Right this second, as we're talking—or reading—King Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World, is making a thunderous return on Broadway. The musical blends the classic tale of beauty (aspiring actress Ann Darrow) and the beast (Kong). And roaring in her own way is actress Christiani Pitts, who plays Ann, the woman brought to Skull Island to secure her acting career but instead finds her life transformed in ways she never imagined.

Christiani's journey began at the age of eight in Montclair, NJ, where she made her stage debut in the musical Once On This Island. The experience was transformative, and even then, she knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life. Her career has since flourished, with notable roles in regional productions such as Rent, Aida, Big Fish, and Cabaret. She also appeared in films (Big Momma’s House 3, Like Father, Like Son) and television shows (Elementary), but her big Broadway break came with A Bronx Tale, where she played the lead female role of Jane.

In this exclusive interview, Christiani reflects on landing the coveted role of Ann Darrow and the profound impact that King Kong has had on her life and career.

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So, How Did You Catch the Attention of the Big Ape?

I auditioned over a year ago when the project was still in its early stages here in the States. It was an intense process that spanned several months. They eventually offered me the role, which was oddly funny because we never actually worked with Kong during the auditions. At that time, he was still being developed in Australia. It was an interesting challenge, rehearsing with the leading "man" who wasn’t physically present.

king-kong-ann-in-new-york — (Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy)

What Was the Audition Process Like?

We didn’t focus on the Kong scenes during the auditions. Instead, we explored Ann’s life struggles before she ever met the legendary ape. This was incredibly fun because her character undergoes such a dramatic transformation once she encounters Kong. During rehearsals, we worked with the actor who voices Kong in a studio setting. We used a fascinating process to physically simulate Kong’s presence, helping us develop a realistic relationship on a smaller scale. This groundwork ensured that all the intimate, deep connections were established before we moved on to the full-scale production.