Guide to 'Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)' on Broadway
Both a love letter to rom-coms and a spoof of them, this original musical from London follows two people on an errand that turns into an NYC adventure.
Summary
- Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) is a musical comedy about two wedding guests who run an errand that turns into an adventure across NYC
- The show runs 2 hrs and 15 mins (including intermission) and is recommended for ages 12 and up
- The show comes to Broadway's Longacre Theatre following multiple hit runs in London
Have you ever had a meet-cute? In the dating app era, a spontaneous romantic meeting can be hard to come by, but the new Broadway musical Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) adds a twist to the classic rom-com trope. Dougal is a Brit who’s never been to New York before, while Robin is a barista rushing around ahead of her sister’s wedding. She picks up Dougal, the estranged son of the groom, as well as the wedding cake, which leads to an adventure that just might change both their lives.
Two Strangers comes to Broadway from multiple hit runs in London, with Olivier Award winner Sam Tutty returning to the role of Dougal alongside Christiani Pitts as Robin. Broadway-debut writers Jim Barne and Kit Buchan explore modern love, twists of fate, and the beauty of New York at Christmastime in this original new musical — learn all about it below.
Get Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) tickets now.
Frequently asked questions
What is Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) about?
Two Strangers is about… well, two strangers who carry a cake across New York! The musical follows Dougal and Robin, whose paths cross for the first time ahead of a family wedding; Dougal’s father is marrying Robin’s sister.
Despite a sour relationship with his absent dad, Dougal flies in from London for the festivities, and New York native Robin picks him up at the airport. The pair head to Brooklyn to grab the wedding cake, learning about love, friendship, and family along the way.
Though the musical is a romantic comedy, it also parodies classic rom-com films.
Where is Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) playing?
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) is at the Longacre Theatre, located at 220 W. 48th St. between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. The 1,091-seat theatre opened in 1913 and has most recently housed musicals including Dead Outlaw, Swept Away, and Lempicka.
How long is Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)?
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) runs approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, including an intermission.
What days is Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) playing?
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) plays eight performances per week at the Longacre Theatre, with two performances each on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and select Sundays, and no performances on Mondays.
This schedule is subject to one-off changes, particularly around the holidays. Visit the Two Strangers page on New York Theatre Guide for a complete performance calendar.
Is Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) appropriate for kids?
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) is recommended for ages 12 and up due to language and discussions of romantic situations and family trouble.
When did Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) premiere?
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) originally premiered under the title The Season at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, England in November 2019. Its first production under its current name opened at the Kiln Theatre in London in November 2023, transferring to the Criterion Theatre in London's West End in April 2024.
In May 2025, Two Strangers had its American premiere at American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Broadway transfer opens in November 2025.
Who wrote Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)?
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) features a book, music, and lyrics by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan. The writing partners won the Mercury Musical Developments Stiles + Drew Mentorship Award for their early work on Two Strangers in 2019, leading to the show’s first full-length production.
Buchan is also a poet whose work has been included in the anthology Best British Poetry. Barne won the London Chamber Orchestra’s Young Composer competition and also arranged and co-produced the recording of the Scottish folk song “The Rowan Tree” for the Oscar-nominated film Living.
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) characters
The title strangers, Dougal and Robin, are the only two characters in the new musical.
- Dougal: A British man who has never been to New York City before — and has never met his father before, either.
- Robin: A native New Yorker whose sister is about to marry Dougal’s estranged father in the city.
Who is in the cast of Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) on Broadway?
Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts reprise their roles as Dougal and Robin on Broadway after appearing in the U.S. premiere of Two Strangers in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Olivier Award winner Tutty (Dear Evan Hansen) has played his role since the show's 2023 London production at the Kiln Theatre, and he now makes his Broadway debut. Pitts (King Kong, A Bronx Tale on Broadway) joined the cast in Cambridge, replacing original star Dujonna Gift.
Phoenix Best is the standby for Robin, while Vincent Michael makes his Broadway debut as the standby for Dougal.
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) songs
The best-known song in Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) is “New York,” sung by Dougal (with commentary from Robin). The song has recently gained popularity on TikTok, and the rest of the score can be heard on the 2024 West End cast recording, available on streaming platforms. Below is a list of all the musical's songs.
Act 1
- “New York”
- “What’ll It Be”
- “Dad”
- “On The App”
- “This Is The Place”
- “This Is The Place (reprise)”
- “Under The Mistletoe”
- “Be Happy”
- “American Express”
Act 2
- “The Hangover Duet”
- “He Doesn’t Exist”
- “What Did You Say?”
- “New York/What’ll It Be (reprise)”
- “About To Go In”
- “This Year”
- “Dearly Beloved”
- “If I Believed”
What awards has Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) won?
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) won the 2020 Stage Debut Award for its 2019 premiere production (under the title The Season). The award was presented by The Stage, a British theatre publication.
Two Strangers on Broadway will be eligible for Tony Awards and other New York theatre honors for the 2025-26 season.
Major productions of Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) comes to Broadway from London's West End. Its major productions include:
- 2019 world premiere: Then titled The Season, the show was co-produced by the New Wolsey Theatre and Royal & Derngate.
- 2023 Off-West End production: After changing to its current title, Two Strangers premiered at the Kiln Theatre, starring Sam Tutty and Dujonna Gift.
- 2024 West End production: The Kiln production moved to the Criterion Theatre in London with the same cast.
- 2025 U.S. premiere: Tutty reprised his role alongside Two Strangers newcomer Christiani Pitts at the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- 2025 Broadway production: Tutty and Pitts reprise their roles at the Longacre Theatre.
Fun facts about Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Discover more fun facts about Two Strangers that are the icing on the cake of this new musical.
- The musical takes place around Christmastime, making it a great show for the holiday season.
- Two Strangers is both spoof on and a love letter to British rom-coms like Notting Hill and Love, Actually, as well as movies about NYC. The character of Dougal loves movies, and he thinks coming to the city at Christmas will feel like stepping into a film.
- Two Strangers is a two-hander, meaning there are only two characters. Two-handers increased in popularity when theatres reopened after pandemic shutdowns.
- Director/choreographer Tim Jackson returns from the West End production. Jackson also staged Dylan Mulvaney's solo show The Least Problematic Woman in the World off Broadway in fall 2025.
How to get Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) tickets
Get Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) tickets on New York Theatre Guide. Wide-eyed tourists and jaded New Yorkers alike can fall in love with NYC all over again at this original musical comedy.
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