only was he like don't you dare apologize, but he also was like take your time take your space. Do you want to keep going? We don't like we can stop it all right now. Like he just he's different.

[1:02:08] Christiani Pitts: He's different.

[1:02:09] Robert Peterpaul: Wow, that's beautiful.

[1:02:10] Christiani Pitts: Yeah. Thank you for doing that Tim and thank you for noticing that and being that way yourself because I'm sure a lot of people feel that way about you and so many more are going to get to see your glory and be anointed by your kindness and your talent. I'm telling y'all those who know know and they're going to hear there are there are phrases in this. It's an anointed show period. It leads you to the light, but there are phrases in that there are musical phrases.

[1:02:38] Robert Peterpaul: Now wait a minute.

[1:02:41] Christiani Pitts: It what was that?

[1:02:43] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[1:02:44] Christiani Pitts: Wow. Yeah. Yeah, I'm telling you this was meant to be I can't wait to see the show and hear that and watch you all shine and as we you know, go about our day and carry things with us, which I think is probably another amazing aspect of the show because it's not just it's not really about carrying the cake, right?

[1:03:00] Robert Peterpaul: It's about carrying.

[1:03:01] Christiani Pitts: Yeah other things.

[1:03:02] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. What is something you would like for listeners out there to carry with them in the world in regards to kindness? Is there a tangible kindness tip that you would want everybody to do on their own corner just to try and contribute to building a kinder world?

[1:03:17] Christiani Pitts: Yes, I would encourage people to know that everybody's doing the best they can. Even if it doesn't look like it that we're all out here trying to survive and thrive and the way times are set up right now. It's giving survival. It's giving you're all literally just trying to make it. And so if you're if you have a day where like you have a little more capacity than just making it and you can leave with a little more love like a little more curiosity of like, how's your day really going? Like like, yeah, because we are all just trying to do the best we can right now, you know.

[1:03:53] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, I love that so much because I feel like how are you has been lost in the sense of maybe it's sort of like one phrase. Hi, how are you? No one really answers honestly. And if you do it's kind of weird maybe. So I like that because it reminds us that these are really hard times. But if you have the extra energy it gives back to you to like connect with somebody else and it actually could refuel you and give you even more energy.

[1:04:18] Christiani Pitts: So it's not the reason to do it again, but it is a bonus. And I think that's a great tip. Thank you.

[1:04:24] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, and thank you just so much for your time. I've loved getting to know you and talk to you. I think you have such a beautiful light and energy. Not only are you talented and a star, but you're a kind of star and I'm really glad that there's going to be young performers getting to look up to you.

[1:04:40] Christiani Pitts: Thank you. You seem like such a great role model and your daughter so lucky to have you.

[1:04:44] Robert Peterpaul: So wow. Thanks for being here.

[1:04:47] Christiani Pitts: Thank you and ditto. I'm so happy to know you now. I can't wait to like get together outside of this like I would love that.

[1:04:53] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, we got it. I mean, I plugged up.

[1:04:55] Christiani Pitts: Yeah, let's do it.

[1:04:56] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, and you are also so incredibly talented. I'm very inspired by watching you like use your gifts in all these different lanes.

[1:05:04] Christiani Pitts: Like I'm so inspired by that.

[1:05:06] Robert Peterpaul: Thank you.

[1:05:07] Christiani Pitts: That's so kind.

[1:05:08] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, I appreciate that.

[1:05:09] Christiani Pitts: It's thank you. I'll take that in. I'm also really about it taking compliments even though I ask it every episode. I'm like, thank you, but you're awesome.

[1:05:15] Robert Peterpaul: But like I'm going to sit with that throughout the day and that means a lot to me.

[1:05:22] Christiani Pitts: You're so welcome. This was lovely.

[1:05:24] Robert Peterpaul: Until next time remember everything is going to be a-okay.