Good morning, everybody and welcome to The Balancing Act.
We are so glad you joined us.
I'm Julie Moran.
And I'm Olga Villaverde.
Today, we are so excited to kick off our Broadway Balances America series, once again, going
behind the scenes of Broadway's best shows as they travel across the country.
This is going to be awesome again.
So fun.
And we're beginning with Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, which has a whole new look, sound,
and sensibility.
You know, it's hard to imagine that it was first written for television back in the 1950s
with Julie Andrews.
Did not know that.
She was the star seen by over a hundred million viewers, and only made it's Broadway debut
in 2013.
And we'll be talking to the folks behind this new contemporary take on the classic tale,
who brought it to Broadway and are now bringing it to a theatre near you for the very first
time.
I can't wait.
Plus, I'm going to be learning more about my numbers, more specifically cholesterol
levels, weight/height, and more as a portable biometrics testing center comes to The Balancing
Act.
It's part of a nationwide corporate wellness program.
Really handy information that you can get on the spot.
Love it.
The Balancing Act starts right now.
(music).
Broadway Balances America brought to you by Broadway Across America, bringing the best
of Broadway to a city near you.
We're once again heading to Broadway and beyond as our Broadway Balances America series takes
us behind the scenes of some of the most beloved Broadway musicals as they travel across the
country and into your local theatres.
Today, Balancing Act correspondent, Amber Milt, kicks it all off with the classic tale
of Cinderella, which has been thoroughly re-imagined and modernized.
That's right.
It's a story of female empowerment brought to life by an impressive creative team which
has found just the right balance in creating the Cinderella of the 21st century.
That's right, ladies.
This classic Rogers and Hammerstein musical made its Broadway debut just over two years
ago, and has been wowing audiences ever since with its contemporary approach to finding
our own happy endings.
As for the stars of the show, they're happily living their dreams on the road while balancing
motherhood, relationships, and more.
It still has all the magical elements from a glass slipper to a handsome prince.
(music).
But this Cinderella has a new look, sound, and sensibility.
This kindhearted Ella dreams of one day seeing the world and perhaps even changing it.
Let's talk about why you thought it was important to bring such a classic story to Broadway.
Cinderella is one of the most beloved fairy tales in the world.
Everyone can relate to it, everybody loves it, and we wanted to bring this glorious music
and this glorious show to Broadway.
But, it was very important to us that we make sure that our princess wasn't just a passive
damsel in distress.
We wanted to give her agency.
We wanted to make sure that she helped the prince as much as he helped her.
Kindness, compassion, and generosity - these are themes that are very important to us and
we're happy to bring to the larger audience.
(Singing) "In my own little corner in my own little chair, I can be whatever I want to
be."
It was interesting that the way to make everything more current was actually to go back to the
original version, which was a French version by Charles Perrault.
Imagine someone who was a heroine because she was kind to people and forgave them.
I was just fascinated about the prince, and I thought it would be much more interesting
to tell boys and girls that perhaps you should be looking for the fascinating character and
the wonderful human being, and not just the pretty face.
The roles truly resonate with the two leads who play Ella and Topher, the prince.
We caught up with them on the national tour as they visited the Cleveland Botanical Gardens,
the perfect setting to talk about fairy tales, enchanted forests, and life on the road.
(Singing) "Ten minutes ago, I met you."
This Cinderella is empowered, or at least becomes empowered throughout the course of
the play.
She starts out as meek and mild as a mouse, like the lyrics of "In My Own Little Corner"
say, but she has a lot of real growth.
A lot of my own growth in my personal life connects a lot with Ella's life.
You really see her become this strong amazing woman, which is really exciting to play eight
times a week across the country.
(Singing) "And I like it so well that for all I can tell..."
Prince Topher, he's struggling to find his way.
He has inherited this enormous amount of responsibility, and he doesn't really know what he's doing.
(Singing) "I'm sorry to be so effusive.
I just met you.
I'm not usually this way with someone I've just met."
It's fun to see audiences relate to this guy who is actually falling in love with Cinderella
because she gives him the confidence he needs to be as great as he can be.
They empower each other.
A theme that's reinforced throughout this rebooted show and mirrors real life for these
actors.
This version of Cinderella has been a part of my life for a few years now, and I actually
met my husband through the process, and obviously had my son, Hank.
So, Cinderella is very special to me.
One of the reasons that Cinderella has persisted in every world culture for the past several
hundred years is because it's a story of hope.
It's an empowering story.
It's an inspirational story, and I think that little girls identify with it, of course.
But, as a guy in his 20s, I identify with it, too.
I was raised by two moms.
They had me together in the late 80s, and I didn't really realize that I was from a
different kind of a family until I grew up and I saw other families.
But, I still forget sometimes that I was raised in kind of a unique situation.
I feel incredibly lucky because I was raised with this unbelievable amount of love.
I was always encouraged to pursue what would make me happy.
And this unconditional love has inspired Andy.
(Singing) "My head started reeling you gave me the feeling the room had no ceiling or
floor."
There's something about having my moms come out and visit me on the tour.
They're so proud.
I have this incredible support system, and it kind of goes along with Cinderella.
You know, you can be whatever you want to be, and they really have been a big part of
making that possible for me.
Today, Paige, two and a half year-old Hank...
Where do I work?
Cinderella.
Plus Andy and his finance Audrey Cardwell, who's in the ensemble and is also Paige's
understudy are enjoying a day at the garden.
Can you wave to your fans?
What are you doing up there?
Hello Hank.
Life on the road isn't easy, and balance - that magical word - can sometimes be as elusive
as a glass slipper.
But, they've found a way to combine personal and professional goals.
My husband, Adam, is in New York, and we're on the road.
But, we've really kind of found a nice balance with all of it.
Well we miss you.
Miss you, too.
We try to never go more than two or three weeks without seeing each other.
It's definitely a scheduling tetris game of trying to make sure that Hank is 100% taken
care of.
That's my first priority.
But, then, also making sure I'm able to get enough sleep and eating right to do the show
100% as well.
We have been engaged for about a week and a half.
Not to spoil anything in the show, but there is a happy ending.
There may be a wedding.
I had proposed to Audrey a hundred some-odd times before.
So, I was -- thankfully, when it happened, it was its own special thing.
To play this part with someone that you're in love with is, there are no work apparently.
Occasionally I get to step in and do the part, which is a dream come true, and to do it with
Andy is really amazing.
I just constantly pinch myself.
I just kind of had a moment where I had to just thank the universe for this opportunity.
It's just, it's really amazing.
It's such a beautiful story to share.
(Singing) "Impossible things are happening every day."
The people have loved it.
We ran for two years on Broadway, and we won best costume design for William Ivey Long.
And we've been on tour now for about nine months.
We have another year plus on the road.
We're doing phenomenally well.
While the cities may change, the show remains constant.
No matter where we go, everything about the show is the same.
One of the things that I always rely on is the prop box, which holds the pumpkin that
becomes a carriage.
One of the fun facts about the pumpkin is it bounces.
These shoes were specifically designed for our production by Stuart Weitzman.
They're so comfortable and they're the only ones.
They don't sell them in stores.
They remain specifically for us.
And the award-winning show continues to captivate audiences across America.
(Singing) "I have found her..."
Through kindness you can change the word.
It's been fun to work on a show that you believe in.
People are walking away inspired, and that's a great reason to come to work.
My life has kind of turned into this happy ending with having, my husband, and my son,
and really the role of a lifetime.
It's funny because sometimes, like Ella, I don't feel like -- I'm like, do I deserve
this?
Like, everything's so beautiful.
You can have what you want in life.
It's just be sure to be responsible about it and be helpful to other people along the
way and you'll be fine.
(music).
(applause).
And we all deserve a happy ending, and a glass slipper, or maybe even a tiara.
The North American tour of Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella continues.
To find out when it's coming to your own little corner of the world, check out BroadwayBalancesAmerica.com
or go to our website TheBalancingAct.com for all the show information, tour dates, and
more.(music).
Wellness Programs.
The name says it all, and it's one of the primary objectives in today's world of business.
After all, healthy employees means healthier bottom lines.
With us today, Henry Dubois, President and CEO of Hooper Holmes.
A company specializing in biometric screening and corporate wellness solutions, helping
businesses improve the health and wellness of employees and their families from coast
to coast.
Also joining me this morning, Dr. Neil Gordon, Medical Director for Hooper Holmes and author
of over 100 published scientific manuscripts and eight books on the topic of wellness.
Good morning, gentlemen.
Good morning.
Morning, Olga.
Thank you so much for being here.
Now, before we get started I do want our viewers to know, Doctor, that you performed on me
a biometric screening.
It was very easy.
It lasted maybe five minutes.
Well, you were an excellent participant.
Thank you so much.
I was the guinea pig this morning.
I even have my little band-aid to show for it.
But, Henry, as much as I learned while you were doing this screening on me, tell our
viewers why this screening is so important and what exactly it is.
A biometric screening event, Olga, is a place where an employee participant is able to participate,
and where one of our health professionals come out and are able to take the biometric
screening - some basic measurements: some height, weight, blood pressure, as well as
a blood draw to get some basic chemistry.
Really important for not only the employee but the employer to know, right?
Exactly.
Because by the employer having this program in place, they're able to understand the overall
health and wellness of their employee population, which is important for them.
A healthy workforce is a productive workforce.
And, Doctor, when employees come in, they actually may be surprised to learn some of
their result, and in minutes could have a little advisory that something's wrong.
That's correct.
You know, the fact is that somebody dies from cardiovascular disease about every 40 seconds
in this country, and that's tragic because many heart attacks and strokes are potentially
preventable.
The first step is to know your numbers, and during the screening each individual learns
their risk factors for cardiovascular disease and other preventible conditions.
It can save lives.
And with my screening I know, Doctor, you got my height, my weight, blood pressure,
you know, very easy things to do.
Henry, are companies doing more and more of this, or are they falling short?
Well, many companies do this, but not as much as they should.
What you've got is enlarged companies, about 90% to 95% of large companies - that's companies
with over 10,000 employees, may have a wellness program.
Not all of them may undertake a screening, and even there, only about 50% who are eligible
undertake it.
On smaller and mid-size companies, though, you only have about a 50% penetration rate.
Only about 50% of the companies have a wellness program because for one reason or another.
That's something that we at Hooper Holmes are really trying to focus on is how do we
bring this to smaller mid-sized companies.
Doctor, something else that you screened on me was my cholesterol, glucose, and again,
minor numbers that one really needs to know because of the fact that some health conditions
relating to that are really manageable.
That's 100% correct.
The first step, as we've mentioned, is to know your numbers.
The next step is to aggressively manage your numbers and your risk factors through a combination
of comprehensive lifestyle changes and, if needed, medications.
The key lifestyle interventions include regular exercise, correct nutrition, weight management,
stress management, and tobacco cessation.
Fortunately, there are also safe and effective medications, for example, to control blood
pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes.
Now, Henry, some people may say "I don't want to do this."
Some misconceptions.
What are some of those that really aren't true?
Well, exactly.
When we come to the employer site, it's usually during office hours.
It's something that people are able to participate in very easily.
The other one is the privacy of the information.
We don't share that information with others even when it goes back to the employer.
It only goes back on an aggregated basis for the overall employee population base.
And they are so private, they didn't want me to share anything with our viewers.
But, I am giving them permission to give my results.
Can I see them, doctor?
Tell me, oh my gosh, am I going to live a little longer?
Overall, you did very well.
I took all of your numbers and incorporated into one score that tells us about your risk
for cardiovascular disease, and your risk is very low.
The main reason for that is that your HDL cholesterol, or healthy cholesterol, is high
and we like it high because it helps clear cholesterol out of your arteries.
Your triglyceride values were very good, and when it comes to diabetes, your blood sugar
was at a very good level.
You don't have pre-diabetes.
The only value that was elevated was your blood pressure, in particular, your diastolic
pressure was a little bit higher than we'd like it.
That's something you should follow up with your doctor about.
Okay.
My waist was...well, we won't share that.
It was excellent.
Yeah, it was 26.
I can live with that.
Henry, your company really strives to do this.
It's really important.
Many things set you apart from others.
Well, we look at it as making sure that the participant has a great experience.
It's all about, as we call it, the five R's.
Making sure that we get the right people, the right health professionals, the right
location - making it convenient for the employer, with the right equipment, at the right time,
so that we get the right data to provide the right information back.
So we're really able to make it about the participant and enjoy the experience.
And such a small screening really gave me peace-of-mind this morning.
Correct.
And for viewers who would like more information, Henry, where would they go?
The best place would be to visit us at our website.
It's hooperholmes.com.
And it's really an easy screening, and it gave me a lot of peace-of-mind this morning.
Doctor, thank you so much.
And, thank you for not sharing my weight.
What was it again?
Okay, we're good.
Thank you very much gentlemen.
And, of course, you can visit us at TheBalancingAct.com or share anything related to your healthcare
concerns with us.
Log on to Facebook/TheBalancingActFans.
(music).
Our favorite affordable digital technology products are back, and so is Elizabeth Little,
Director of Marketing for iRULU Technologies.
So great to see you again.
It's great to be back.
Alright.
What tech tips and products are you sharing with us today?
I'm excited to show the iRULU Hybrid Tablet PC.
It's a two-in-one combination of a tablet and a laptop, and women love it because it's
the ultimate multitasking.
When used as a laptop, it will power you through your day efficiently, so you can be really
productive.
And then when you're ready to relax at the end of the day, the screen detaches, so you
can use it as a tablet to watch videos, play games, and read books.
This is that relaxing with maybe a glass of wine.
Okay.
What I love from you is how affordable these are.
What's the retail price of this combo?
This is a steal at only $359.
What?
Yeah, it's a fraction of what you would pay to purchase a tablet and laptop separately.
And on iRULU.com you can save 20% today with promo code: TBA20
TBA20, and you've sold millions of devices, and they come with something pretty special,
too, I think.
They do.
Every purchase on iRULU.com is risk free.
We're so confident that you'll love our products that we back them with a year-long hassle
free guarantee.
I love that confidence that you guys have.
One last question, what makes this tablet/laptop combination such a smart choice for women
today?
Well, it's great because you don't have to worry about getting up and running on it.
All of the apps and programs are available right at your fingertips from one touch screen.
So, switching between the laptop and the tablet is a breeze.
That's great.
Elizabeth, you're coming back soon.
But in the meantime, where can our viewers go to purchase this combination.
They can view our full collection on iRULU.com.
iRULU is also sold on Ebay, Amazon, and Newegg.
Oh, fantastic!
Can't wait for you to visit next time.
I love this.
I love the color.
You can also visit us at TheBalancingAct.com.
Here you can have that little sweet baby there.
Or, get social with us.
Log on to Facebook/TheBalancingActFans.
(music).
Thanks so much for starting your day with us.
Remember to check out BroadwayBalancesAmerica.com to find out when Cinderella is coming to your
city.
And, you know, I always dreamed of having a prince put a glass slipper on my...
Yes!
Me, too.
All girls do, right?
I'm still waiting.
Remember, we have lots more on our website, TheBalancingAct.com.
We're also on facebook and twitter.
Until next time.
Remember, find your balance.
So long, everybody.