Syrian insurgents reach the capital's suburbs. Worried residents flee and stock up on suppliesDancing With the Stars pro Sasha Farber and his rumored girlfriend, former Bachelorette Jenn Tran , went to a Christmas market and met up with a familiar face. The pair, who recently competed together in Season 33 of the hit ABC dancing competition show and continued to spark romance rumors , bumped into actress Alyson Hannigan , who competed with Sasha during last year's Season 32. Hannigan shared several snaps of her reunion with her former dance partner, including a video, to her Instagram on December 8. Inside DWTS Mormon culture and Utah's unique ballroom scene DWTS' Sasha stokes Jenn Tran romance rumors with blunt 6-word comment In the first picture, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum posed with Sasha, Jenn, and her oldest daughter, Satyana. The following snaps revealed Jenn and Sasha looking at a huge dessert, the pair posing with Satyana and massive Starbucks drink, and Sasha and Jenn ordering food at one of the market stands. Another selfie revealed the four posing as Jenn wrapped her arms tight around Sasha's neck and a video showed Sasha doing a mock ad for one of the shops, which sold Christmas cards. Hannigan captioned her post with: "Serving tree-mendous holiday vibes with my favorite people." In the comments section fans who are rooting for Sasha and Jenn's supposed romance thanked Hannigan for her content, with one person writing: "jasha fans thank u alyson" as another added: "the team Sasha is growing!" Sasha also posted a snap of himself with Jenn at the Christmas market. The pair stood looking away from each other with a sign that said: "Kiss me under the mistletoe." In the caption, the pro dancer joked: "Trailer dropping soon!!!!! @netflix #christmasmovie." Fans in the comments agreed that a Christmas movie featuring them would be perfect, with one person writing: "Now this is a hallmark movie I’d watch." DON'T MISS: Kelsey Anderson explains soial media absence--and it's nothing to do with Joey [LATEST] Dancing With the Stars will not air this week--inside when show will return [INSIGHT] Ryan Reynolds sent DWTS' Danny and Witney a message after Deadpool dance [UPDATE] Another added: "Nah this is more of a Hallmark Channel thing," as a third said: "A heartbroken girl unexpected meets a ballroom dancer and in a twist of fate they fall in love, I mean it really writes itself at this point." A fourth praised: "I’ll be the first one in line to see it. please @netflix make this come true." However, fans still questioned if the former partners are a thing, with one commenting: "They know what they’re doing with these posts," as a second added: "a hard launch would be the greatest christmas gift ever." A third said: "I am slamming my head into a wall I have become dangerously invested in their little game," as a fourth penned: "All I want for Christmas is hard launch." Sasha recently left a "cryptic" comment on one of Jen's posts, once again fueling relationship rumors . Fans have been speculating about a romance between the former dance partners for months, throughout their time on the ABC show and in the weeks since their elimination. The pair themselves have continued to spark the rumors over and over again on social media, but now fans are truly confused by Sasha's comment on Jenn's latest post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alyson Hannigan Denisof (@alysonhannigan) On December 4, Jenn shared a heartfelt post expressing her gratitude to Sasha for helping her through a difficult time and making her DWTS journey the best it could've been. She posted several snaps of the pair posing in various places and dancing on both the show and in the rehearsal studio. In the lengthy caption, Jenn wrote to Sasha: "To my dance partner: I can’t believe that three months ago we didn’t know each other and that we almost didn’t even meet. I’ve always believed in fate but meeting you at the airport in one of my darkest hours and rushing to GMA to start what would become the most unforgettable and surreal dance journey together was truly meant to be. "This experience has been one of a lifetime and truly something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life! But my experience on dancing with the stars was only so unbelievable because of you!" In the comments section, though, Sasha wrote something that's making several fans scratch their heads: "Ohhh , thank you , you blossomed into a beautiful dancer, hope we can remain friends and stay in contact !" The comment suggests there's only friendship between the pair, despite all the rumors. Or it could be something to throw fans off the scent of their romance.AP News Summary at 5:25 p.m. EST
Florida State pounds Charleston Southern for second victory of seasonNEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin extended its streak of record highs after ticking above $99,000 for the first time. The cryptocurrency has rocketed more than 40% in just two weeks. Now, bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000, just two years after dropping below $17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX . The dramatic rally rolls on as industry players expect the incoming Trump administration to bring a more “crypto-friendly” approach toward regulating the digital currency. Bitcoin was trading at $99,526 Friday afternoon, according to CoinDesk. As with everything in the volatile crypto markets, the future is impossible to know. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Here’s what you need to know. Cryptocurrency has been around for a while now. But, chances are, you've heard about it more and more over the last few years. In basic terms, cryptocurrency is digital money. This kind of currency is designed to work through an online network without a central authority — meaning it’s typically not backed by any government or banking institution — and transactions get recorded with technology called a blockchain. Bitcoin is the largest and oldest cryptocurrency, although other assets like ethereum, tether and dogecoin have also gained popularity over the years. Some investors see cryptocurrency as a “digital alternative” to traditional money, but the large majority of daily financial transactions are still conducted using fiat currencies such as the dollar. Also, bitcoin can be very volatile, with its price reliant on larger market conditions. A lot of the recent action has to do with the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Crypto industry players have welcomed Trump’s victory, in hopes that he would be able to push through legislative and regulatory changes that they’ve long lobbied for — which, generally speaking, aim for an increased sense of legitimacy without too much red tape. Trump, who was once a crypto skeptic, recently pledged to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. His campaign accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he courted fans at a bitcoin conference in July. He also launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies. How of this will actually pan out — and whether or not Trump will successfully act quickly on these promises — has yet to be seen. “This is not necessarily a short-term story, it’s likely a much longer-term story," Citi macro strategist David Glass told The Associated Press last week. "And there is the question of how quickly can U.S. crypto policy make a serious impact on (wider adoption).” One step Trump must take in the short-term is name a new head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which shares oversight of cryptocurrencies. Gary Gensler, current chair of the SEC, has led the U.S. government’s crackdown on crypto over recent years, penalizing a number of companies for violating securities laws. But he's also faced criticism from industry players in the process, like the chief legal officer of Robinhood , who described Gensler's approach toward crypto as “rigid” and "hostile.” Gensler will step down in January when Trump takes office. Adam Morgan McCarthy, a research analyst at Kaiko, thinks the industry is craving “just some sort of clarity.” Much of the approach to regulating crypto in the past has been “enforcement based,” he notes, which has been helpful in weeding out some bad actors — but legislation might fill in other key gaps. Despite crypto’s recent excitement around Trump, McCarthy said that 2024 has already been a “hugely consequential year for regulation in the U.S.” — pointing to January’s approval of spot bitcoin ETFs, for example, which mark a new way to invest in the asset. Spot ETFs have been the dominant driver of bitcoin for some time now — but, like much of the crypto’s recent momentum, saw record inflows postelection. According to Kaiko , bitcoin ETFs recorded $6 billion in trade volume for the week of the election alone. In April, bitcoin also saw its fourth “halving” — a preprogrammed event that impacts production by cutting the reward for mining, or the creation of new bitcoin, in half. In theory, if demand remains strong, some analysts say this “supply shock” can also help propel the price long term. Others note it may be too early to tell. History shows you can lose money in crypto as quickly as you’ve made it. Long-term price behavior relies on larger market conditions. Trading continues at all hours, every day. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, bitcoin stood at just over $5,000. Its price climbed to nearly $69,000 by November 2021, during high demand for technology assets, but later crashed during an aggressive series of Federal Reserve rate hikes. And the late-2022 collapse of FTX significantly undermined confidence in crypto overall, with bitcoin falling below $17,000. Investors began returning in large numbers as inflation started to cool — and gains skyrocketed on the anticipation and then early success of spot ETFs. But experts still stress caution, especially for small-pocketed investors. And lighter regulation from the coming Trump administration could mean less guardrails. “I would say, keep it simple. And don’t take on more risk than you can afford to," McCarthy said — adding that there isn't a “magic eight ball” to know for certain what comes next. Assets like bitcoin are produced through a process called “mining,” which consumes a lot of energy. Operations relying on pollutive sources have drawn particular concern over the years. Recent research published by the United Nations University and Earth’s Future journal found that the carbon footprint of 2020-2021 bitcoin mining across 76 nations was equivalent to the emissions from burning 84 billion pounds of coal or running 190 natural gas-fired power plants. Coal satisfied the bulk of bitcoin’s electricity demands (45%), followed by natural gas (21%) and hydropower (16%). Environmental impacts of bitcoin mining boil largely down to the energy source used. Industry analysts have maintained that clean energy has increased in use in recent years, coinciding with rising calls for climate protections
Quest Partners LLC Raises Stock Position in Atkore Inc. (NYSE:ATKR)
True freshman Luke Kromenhoek threw three touchdown passes and Caziah Holmes ran for two more as host Florida State routed Charleston Southern 41-7 on Saturday afternoon in Tallahassee, Fla. The Seminoles (2-9) convincingly snapped a six-game losing streak and ensured that the Buccaneers (1-11) would finish theirs on a 10-game skid. Florida State has not had much to celebrate during one of its worst seasons in program history. But on Saturday, the Seminoles overcame a rough start and put together one of their more complete efforts of the season. Florida State had not scored more than 21 points in a game prior to Saturday's contest and its 175 rushing yards more than doubled its average (80.5 per game) this season. No single runner had over 40 yards, but seven rushers combined for that output on 34 attempts. The Seminoles entered the game ranked 130th out of 133 FBS teams in rushing offense. Holmes, a senior, finished with three carries for 38 yards, including touchdown runs of 3 and 18 yards. Kromenhoek gave Florida State a sliver of hope for its quarterback future as he completed 13 of 20 passes for 209 yards and no interceptions. He threw TD passes for Amaree Williams, Ja'Khi Douglas and Hykeem Williams. The highlight was a 71-yard touchdown pass to Douglas on the first play from scrimmage of the second half to put the Seminoles ahead 24-0. Douglas finished with 82 yards receiving on three catches, and 10 different Florida State players caught passes for 240 total yards. The Seminoles went 6 of 10 on third downs after averaging only a 25 percent conversion rate all season. Their defense held Charleston Southern to 275 total yards (57 rushing) and forced two turnovers. Florida State was unable to hang on to the shutout, however, as Bucs quarterback Kaleb Jackson found Landon Sauers for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 57 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Jackson completed 22 of 32 passes for 218 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Bucs defense recorded three sacks led by Davion Williams, who had eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack. The Seminoles will conclude their season next Saturday at home against rival Florida. --Field Level MediaLegendary Norfolk folk singer still performing after 40 years
The Disconnect Between Friday Khutbas And Current Affairs: Need To Revive The Essence Of The PulpitMikel Arteta admitted the return of captain Martin Odegaard was the spark which reignited Arsenal’s title charge. Stunning strikes from Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey and a first Premier League goal for Ethan Nwaneri sank Nottingham Forest 3-0 and ended the Gunners’ four-match winless streak. Advertisement But it was the performance of Odegaard, on his first appearance at the Emirates since August after a two-month injury absence, which provided the platform for a comprehensive victory. Mikel Arteta knows Odegaard is key to his side (John Walton/PA) Arteta, celebrating his 250th match in charge of the club, said: “We talk about fluidity, understanding, chemistry, timing, he’s one of the best to do that; to manage the tempo of the game, when to slow it down, when to control it. Advertisement “It’s very difficult to do after five or six weeks out. It doesn’t surprise me because I’ve seen him every day, how he looks after himself, how much he wants it, the energy that he puts in and the courage that he has to play in any circumstances. “Obviously, when he’s in the team, you can sense something that is different. It’s difficult to put a finger on it, but it’s different. “Obviously he’s been missed. It’s good that we could sub him because he started to get tired and was fading a bit. Advertisement “Then Ethan comes on and ‘whoop’, it lifts the crowd. You can sense how much the crowd loves watching this kid play and the energy.” Arsenal were already well in charge, through Saka’s fine run and shot and a piledriver from Partey, when Arteta sent on Nwaneri. Advertisement At 17 years and eight months old, he became Arsenal’s second-youngest Premier League goalscorer and the 10th-youngest in Premier League history, when he tucked in a cross from Raheem Sterling. Gunners fans have been clamouring to see more of the exciting youngster, especially during Odegaard’s absence. But Arteta warned: “I am responsible to build a career for him. You have to do that brick by brick. Advertisement Ethan Nwaneri scored his first Premier League goal (John Walton/PA) “Today he put another brick on. Now we have to put more cement, make sure it doesn’t get dry so we can put another one and that will stick. “Then we put one more layer, one more layer. If you want to put five in a row believe me it won’t work. We have to manage not only his expectation but his load as well, which is really important.” Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo left top scorer Chris Wood on the bench for an hour, by which time the game was all but over. “It was not a good performance,” he said. “We came up short in all aspects of the game. We have to put it right immediately. “They killed the game with the second and third goals. It was a tough day for us.”
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Recognizing that affordable and high-quality healthcare remains a pressing concern, the partnership aims to empower private healthcare facilities to deliver these services while indirectly helping patients overcome common barriers, such as expensive medical treatment, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to financing. Such issues were highlighted on November 26 during a workshop that brought together private healthcare providers from across Rwanda. ALSO READ: Equity Bank Rwanda launches new healthcare financing products The discussions focused on raising awareness about those products which are designed to help businesses operate in a conducive environment while delivering high-quality services to their clients. As part of its efforts to relieve financial challenges in the health sector, Equity Bank Rwanda has introduced healthcare financing products with reduced interest rates. According to Jean Havugimana, the Head of SME at Equity Bank Rwanda, most of these loans, now available at an annual interest rate of 16 per cent, are lower than the standard rates, which can reach up to 19 per cent annually. Also, the bank has addressed the issue of collateral, a common hurdle for many healthcare providers. “Most of the newly designed products no longer require collateral, making financing more accessible and inclusive”. “We want to ensure that financing is not a barrier but a solution to the challenges faced by healthcare providers. Our products are designed to meet their specific needs quickly and efficiently,” said Jean Havugimana. ALSO READ: Equity Bank, Pact Rwanda team up to empower small-scale miners Among the key offerings highlighted was the “Tang’ubuzima Loan”, which caters to a broad spectrum of beneficiaries, including private hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, laboratories, healthcare wholesalers, and manufacturers. “Invoice Discount” is another key product according to Havugimana, offered by the bank to assist healthcare providers. Typically, insurance companies take two to three months to pay healthcare providers. With this product, the bank advances funds to healthcare providers while they await payments from insurers. Once the insurers pay, the healthcare providers repay the bank. “This prevents disruptions in operations by ensuring providers have funds to purchase supplies and pay salaries. It’s a highly appreciated product that came at the right time,” said Havugimana. Another product is the “Letter of Credit”, which supports healthcare providers when they need to order expensive medical equipment but lack immediate funds. The bank pays the supplier on their behalf, fostering trust between both parties and ensuring the client receives the equipment with all necessary requirements. “The bank can take on a ‘risk appetite’ of up to 20 per cent. This means if a borrower requests Rwf100,000 and has collateral covering at least 80 per cent of the loan, the bank can approve the full amount requested.” Other products highlighted include “Stock Financing”, which helps businesses refill stock when it runs out, and “Asset Financing”, which enables them to purchase expensive equipment such as MRI machines, dental operation tools, maternity machines, and more. These and other products were presented to participants in the healthcare supply chain. ALSO READ: How Equity Bank is unlocking Rwanda’s agri-export potential However, during the event, participants raised concerns, primarily about high interest rates and the lengthy process of loan approvals. Addressing the issue of delays, Havugimana assured that under this program, loan approvals will now be processed within few days, providing timely support for critical healthcare projects, something that will make improvement from the previous extended timelines. However, he urged them to adopt the use of Point of Sale (POS) systems, where customers make payments for purchases, and the system processes those payments. According to Havugimana, this helps the bank maintain deposits, which in turn allows it to generate funds for lending to others. “Anyone who uses Equity Bank’s POS is eligible for loans ranging from Rwf40 million to Rwf70 million without requiring collateral. This offer applies to everyone, not just healthcare providers. We encourage everyone to adopt this system as it also reduces costs associated with printing new currency notes when needed,” he explained.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank Ntarindwa" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }
A STONE coffin believed to be that of the original 'Santa Claus' has been unearthed by archaeologists. The St Nicholas Church in Demre, Antalya, Turkey, has been an excavation site for researchers since 1989. 5 A limestone sarcophagus is uncovered during excavations at a church in Demre district of Antalya, Turkey Credit: Getty 5 The sarcophagus could belong to Saint Nicholas - the inspiration for the figures of both Santa Clause and Sinterklaas Credit: Getty 5 A 13th-century depiction of Saint Nicholas from Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, Egypt Credit: Credit: Pen News It is believed to be the final resting place of the Christian bishop Saint Nicholas of Myra (now known as Demre) who died in 343 AD. The Greek bishop was the inspiration for the figures of both Santa Clause and Sinterklaas. He was a devoted Christian dedicated to helping those in need and he even spent his inheritance on the cause. Saint Nick was particularly known for his secret gift-giving and gained a reputation for leaving coins in people’s shoes. read more on saint nicholas WONDERWORKER Who was Saint Nicholas, when did he die and how's St Nicholas Day celebrated? HO HO WHO? Meet the REAL Santa as scientists rebuild face of Saint Nick after 1,700yrs Now, archaeologists exploring the church's two-story annexe have located a limestone sarcophagus that could belong to Saint Nicholas. The five-foot deep and six-foot-long coffin with a raised lid was located at the burial site of the seventh-century church in the dig led by Associate Professor Ebru Fatma Findik from Hatay Mustafa Kemal University. Researchers who are taking part in the "Legacy for the Future Project" at the site revealed that the stone coffin was about six feet underground. They only realised they were working on a burial site when the researchers started finding animal bones and parts of clay lamps, Findik explained to Turkiye Today . Most read in Tech HORROR BLAZE Huge fire erupts at Scots industrial estate as emergency crews race to scene FERRY WINDY Ferry stranded amid Storm Darragh as passengers stuck on ship for 12 hours BLAST HORROR At least 2 dead after explosion at block of flats as cops hunt 'speeding car' CRASH HORROR Tragedy as boy, 4, dies after being hit by bus in town high street The saint who died in the fourth century was buried at the site of his church and hundreds of years later, at the request of Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II, a grand church was built in his honour at the same site. His remains were moved into a sarcophagus which was buried at the new church. Danish archaeologists unearth 50 Viking skeletons But, it is not yet guaranteed that the stone coffin belongs to the devout Christian saint celebrated every December. The location of the Bishop's tomb has long been under speculation but the coffin being found so close to the church has given researchers hope. "Some sources suggest that St. Nicholas was buried near the sacred area of the city of Myra," Findik explained. "The fact that we have found a sarcophagus near the church, which is thought to house his tomb, may indicate that this is indeed the sacred area we have been searching for." "This is a significant archaeological confirmation of historical sources regarding the burial place of St. Nicholas," Findik added. In 1087, some bones were taken from his sarcophagus by Italian thieves from Bari who took them back to their hometown. Sailors from Venice later took the remaining bones during the First Crusade. In 1953, researchers confirmed that both sets of bones found in Bari and in Venice were from the same person, but it is not known if it is Saint Nicholas, according to Heritage Daily. Only the lid has so far been fully unearthed, with only a tiny section of the burial chamber currently visible as researchers hope to soon find a big clue as to its contents. "Our biggest hope is to find an inscription on the sarcophagus," Findik said. 5 The five-foot deep and six-foot-long coffin has a raised lid Credit: Getty 5 Archaeologists discovered it when exploring the church's two-story annexe Credit: Getty "This would help clarify the burial contents and allow us to determine the exact period it dates to." The lead researcher said that further details about the sarcophagus are expected over the next few months. Another group of researchers have managed to rebuild the face of Saint Nicholas after 1,700 years. To create the face, Cicero Moraes and his team used data collected in the 1950s by Luigi Martino, with permission from the Centro Studi Nicolaiani. He said: “We initially reconstructed the skull in 3D using this data. “We then traced the profile of the face using statistical projections. “We supplemented this with the anatomical deformation technique, in which the tomography of a living person's head is adjusted so that the virtual donor's skull matches that of the saint. Read more on the Scottish Sun FERRY WINDY Ferry stranded amid Storm Darragh as passengers stuck on ship for 12 hours HORROR BLAZE Huge fire erupts at Scots industrial estate as emergency crews race to scene “The final face is an interpolation of all this information, seeking anatomical and statistical coherence.” The result is two sets of images: one objective in greyscale, and one more artistic – adding features like a beard and clothes, inspired by the iconography of Saint Nicholas. The legend of Saint Nicholas SAINT Nicholas, the historical figure who inspired the modern-day Santa Claus, is a beloved saint in Christian tradition. He was a 4th-century bishop of Myra (modern-day Demre in Turkey) and is known for his generosity, miracles, and compassionate spirit. Saint Nicholas was born around 270 AD in the Roman province of Lycia, in the town of Patara (present-day Turkey). Raised in a wealthy Christian family, he lost his parents at a young age and inherited a substantial fortune. Rather than keeping the wealth for himself, Nicholas dedicated his life to serving others, living out his faith through acts of charity. Several stories about Saint Nicholas emphasise his generosity and miraculous deeds. Some of the most well-known include: The Dowries for the Three Sisters : A poor man in Myra had three daughters but could not afford dowries for them, leaving them at risk of being sold into slavery or forced into lives of destitution. According to legend, Saint Nicholas secretly provided dowries by throwing bags of gold through their window at night. Some versions of the story say he dropped the gold down the chimney, where it landed in stockings hanging by the fire to dry—a detail that inspired the Christmas stocking tradition. Saving sailors at sea : Saint Nicholas is also revered as the patron saint of sailors. One legend recounts that he calmed a fierce storm while on a voyage, saving the ship and its crew through his prayers. This story spread widely among seafarers, and they began to invoke his protection during their journeys. The resurrected children: Another famous tale tells of Saint Nicholas resurrecting three children who had been murdered by a butcher during a famine. In this story, the children had been dismembered and hidden in barrels, but Saint Nicholas miraculously restored them to life. This narrative contributed to his reputation as a protector of children. Saint Nicholas was known for his habit of secretly leaving gifts for the poor.His generosity earned him widespread admiration, and he became a symbol of selfless giving. After his death on December 6 (the year is uncertain but believed to be between 343–352 AD), Saint Nicholas's feast day became widely celebrated in Europe. Over the centuries, his legend grew, blending with local customs.In the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas became known as Sinterklaas, a figure celebrated on December 5 or 6. Dutch settlers brought the tradition of Sinterklaas to America, where it evolved into the modern Santa Claus, further shaped by cultural influences such as Clement Clarke Moore’s poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and Coca-Cola’s iconic 20th-century advertisements. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of numerous groups, including children, sailors, merchants, the innocent, and the wrongfully accused. Icons of Saint Nicholas often depict him as a bishop holding a staff, with gold coins, children, or ships symbolising his miracles and patronage.
Ransomware attack on software supplier disrupts operations for Starbucks and other retailersThe stars of the latest screen-to-stage adaptation open up to PEOPLE about bringing the Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn film to life again Bruce Glikas/Getty . . . And now, . The two actresses have officially cemented their names among the pantheon of legendary comedic Broadway duos with their performances in , the hilarious new musical which opened to rave reviews on Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York City. Based on the 1992 Robert Zemeckis dark comedy starring and , the stage show follows longtime frienemies Madeline Ashton (Hilty) and Helen Sharp (Simard), whose bitter feud gets deadly when the two take a mysterious potion that gives them eternal youth and beauty. Joining them is Destiny's Child icon , in her first original Broadway role, and Tony nominee as Ernest, Madeline's husband (and Helen's former fiancé). Tony Award-winner Christopher Gattelli directs and choreographs the musical, which features a score from the songwriting team of Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, and a book by Marco Pennette. Related: Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman Ahead of opening night, PEOPLE caught up with Hilty and Simard to discuss their roles, their friendship and how they've found deeper meaning in the musical's themes. People throw around the term "dream come true" a lot. I've been known to do that myself, and not that I didn't mean it before, but I really, really mean it with this job because it really has been so satisfying. The script is genius. The songs are incredible. The costumes are stunning. There's just a magic to it where you can feel how uniquely special it is. It's almost hard to stay in your body when you think about it, because it can feel like it's happening to another person. I find myself every day going, "When's the other shoe going to drop? This is too good to be true." For me, to have this opportunity as two women is really thrilling professionally, personally, especially in the macrocosm of theater. It's almost as if we're . I hope it's the start of long, long collaboration. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman Related: It can be incredibly daunting at first, especially when you frame it like, "Who do I think I am, taking on a role that the greatest actress of all time made iconic? How dare you!" I don't think either of us were like, "Yeah, that's right. We deserve this!" [Laughs] We're far too humbled by this industry to feel that way. But at the same time, I think both of us are just such huge fans of their work and of the movie, we feel lucky to be doing this. Exactly. I love both Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn so much, watched all their movies as a kid, and it's truly an honor and a privilege to be chosen to be one half of that equation. And like I've said many, many times, I couldn't ask for a better partner in Megan. I feel the same about Jennifer. I get to be opposite one of the greatest actresses of our time. [Looks around] That's you, lady! I'm talking about you! I understand that Meryl and Goldie were good friends when they filmed this, and that's very important to me. I told Megan, "You will be my friend. You have no choice. You're going to like me or else. You're going to be stuck with me." And it's just been really lovely to play with her on stage. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman You definitely look at it and say, "What are the things that I can pay homage to and what are the things that I can give an essence of?" It's that fine line. It's very good for any actor who's faced with something like this, or in general, to remember that you have nothing to prove; you only have something to share. And what you're going to share is yourself and pieces of yourself. We're also not here to mimic their performance. Nobody can, nor should they. Right, this isn't . And to those who come after Megan and I, they shouldn't imitate us. Everyone has something special and unique about them, and that informs the character and makes it special and unique to you. I like the word "exaggerated" because it is a theatrical experience, it's not a film. And so we're not recreating the film, but we also have a mandate to make it theatrical. Hopefully we do it in a way that even when it's the most exaggerated with broad brush strokes, it still resonates as being honest. I always says, this is the same story told through the lens of, "What would happen if they were singing and dancing while they were trying to kill each other?" Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman Comedy is so deceptively difficult. It's equal parts math and magic. There's a rhythm and a timing and a certain something that you can't really describe in words. And I don't think people really understand how difficult it is, because when it's working, you shouldn't feel the work at all. You know that moment in where Jeff Goldblum has the water on his hand and the water goes this way, and the next time it could go this way? Well, to Megan's point about math, boy, it infuriates me on the stage when, if the science is not right or the math is not right, then the joke doesn't work. So it really is that specific. I feel blessed to have a partner in Jennifer. We have a really special understanding of that math and magic. And like she said, it really takes partners who are listening to each other. It was easy to find the comedy with Megan because we just listen to one another. We talk with our eyes on stage and we're very, in my opinion, extremely generous with one another. It was super fun to figure it all out at first. And we can't give away the secrets, but the magic and illusions are quite active for us both. But the real job is in the maintenance of it and that's something people won't really understand. We're working hard behind the scenes to make it happen! Megan is charged with having to do incredible work in that regard, in my opinion. It's really thrilling and we have to treat ourselves like athletes. I mean, Megan and I do so much to stay healthy, fit and ready for service. If there is a stock in Epsom salts, buy now. Because wow, we are going to be using a lot of it during the course of the show. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman Absolutely. And can you believe this is their first Broadway credit? I keep saying, we're very lucky to be in their first musical before they're too famous to speak to us anymore! I think every interview I've done, and this is no exception, I've said the thing that I'm most excited about in this show is how it's going to change our composer and lyricist's lives. They're that good. I'm blown away, not only by what they've created but how they've change it along the way to meet the ever-shifting needs of the show. They're so smart and so adaptive. And how thrilling to hear them write in all of these different voices, too, and to create a score with levels.'SIMARD: Universal did take a chance on them. It's a true testament of meritocracy in action. They called for submissions and Julia and Noel submitted the best material, and they got it. And I love that. This is their first big thing and it's going to be the first of many. I'm blown away, not only by what they've created but how they've change it along the way to meet the ever-shifting needs of the show. They're so smart and so adaptive. And how thrilling to hear them write in all of these different voices, too, and to create a score with levels. [Sarcastically] Nahhh. [Dryly] Pass. [Dismissively] Next question! [Laugh] No, Chris is truly the best. He plays the role Bruce Willis made famous on screen and it's wild how much he feels like Bruce up there. He really does. We actually watched him on stage yesterday — he didn't know we were watching him just sort something out — and he was so focused and we were just, "Look at him go!" He's just so lovely and kind and such a sweet man, which comes across in his Ernest. I can't wait for people to see him try to navigate us two crazies, because so much of his job in this show is listening and reacting. And handing us shovels. He's very good at handling us shovels. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman Related: Pressures? What pressures? I don't feel any of those pressures at all. I don't know what you're talking about. I'm so obsessed with you. [Laughs] No, as a deeply vain person — and one who has been that way since she was a teenager — it's something that I've struggled with for decades. I think, unfortunately, people make a lot of money off of women hating themselves. And so it's kind of ingrained in our brains and our bodies to constantly want to do more to make ourselves desirable. Especially in this industry. It's really, really difficult to separate yourself from that. I agree and , and sort of the dark places that disease [anorexia] took me to. It's something many of us have to face every day. I don't think there's a person out there who doesn't understand the pressure of looking their best. I identify deeply with Madeline. She's a woman of a certain age in an industry that is brutal to women. How dare any of us get older! I don't know how many times, I've heard, "Boy, she's really let herself go." And conversely, "Ooh, she's had too much work done." There's no winning. None at all. We, the collective "we," are in a lose-lose situation. But at the same time, the best comedy is rooted and pain. And I think we're both able to really laugh at it through the course of this show. Completely. That's why I'm really, really thrilled to get to tell this story. While it is really funny, it's funny because it's based in honest truth. And it asks that question: How far are we willing to go to meet these horribly unrealistic standards of beauty and perfection? Franz Szony Related: In a way. I've gotten to a place where, as far as I'm concerned, everyone should do what makes them feel their best. If you can look at yourself in the mirror and say, "I love that person" — no matter what you look like, no matter what you've done to yourself or not done? That's a win, right there. What matters is how you feel. It doesn't matter what anyone else says, it's no one's business. I love that answer. And I agree — you know, I have this song in the show called "Falling Apart," and I love it so much because she's listing all of the ways she's tortured herself in an effort to stay relevant and it's still not enough. She still feels cast aside and worthless. And I think it's helped me realize just how ridiculous this all is. It really is. You have to just live for you. I mean, I've already said it but I'm not going to live this whole year of my life without having a cheeseburger or a slice of pizza. Amen to that. The other night I had two slices of pizza and I texted Megan, "I'll be taking no further questions at this time." . . . But listen, I laugh but it's true. I'm not going to make myself crazy to be something that I'm not. And I want to own every curve of my body. I think they're beautiful and if other people don't, who cares? I feel that about the lines in my face, too. I'm no stranger to treatments. I've been doing Botox since my mid-twenties, just little bits to make sure nothing sets in. And there was a point last year where I was like, "I think I'm just going to let it go for a while." Because, first of all, I need my face to move for the show. And second of all, I wanted to take more control over this. For so long, I fed into this game. And who knows, maybe I'll go back one day — don't hold me to it. But at least for now, I'm allowing myself to let go a bit. One of the things I feel by the end of the show is that there's all kinds of different beauty and beauty standards. And I really like appealing to women of all shapes and sizes. That's what I hope we succeed at at the end of the day. That's more valuable than any laugh, or any applause; knowing that we're helping women see their beauty no matter what. are now on sale.LA Galaxy win record 6th MLS Cup