Christiani Pitts

Last updated

Christiani Pitts
Christiani Pitts 2019.jpg
Pitts in 2019
Born1992or1993(age 31–32) [1]
Alma mater Florida State University [1]
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • dancer

Christiani Pitts is an American actress, singer and dancer. She has played the role of Ann Darrow in the musical King Kong and Robin in Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) .

Contents

Early life

Her father is Byron Pitts, the anchor of ABC's Nightline . [2] She started in theatre in Atlanta and New Jersey, and moved to New York City after graduating from Florida State University. [1]

Career

Pitts debuted on Broadway in 2017 in the ensemble of the musical A Bronx Tale . She was later a replacement for the role of Jane. [3] From 2018 to 2019, she played Ann Darrow in King Kong on Broadway. She was called the first woman of color to play the role. [1] [4] Slate called Pitts "a wonder herself, a rawly funny actor with a five-alarm voice", [5] while Observer called her acting "wooden". [6]

In April 2025, Pitts was cast as Robin in the American premiere of Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) at the American Repertory Theater. [7] Pitts said she was drawn to the role because "[t]his is a Black woman who gets to explore [wanting to be happy] without any severe trauma or pain attached to it". [8] The Bay State Banner said Pitts's performance added "dimension" to the character, calling her charismatic, [9] and New York Stage Review said she "pitches in with tenderness in her solos, and lightning-fast timing when it’s called for". [10]

In August 2025, Pitts played Hannah in a production of Come From Away at The Cape Playhouse. [11] It was confirmed Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) would transfer to Broadway, with Pitts reprising her role. The production is set to start previews at the Longacre Theatre on November 1, 2025 and open November 20, 2025. [12]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRole
2011 Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son Diva #2
2021 Resort to Love Beverly Strattford

TV

YearTitleRoleNotes
2018 Elementary AllisonEpisode: Nobody Lives Forever
2019 Evil Annie CommerceEpisode: 2 Fathers
2020 The Good Fight Melanie EversEpisode: The Gang Offends Everyone
2022 Blue Bloods Deanna ParkerEpisode: Allegiance
2023 Dead Ringers (miniseries) LilyEpisode: Six
2021–2025 Power Book III: Raising Kanan Pernessa Reed15 episodes

Theatre

Key
†Denotes upcoming roles
YearTitleRoleVenue
2016–2018 A Bronx Tale Denise / Jane Longacre Theatre
2018–2019 King Kong Ann Darrow Broadway Theatre
2025 Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) Robin American Repertory Theater
2025 Come from Away Hannah The Cape Playhouse
2025- Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) †Robin Longacre Theatre [a]

Notes

  1. ↑ Set to begin previews on November 1, 2025 [12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Nordstrom, Leigh (November 8, 2018). "In Broadway's King Kong, Not a Distressed Damsel in Sight". Women's Wear Daily . Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Video Broadway's 'King Kong's' modern spin on classic Hollywood tale". ABC News . Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  3. ↑ Christiani Pitts at Playbill Vault
  4. ↑ "Meet Christiani Pitts, the First Woman of Color to Play King Kong's Ann Darrow". Vanity Fair . November 8, 2018.
  5. ↑ Scherstuhl, Alan (November 8, 2018). "The Star of the New King Kong Musical Is His Most Thrilling Incarnation Since 1933". Slate . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  6. ↑ Reed, Rex (November 9, 2018). "Broadway's Disastrous 'King Kong' Is a $35 Million Crime Against Puppets". Observer . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  7. ↑ Kassal, Kobi (April 9, 2025). "Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts To Lead TWO STRANGERS (CARRY A CAKE ACROSS NEW YORK) At ART". Theatrely. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  8. ↑ Aitken, Madeline (May 15, 2025). ""Two Strangers" brings joy, self-reflection and a wedding cake to Harvard Square". Cambridge Day . Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  9. ↑ Saccoccia, Susan (June 11, 2025). "A.R.T. presents rom-com 'Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)'". Bay State Banner . Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  10. ↑ Verini, Bob (June 5, 2025). "From Massachusetts: Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) and Fall in Like". New York Stage Review. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  11. ↑ Gordon, David (July 17, 2025). "Cape Playhouse Come From Away to Star Joel Hatch, Kelli Barrett, Christiani Pitts". TheaterMania . Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  12. 1 2 Russo, Gillian (August 11, 2025). "'Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)' musical to open on Broadway". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
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