BROADWAY BALANCES AMERICA Returning for Third Season on Lifetime

The Balancing Act, the award-winning morning show on the Lifetime Channel, has announced that it has begun shooting the third season of its six-part series, Broadway Balances America, sponsored by Broadway Across America. The series will launch August 8, 2016.

"We are thrilled to continue this national partnership for a third season, expanding the platform by including these segments on our Broadway Channel App, available on Apple TV, Amazon and Roku," said Lauren Reid, CEO, Broadway Across America. "This unique content helps educate our audiences on new shows coming to our cities. We thank our network of local theaters nationwide and THE BALANCING ACT for helping us share Broadway with that wider audience across the country."

Broadway Balances America provides behind-the-scenes access and interviews highlighting shows featured on Broadway Across America's 2016-2017 Broadway series nationwide - from Boston to Costa Mesa, from Houston to Minneapolis, and everywhere in between. The Balancing Act's hosts get up close and personal with casts and crews, even experiencing what it's like to take the show on the road.

"We are so happy to take The Balancing Act's viewers behind-the-scenes of the most popular Broadway shows, meeting some of the actors/directors/choreographers who bring it all to life," said Jeanne Kelly, Supervising Producer for The Balancing Act. "Everyone can now experience the excitement, music and magic that is Broadway right in their local community."

On the first segment, Broadway Balances America welcomes the cast of THE ILLUSIONISTS - LIVE FROM BROADWAY as THE BALANCING ACT hosts, Julie Moran and Olga Villaverde, get in on the act and discover what it takes to suspend disbelief for eight performances a week! Viewers will meet "The Trickster", Jeff Hobson, in-studio and will witness an illusion that will leave them speechless, and see how a theatrical, Broadway-caliber magic spectacular balances a Broadway season.

Next, THE BALANCING ACT will go behind the scenes of the innovative new musical FINDING NEVERLAND, based on the award-winning film. Correspondent Amber Milt will speak with Tony Award-winning Director, Diane Paulus, and Emmy Award-winning Choreographer, Mia Michaels about how they balanced this magical creative world and brought it to life for Broadway. Viewers will also go backstage with original Broadway cast member Laura Michelle Kelly (Sylvia) as she reveals what it was like creating this strong female character that inspired J.M Barrie to achieve his dreams.

In the third episode of Broadway Balances America, viewers will uncover the beautiful world within AN AMERICAN IN PARIS. Amber Milt will discover how balance is key to sustaining this Tony-Award-winning production, but also how its stars maintain their minds and bodies for what is a truly athletic performance, multiple times a week. THE BALANCING ACT audience will see first-hand what it takes to juggle training, performing, and managing a personal life while touring the country.

The series continues when Amber and crew meet up in South Florida with renowned R&B artist, Deborah Cox, as she prepares for the U.S. tour of the THE BODYGUARD. Deborah will take the viewers inside the recording studio and rehearsal process for a glimpse at what it takes to recreate an iconic movie role for the stage. Deborah will also discuss the challenges of balancing a life of music, theater, touring, and being a mother and wife.

"I am excited to have The Bodyguard be a part of the third season of the Broadway Balances America series on The Balancing Act! The opportunity to sing all of these songs that people have grown to love over the years is an incredible honor for me," Deborah Cox said. "The Bodyguard is one of my all-time favorite movies, and the show is going to be compelling and mysterious. Being able to perform these songs on stage across America every night is going to be just thrilling. I can't wait to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look as I prep for this role of a lifetime."

Speaking of strong women, two of them come together and oppose each other in The Fifth Avenue Production of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID. Amber will meet the creative team and explore the passion and power struggle between legendary characters, Ariel and Ursula, and the complex relationships that make the animated classic come to life on stage. Audiences new and old will have an opportunity to go fathoms below next season, and THE BALANCING ACT will give us our first in-depth look behind the curtain.

In the final episode of the Broadway Balances America series, THE BALANCING ACT takes a closer look at the powerful, yet fundamentally different, female characters in THE KING AND I. Viewers will meet the actresses who play Anna and Lady Thiang as well as director Bartlett Sher while getting a backstage look at the Tony Award-winning Lincoln Center Production that goes out on tour this fall. Sher and his cast will discuss the evolving relevancy of these women's journeys in this beautiful Rodgers & Hammerstein classic.

"We're so excited to bring our viewers a third season of Broadway Balances America on The Balancing Act," said Lauren Newman-Giannetti, VP of Partnership Development for The Balancing Act. "We believe in cultivating a love of theater from a young age on up, and what better way to instill that than experiencing Broadway in your own community? We'll be taking viewers behind the scenes to tell THE STORY BEHIND the story, and what it takes to make the magic happen on stage for some of America's most beloved productions, as well as some of the newer, edgier and sexier ones too. You definitely want to tune in!"

To learn more about the Broadway Balances America series, please visit: www.broadwaybalancesamericamerica.com.

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