MUSIC Hi everybody, I'm Julie Moran.
And I'm Olga Villaverde.
Welcome to The Balancing Act.
We have lots ahead.
We're gonna tell you about a groundbreaking
medical advancement for a disease that effects mostly
women.
And meet a patient who has been living with this
disease for years now.
But hope is on the horizon.
Then, we go behind the scenes of yet another
Broadway musical.
And in this one, faith has a lot to do with
it.
And it all starts right now.
MUSIC Broadway Balances
America brought to you by Broadway Across America bringing
the best of Broadway to a city near you.
MUSIC We are 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 theaters.
The idea that a single moment can change the course of a
person's destiny and the roads we travel in life.
That's the premise of "If/Then".
Balance Act correspondent, Amber Milt,
recently sat down with the creative team behind this new
contemporary musical to talk real life, real people, and what
it takes to introduce an original musical to audiences.
Take a look.
(MUSIC) That's right ladies, it's an ambitious
and fascinating story about the intersection of choice and
chance, and how we balance that and the life we live.
(Actors singing) Brian, tell us a little
bit about the basic storyline of If/Then.
Sure, If/Then is a story of a woman in her late
thirties.
She's returning to New York City to start over.
And the show follows two different
possible tracks that her life might take.
From her first day in New York.
She makes one, sort of, seeming insignificant
choice, and her life veers off into a completely different
direction.
And so the show follows both of those directions
over a period of some years.
It took years for Yorkey along with
his collaborator/composer, Tom Kitt and Director, Michael
Greif.
The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning team behind
"Next to Normal" to bring If/Then to the stage.
A very personal story for both.
I came to New York to find my life and
I really did.
Both in finding Brian to write musicals with and
also I found my wife at Columbia.
I wonder what would have happened to my life if I
hadn't been there at that time.
I certainly wasn't - it's gratifying and comforting and
wonderful to have this - again -this group of collaborators
that continue to challenge me and support me and help me to,
to tell the stories that I wanna tell.
(Actors singing) The show reflects the sensibilities of
modern audiences with its contemporary approach and
attitude.
Because it's contemporary, because it uses
language that people use, but not necessarily always makes it
onto the stage.
And because it's about the concerns of a certain
character but I also hear that the people who, for whom it
resonated, it would resonate very strongly because it was
very much about the way we live our lives today.
New York City acts as a central character in
this unique story about faith, random connection and the sense
of possibility which makes city life so interesting.
You can turn one corner or the other,
run into someone, meet someone, see something that changes your
life.
It seemed to us that cities were especially full of
that kind of possibility, and especially New York City.
The music is incredible and it
drives the emotion of the story and really creates that energy
that kinetic energy of a city.
Since its Broadway debut last year, the show has garnered
several Tony nominations.
Including one for best score.
And it strikes a chord with the talented, award winning actors
who originated the roles.
It was so awesome to get to see you
rehearse and to hear you sing.
What an incredible voice you have.
Thank you.
Can you tell us a little bit about what it's
like to play Kate?
Kate is one of the best characters I've ever
played.
It's a lot of fun.
She's, she's ambitious and optimistic and just loves life.
She's that person that you have in your life that no matter what
happens they'll find a way to see the good in it.
That's Kate.
To me, this show is so much about the ripple effects of
life.
The tiniest little pebble can make huge changes in anyones
life.
And I get to live out both of those situations.
James Snyder originated the role of
Josh on Broadway.
(Actors singing) It's a play about
choices but really about how we react to those choices.
It's coincidence almost that that I
married to my wife and how I met her and all of that crazy thing.
If/Then is about embracing wherever you're at now, and
appreciating those choices behind you but realizing that in
this moment you have a choice to be your best self and your most
authentic self and to take that forward.
Now, all of us can relate to the heart of this show
which reminds us to love and accept the things we have in
life.
Those chances of faith that become our own If/Then
moments.
For me it happened about six years ago.
I was working on a story about the
Philly Fanatic.
And the producer at the time said: hey, I know
this crazy Philly's fan.
Would you mind if he came into the
edit room to see the piece before it goes to air?
I said: sure why not.
This guy comes in, we get to talking, and wouldn't
know it, a few years later that crazy Philly's fan became the
man that I married.
A quick If/Then moment - yes, when I met
my husband who is no longer with us, but we both got our hair cut
at the same barber.
And had I not chosen that barber and gave
him my black and white 8x10 to hang up in his salon, then my
late husband would not have seen my picture and found me on
the street later on and asked me: hey, is your picture hanging
up at Cesar's Hair Salon?
In 1994 I was a young actor living
in New York.
I was really struggling.
I had some minor success to that point but it was
in a really low point.
I had gotten very close to some big
jobs in that year that had I gotten those jobs I wouldn't
have been working at Starbucks, available to audition for this
little workshop.
This little musical that I never heard of
called "Rent" and then of course getting that job made all the
difference in my life.
If/Then is intentionally thought
provoking.
One of the things that Brian and Tom do so
beautifully in their writing is they explore the complexities
and the subtleties of our lives and they ask more questions than
necessarily provide answers.
They just ask us to think about our lives in ways that we might
not.
I hope that people will look at their own lives and
think about where they are and feel empowered to keep making
bold and decisive choices about the lives they wanna live.
I'm a pretty avid poker player.
Poker is like so many great games it's
a metaphor for life, you know.
It's about responding to whatever comes your way and, you
know, yes of course you have to try to make the right choice or
the best choice.
But still, even when you do that crazy things
can happen.
Anticipation is high as the first national tour
launches.
The expectations are are are really just hopes and
dreams about getting to sit with with different audiences in
different cities and feel what they are getting out of the
piece.
As I look forward to doing, to finding new moments on
this, in these new cities with these great new audiences, so
I'm excited about it.
The North American tour of If/Then has
just launched and is coming soon to a theater near you.
Check out BroadwayBalancesAmerica.com or
go to our website thebalancingact.com for all the
show information, tour dates and more.
(MUSIC) Thanks Amber.
I really do love shows about real
life.
You know, our everyday struggles and triumphs.
So do I, and speaking of which, coming up
- hope for a disease that impacts mostly women.
Stay with us.
MUSIC (VOICE OVER) Now you know,
Travel Tips.
When you think of road trip what comes to mind?
Do you think outside of the box,
quirky, fun?
I do.
I'm at Miami's Little Havana.
More specifically, Domino Park.
We're talking dominos, fun, cigars and
Cuban coffee.
Ahhh, cafe Cubano - I need some right now.
MUSIC Road trips mean taking lots of
pictures of fun, even quirky places.
How bout Elvis' gun collection in Sparks, Nevada, or
the world's biggest soup can in Napoleon, Ohio.
How bout riding the big bull rooster, just
kidding.
How bout a big, cool car.
My producer, Chris, found a place he will never forget.
From the big soup can in Ohio to
these big cars in Amarillo, Texas.
Cadillac Ranch is must see on your next road trip.
So get your kicks and take your
pics.
Hold on Route 66.
And wherever your next road trip
takes you, make sure you find a TA or Petro Stopping Center
along the way.
See ya next time.
Now you now Travel Tips sponsored by TA and Petro
Stopping Centers coast to coast.
Refuel, replenish, refresh.
(MUSIC)For decades the autoimmune disease called Lupus
has been one of the greatest challenges known to medicine.
It affects millions.
Its impact on all aspects of patients' lives
is nothing short of catastrophic.
And listen to this, about 90% of its victims
are women.
As for a cure, all medical efforts have failed to
find one.
Today we're gonna share what could be one of the
biggest medical breakthroughs of our time.
First, let's learn about Lupus from Autoimmune
Disease Clinician and Researcher, Dr. Yvonne Sherrer
and one of her Lupus patients, Althea McKenzie.
Good morning to both of you.
Good morning.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you for having us Olga.
Althea, let me start with you.
How old were you when you were diagnosed?
I was 25 years old.
And how did that change your life dear?
It significantly changed my life
cause my life was not my own anymore.
And that makes a huge impact on just what you do.
For example, I know we were talking
and you can't drive?
When I'm not well I do not drive.
And I don't even think you can go out
in the sun, right?
That's correct.
You have to wear sunscreen, have an umbrella, and
also have your car windows tinted.
I know you were a model.
You were a runner.
You were doing so many things that I'm
assuming then just.
Totally stopped.
Emotionally, physically, spiritually.
What did that do to you?
It's very depressing.
A lot of anxiety, a lot of fear.
Your your life is just not your own.
It is controlled by how you feel and
how your disease is at the moment.
So if you're not feeling well, you're not gonna go
anywhere.
You're afraid to go anywhere cause you might get
sick.
Doctor, let me bring you in quickly.
A lot of people hear Lupus and what is it and what
does it do?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease.
That is the immune system is turned against
itself.
Instead of attacking a virus or bacteria.
It's attacking your own tissue.
And that can be manifested in a host
of different ways.
Every organ in the body can be affected,
from the brain all the way down to the toes.
You can get rashes, sores in the mouth, swollen
lymph nodes, arthritis.
Every organ can be affected.
And I was reading here, Althea, and I know
you experienced all of those symptoms - That's correct.
- that doctor was describing, but
you can't work?
No, I do not work.
You live with your parents I believe?
That is correct.
What about your social life,
finances?
My social life is limited depending on, you know,
how I'm feeling.
And finances is just it's a strain because so
much medication, so many medical bills, and not working.
My income is limited.
Suffice it to say that it's paralyzed your
life, if you will.
It is correct.
Doctor, let me bring you back in.
From a treatment prospective, why is this disease
so challenging?
Well, for a number of reasons, one is
because every patient is different.
And one patient may respond to a drug, another
patient won't respond to the same drug.
And now in this current healthcare system, it's
getting the drugs paid for.
Because there are very few drugs approved for Lupus.
And so when we have to use unapproved drugs
that will save people's lives, or at least help, often we can't
get it covered.
And I wanna go back to this statistic here.
90% are women.
Yes.
OK, and now when it comes to age and race, is it
anyone or is it a certain race, a certain age?
Anyone can get Lupus.
Male, female, any race.
However, having said that, it's more frequent in women of
childbearing age and it's more frequent in women of color.
African American, Afro Caribbean, Hispanic, seem to
have more frequent disease and more severe disease.
Are there symptoms to look out for?
There's no specific symptoms.
OK.
Women can just have fatigue and just not feel well, or they
can have a rash, and arthritis.
But you can't be limited by symptoms cause people can
present very differently.
I can only imagine what a cure would
mean for you and for so many millions of people out there.
Definitely getting my life back and be in control.
Well, today we're gonna talk about,
hopefully, getting your life back.
Medical breakthrough so stay right there please ladies.
And coming up, an exciting medical breakthrough in the
fight to cure Lupus.
There's hope here this morning.
Isn't there?
Yes.
Yes!
So stay with us, we'll be right back.
MUSIC Welcome back everyone.
We're talking about one of the most
devastating autoimmune diseases in existence, Lupus.
An astounding 90% of its victims
are women and until now there's been no cure.
But, listen to this, our next guest truly
believes that's all about to change.
Joining us now is Miguel Sieler from Neovacs, the French
Labatore that says it's closing in on a cure for Lupus.
We're also rejoined by Lupus expert,
Dr. Yvonne Sherrer and her patient Althea McKenzie.
Miguel, encouraging, I wanna hear what
this new treatment is because we've heard from the doctor what
Lupus is.
We've heard what it's done to Althea and millions of
other people.
What is this new treatment and how does it work?
This treatment is therapeutic vaccine which enhances the
immune system of the patient to give the appropriate response to
the disease.
We enhance the immune system to produce self
and polychromal antibodies and these polychromal antibodies
will neutralize the protein which is produced in excess by
the immune system and which therefore has produced this
disease.
So by having the immune system of the patient giving the
appropriate response, we think we on the right way.
So you're using, and from what I'm
hearing, and clarify for me that you're using the patient's own
immune system to fight the disease.
Exactly.
That's what we call active immune therapy.
That's to say we do not administrate a drug, a foreign
body, against the immune system could eventually develop
antibodies to fight the antibodies.
We program the immune system of the patient to
produce the appropriate response to the disease.
Clinical trials going on right now?
Yes, we have a phase 2B trial going on on 166
patients in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
And we plan phase 1 to 8 trial in the U.S. in the
upcoming year.
Doctor, how do you feel about this one?
The potential for this drug is just
phenomenal.
It will be safe, not immunosuppressive, effective,
and tolerable.
And I tell you if it holds true to that we will
just rejoice, because it's been a long time coming.
In the last 50 years only one drug approved
for Lupus, and that drug isn't immunosuppressive, and does have
some safety issues.
Where this drug may not have those same
issues.
Miguel, when might this be available here in this
country?
It's still a long way.
We have to admit that.
OK.
We are in phase 2B in many
countries of the world, but I guess for being available in the
United States, we still have 3 to 5 years in front of us.
Althea, I see you looking at Miguel.
I see the face glowing, a smile.
What would this mean to you and, I'm sure you could
speak on behalf of so many people out there.
It would be like winning the lottery.
I can only imagine.
For information on this new treatment and anyone
out there who may have Lupus, Miguel, where do they go to?
What's the website?
Just go to Neovacs.com.
And I do wanna let you know that because of a
wonderful dance teacher that we have, for the children, we
actually partake in the Lupus walk every year.
My girls and I, you see them right here, and
they even are creating that awareness.
Althea, really important creating awareness and
finding that cure, right?
That is correct.
Thank you so much for being here.
And for information on Lupus, where do
they go?
They can go to Lupus.org.
Good luck to you and I wanna promise from you that
when this treatment comes out, and I have a feeling this is
gonna be a winner, you come back and let us know.
I definitely will.
And I wanna hear that your modeling again and going out and
going to the beach and doing all the things you wanna do.
Definitely.
Yes, God bless you.
Thank you so much.
Doctor, thank you for your time and Miguel, we
look forward to having you back, hopefully in the next few years.
We work hard on that.
Thank you so much.
And of course, if you'd like more information on Lupus
head to Lupus.org or you can always go to our website
thebalancingact.com.
There is hope.
MUSIC (VOICE OVER) This is the show
all about you and your space.
Your home and surroundings.
We're Designing Spaces.
We take on DIY projects.
Get creative with interior design and get with the pros on
remodeling and home improvement.
I can see myself living here.
I really can.
Designing Spaces.
Thursdays and Fridays 7-7:30 a.m. on LIfetime Television.
Wow, what a positive attitude she has.
I love it, and hopefully a cure is just around
the corner.
Oh, I hope so.
We'll pray for that.
And don't forget to checkout Broadway Across
America coming soon to a town near you.
And that's our show, but always head to our Facebook
page and our website thebalancingact.com and follow
us on Twitter.
We've got so much there.
Thanks for watching everybody.
We'll see you next time.
MUSIC