MUSIC Hi everybody, I'm Julie Moran.
And I'm Olga Villaverde.
Welcome to The Balancing Act.
So much good stuff today.
(Singing in background) What's that sound
I hear?
Uh, I don't know.
Is that the sound of music?
Yes it is, the beloved musical is
celebrating a major milestone and we're gonna take you behind
the scenes.
Plus, protecting your family's financial futures.
And we'll give you the skinny on a superfood, heart healthy
blueberries.
Oh my gosh - yummy!
And it all starts - when does it start?
Right now, that's right.
(Both women singing "The Hills are Alive")
MUSIC Broadway Balances America
brought to you by Broadway Across America.
Bringing the best of Broadway to a city near you.
MUSIC Today we're continuing our
Broadway Balances America series.
Once again going behind the scenes of
Broadway's best shows as they travel across the country.
The "Sound of Music" is celebrating
its 50th anniversary this year.
50 years!
Unbelievable.
And that beloved musical continues to be
one of the most successful movie musicals in history.
In all, do you know how many Academy Awards
it won, including best picture?
You know I do know this.
It won 5.
That's right - ding ding!
You got the award.
And now the spirited, romantic and treasured
musical story of Maria and the von Trapp Family is once again
thrilling audiences as the brand new national tour comes to your
city.
Here's Amber Milt.
That's right ladies.
The Sound of Music truly is one of my favorite
things.
This classic has been revitalized and the story and
score are striking the right balance with today's audiences.
(Singer) Doe - a deer, a female deer, ray - a drop of golden
sun.
(VOICE OVER) From stage to screen.
It's a story that has been seen by millions the world
over.
With iconic songs that are embedded in the lexicon of our
lives.
So Jack, tell us about how you approached such a
classic musical and how you're gonna bring it, give it new
life?
I have great respect for this piece.
When I started looking this one was the year
1938.
Now I've never thought about this piece historically.
I encouraged the company not to
sing because the minute you hear those iconic songs, you start to
relax and think - ahhh, here's, here are these songs from my
childhood that I loved all my life.
As opposed to, this is a journey that's going on.
We discovered things that were
funny.
We discovered things that were irreverent.
We discovered things that were human.
So everybody in the piece became
instantly dimensional for me, and for them.
And that's the journey we took and it's been
astonishing to us.
All of us.
You should know clearly this is the set.
(Laughing) Jack O'Brien, a 3 time Tony Award
winning director, whose illustrious Broadway career has
been decades is at the helm of this new production.
There have been other R&H shows that have
been looked at by really good directors, but nobody has gone,
sort of, anywhere near this one.
When I watch what Jack has done, I just sit there sort if in awe,
because there are things, there are lines that I didn't realize
were there.
And as a result it seems completely new.
Bringing the show back to the stage meant
modernizing it, and making sure Maria, a role that for many will
always be associated with Julie Andrews, is relevant and
relatable to today's woman.
(Actress singing) When a dog bites, when a bee stings, when
I'm feeling sad (end singing).
This girl walked in the room and she was kind of a jock.
She was like a,
sorta girl field hockey player.
And I thought well that's right.
That's a country mountain girl who grew up on a mountain, who
didn't expect to have a career on the stage, who thought she
was gonna be nun, and then realized maybe she was too hot
to be nun, for all we know.
In other words, everything about
her seemed completely unlikely, and when she opened her mouth,
that voice.
And I sorta fell in love.
Well Jack O'Brien's been really lovely about that.
He's totally liberated me from
feeling like I need to be Julie Andrews or need to be Mary
Martin.
Cause I know them so well, as well.
I've memorized that movie.
But he's opening new doors and expanding horizons and
he's made Maria sort of a country girl.
And I'm from Vermont so it's totally, I get
to incorporate my love of the mountains, and to her as well.
(Actor singing) The hills are alive with the sound of music
(end singing).
Maria's journey in the story is really finding
her place in the world and I think that's something everybody
can relate to.
It's a struggle sometimes but she is constantly
persevering and constantly making the best out of
situations, and with a positive attitude.
Helping Maria come to terms with how her life is
changing is Mother Abbess, played by Ashley Brown.
(Actor singing) Raindrops on roses and
whiskers on kittens.
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen
mittens (end singing).
When I first got the call from Jack
O'Brien that he wanted me to play this.
I was like, WHAT!
He's one of the best directors of our time.
He just has this whole new vision of who Mother
Abbess is and that's why he wanted me to play the part.
Through rehearsals, that's been the most amazing part of the
journey is finding my Mother Abbess, and finding, and getting
away from what we all know, and making her human, and making her
relatable.
Equally important is the role of Captain von Trapp,
who starts out stern but transforms over time.
(Actor singing) Edelweiss edelweiss
(end singing).
It's because his wife died and he's been left as
a single father of these 7 children.
So the sternness a way of him shutting emotion out is
the discipline his way of keeping things ordered, in
otherwise is a chaotic world to him.
One that he can't control and he wasn't able to control
the death of his wife.
And my father passed away 2 years ago
and so you feel that void in your life and it's never
completely filled.
But you do find that that joy's in other
places and you try to realize that life goes on.
I think that's what the Captain learns
through Maria is that that life continues on and he's able to to
find joy again.
(Actor singing) Climb every mountain, search
high and low (end singing).
The production still features all
the classic songs with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar
Hammerstein II.
Let's talk about some of those iconic songs:
Climb Every Mountain.
How are you going to make that your own?
That's a tough song.
And not only technically is it tough,
but it's it's an anthem in musical theater.
You know, everybody knows the words,
everybody knows the tune.
It's not just telling her to go climb
because that's what you're supposed to do.
You know, it's what I learned when I was at the
same crossroads as she is right now.
And don't be scared, just go for it, take the leap.
And then at the very end, you know,
it's she gave me my purpose again, and it's just that give
and take of those 2 characters.
And I think that's what makes that song very powerful.
It's thrilling, it's wonderful, it's
so exciting to be able to sing the songs that I know and love,
and grew up with, and with such amazing people on stage as well.
That was more than evident at the show's premier.
They are losing their minds.
It's been so positive.
It's really made people see the story in a
different light.
That's what has been really great about hearing
the audience's reaction.
It's laughing and crying and
screaming and clapping.
And it's what you want every time you do
a musical.
(Actor singing) I am 16 going on 17, I know that I'm
naive.
Fellows I meet may tell me I'm sweet and willingly I
believe (end singing).
It is indeed a show the whole family
will enjoy.
When people walk away from The Sound of Music,
from your Sound of Music, what do you want them to feel?
Immediately I think of one word, and I hope I hear it in these
months ahead - Astonished.
Like with anything you love and
respect and think you know.
In order to listen to it again, you
have to be refreshed.
And if you hear and see things you didn't
see the first time, I think the response would be - I don't know
about you but I was astonished.
I'm excited to see all these new cities and to bring such a
beloved story all around the country.
It's a dream come true.
(Actor singing) And I'll say once more (end singing)(audience
applauds).
The North American tour of The Sound of Music
continues, 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.
(Piano playing) So I was able to take the girls.
Oh great!
And they loved it.
I mean they were just in awe and the
whole thing was great but the moment when the Reverend Mother
sings Climb Every Mountain.
Oh my gosh - chills.
Tears, fabulous show.
Please check it out, worth it.
It is so worth it.
And coming up, financial peace of mind for your family.
Stay right with us.
Ready to get social?
Join theconversation at
facebook.com/thebalancingactfans We'd like to hear what's on your
mind.
MUSIC I want you to visualize some
scenarios.
You're married with children and
suddenly lose your significant other, along with your financial
stability.
You're single with no children, something happens to
you.
Who pays your debt?
Or, you're part of the growing
number of single parent families, made up mostly of
single moms, and as primary breadwinner, and caretaker.
If something happens to you, who
takes care of your family?
Sobering questions, but a necessary discussion.
Our guests are experts at helping women
protect their family's financial futures.
We're talking financial peace of mind, which really is
at the top of women's minds today.
Meet Joy Collins and Diane Bedore of Woman's Life
Insurance Society.
Welcome to the show.
Thank you.
Joy, let me start with you.
When we think about that future, and let's be
honest, death.
We're not really keeping that in the back of our
minds, if you will.
But we should, right?
Definitely.
When you think of that future, it can
happen over a period of time, or it could happen very suddenly.
One way to plan for protecting your family financially is
through life insurance.
Remember we plan for events all the time.
We do.
Birthdays, weddings, vacations, and they're over
with, with a blink of an eye.
This particular even could last another lifetime.
Diane?
In fact, having life insurance, if
a tragedy strikes can allow you to maintain your current home
and your lifestyle.
Joy, I have to admit when I was single, I
thought I was just, you know, omnipotent and, I had the world
in my hands.
And I thought life insurance was more for people
who were married, not for me.
Not the case.
No, it's not.
Life insurance is a financial tool
that will work for most ages and most stages of your life.
For instance, when you're young and
you're healthy, you can purchase life insurance and it protects
your future insurability and you take advantage of those lower
premium rates.
Diane, what about stay-at-home moms?
Important there too.
Oh absolutely!
Think of all the responsibilities on
the shoulders of stay-at-home moms.
They're like a CEO of the household.
The stay-at-home parents contributes a huge
financial amount to that family.
Valued at over $118,000 per year.
Wow!
A lot of people think, well I have life
insurance through my job, so that should be good enough.
When you have benefits through your
employer, they can change in ways that you have no control.
When you voluntarily leave your position, or you get terminated
from your job, you could lose that group coverage and those
group rates.
But by owning your own life insurance you have
portability.
You have more options and most importantly,
you have the continuous coverage.
Now Diane, I'm sure a lot of people would say - I'd
love to have it, but times are tough, I'm counting every penny,
I can't make the mortgage, I can't afford it.
I hear that all the time.
Yes, many people do overestimate the cost.
But there's different types of
insurance and that would make a difference in your rate.
And, it's based on age and health.
So the younger you are, and
healthier you are, the more likely your rate will be lower.
You absolutely need it from the cradle to the grave.
This is one product everyone will use.
Joy, what should one keep in mind
when purchasing life insurance?
You need to sit down and talk with someone and decide how much
to purchase, but ask yourself this: what will be the financial
impact on my family if something would happen to me?
So think of these 3 factors: your current
expenses; your future expenses; and final expenses, that you may
have.
Diane, I was reading here that your organization, Woman's
life Insurance Society, it has a program to give back.
Can you share what that is?
Woman's Life was founded in 1892.
It's a nonprofit membership
organization.
So it gave women the opportunity to come together
to give back right in their own communities.
So the local members formed chapters and we
call em girlfriends clubs.
And they have so much fun, and they
build on their friendships, and do community outreach together.
So it's these active members that determine who's gonna
benefit from our corporate giving.
In fact, in the past 5 years Woman's Life has
contributed more than 4 million dollars.
Wow, that's substantial.
Yes, needy individuals and organizations.
I'm sure the organization was founded by a woman.
Absolutely.
Very important to note that.
Of course.
Diane, for our viewers out there who would like
information on life insurance and your organization, what is
the website they can look at?
That would be womanslife.org.
That's w-o-m-a-n-s.
One woman at a time.
Thank you so much and really it's peace of mind as I would
say.
Absolutely.
Thank you for the information.
And of course for more information on how you
can help your family get financial peace of mind, visit
the organization's website womanslife.org or look at our
website thebalancingact.com.
MUSIC So, what can you say
in 140 characters?
A lot, so let's get social.
Join the conversation, follow us on
Twitter @TheBalancingActTV.
MUSIC Time now for a Quick Byte with
Ralph Pagano.
And he's talking about blueberries from
my home state of Georgia.
That was cute.
MUSIC I've got a question for you.
What's low in calories but high in nutrients?
The answer - blueberries.
Welcome to my kitchen.
This is Quick Bytes with me, Chef Ralph
Pagano.
Today, I'm gonna talk to you about plump, juicy, sweet,
Georgia blueberries.
Proving that good things really do come
in small packages.
So many different applications you can
use for the blueberry.
You wanna start of your day with a little
blueberry pie?
Why not.
How bout a great salad with napa cabbage,
broccoli, some ham, cheese, and blueberries to set it off?
Have you ever had a blueberry muffin?
I have.
How bout a blueberry tart, oozing with love?
Blueberry smoothie to start your day?
And over here, my favorite way to kick off the morning, a
blueberry granola parfait.
It's so simple, so easy, and so
delicious.
First things first, you wanna start it with some
beautiful Georgia blueberries.
To this I'm gonna add a little bit of yogurt, plain yogurt.
I like to run my spoon around in
it a little bit to loosen it up, make it nice and creamy and
airy.
Then over here I've got some fresh granola that we made.
You can go to the grocery store and grab some.
Start it off with a glass like this.
Gonna add a fistful of blueberries to the
glass.
Take a big lovin spoonful of this yogurt, plop it right in
there.
See that?
Give me another little plop of yogurt.
To this I'm gonna add a little bit of
granola.
There's the granola, its got almond flavor in there,
raisins, a little bit of nuts.
Gonna add a little bit more yogurt on top.
How bout some more of the star of the show.
You know a great thing about the science of the blueberry, is
it's only 80 calories per cup.
You know that Georgia is the leading producer of all the
blueberries.
It's cause the weather is so perfect for it.
Acidic soil helps to sweeten the blueberry.
I'm a chef, I eat every single day.
I bet you do too.
You know one of the greatest things you
could do, is eat every color of the rainbow every day.
Look, the red, the orange, the yellow.
They're pretty easy.
Have a tomato, have an orange, have a
banana.
But the blue, only one thing comes to mind - the
blueberry.
You're gonna love it, your mouth is gonna love it,
your skin is gonna love it.
You're gonna see better.
Everything in your life is gonna change when you eat Georgia
blueberries.
You wanna know more about Georgia blueberries and
these terrific recipes?
Check out georgiablueberries.org or
the blueberrycouncil.org, or visit our website
thebalancingact.com.
Remember, this has been a Quick Byte.
I'm gonna get it.
But chew slowly.
MUSIC 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 to
7:30am on Lifetime Television.
MUSIC You know I absolutely love
blueberries.
I do too.
They're so versatile.
They're fabulous.
I can eat the whole thing.
Yeh.
And of course, tasty and healthy as well.
That's right.
And that's our show for today, but head to our Facebook
page and our website thebalancingact.com.
Follow us on Twitter, follow us
everywhere.
Follow us everyday, everywhere, right?
There you go.
Thanks for watching everybody.
We'll see you next time.
MUSIC