CAROUSEL==>A+

Thursday==>Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, Wednesday was a simply REMARKABLE day for your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, starting with, of course, the great results from my annual physical exam with my heart doctor, Fred Feuerbach, which I posted about yesterday afternoon after getting back.

And, yes, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting I have to admit that Billi Pod did, in fact, take a short nap after yesterday's posting. Hey ... don't judge me. 

Well ... anyway ... for the evening was one of the best-ever concerts by the NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA - “CAROUSEL”==>A+

Everything about this fully staged production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic was topnotch and I, as did my seat-mates, sat there in complete awe for the entire evening.

The onstage chemistry between the lead characters, Kelli O’Hara as Julie Jordan, Nathan Gunn as the doomed Billy Bigelow, Stephanie Blythe as Nettie Fowler, Jessie Mueller as Carrie Pipperidge, and Jason Danieley as Enoch Snow, was apparent.

The second act ballet scene, with Tiler Peck and Robert Fairchild, got a well-deserved and earned roaring ovation. 

Yes, the staging, acting, singing and dancing was wonderful and all of this was brought together by the beautiful Rodgers and Hammerstein score played to perfection by the 70+ piece New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers I left Lincoln Center with a huge smile on my face.

There are only 4 more performances, so my Tri-state readers and followers, go online and get a ticket ASAP because the chatboard buzz this morning is uniformly extremely positive and I have a feeling that the rest of the run will be close to selling out already.

Moving on ...

Had a matinee scheduled for today, something rather unusual for a Thursday. It was an Off Broadway show called HIT THE WALL playing downtown at the Barrow Street Theatre in The West Village. The ticket service had advised that the show was going to be taped.

Well, for whatever reason the show was canceled last night, meaning ... as of noon today Billi Pod’s evening is open. OMFG!!

OK ... OK ... don’t panic out there in the wastelands, hinterlands and boondocks ... I am considering several alternatives on my respective ticket services and ... maybe it is finally time to see the award-winning movie LIFE OF PI. 

Or ... maybe Billi Pod might be in the need of a night-off because he has already scheduled three consecutive doubleheaders for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. What do you think?

And while you are thinking ... you know ... I have made references several times recently to the possibility (remember the operative word is POSSIBILITY) of eventually leaving The Big Apple and returning to Florida. Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, this is Billi Pod's upcoming entertainment schedule for the next 10 days/nights, already booked ...

Thursday - open at the moment 

Friday - 4:00==>DISTANT THUNDER (Off Broadway - reading);

8:00==>HOLLYWOOD PINAFORE @ The York Theatre (Off Broadway - Musical’s In Mufti Series)

Saturday - 2:00==>HIT THE WALL (Off Broadway - make up for canceled show);

8:00==>WELL-STRUNG: The Singing String Quartet (concert)

Sunday - 3:00==>MUSICAL OLYMPUS FESTIVAL CONCERT @ Carnegie Hall (concert);

7:00==>NEVA (Off Broadway)

Monday - 7:30==OUR TOWN (Off Broadway - Actor’s Fund Staged Reading)

Tuesday - 8:00==>ORATORIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK @ Carnegie Hall (concert)

Wednesday - 7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall (concert)

Thursday - 8:00==>SUCCESS STORY (Off Broadway)

Friday - 8:00==>VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE (Broadway)

Saturday (March 9) - 3:00==>LOUD SPEAKER (Off Broadway);

7:30==>AMERICAN SHOWSTOPPERS: An Evening with Jule Styne (concert)

That is: 1 Broadway show; 7 Off Broadway shows; and 5 concerts, in 10 days/nights.

Yeah, I know==>how could I possibly even consider leaving this behind while I am still physically and mentally sound? How?

Anyway ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.31 miles (or, 11,607 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>1,185.32 miles

GO GATORS AND GO YANKEES!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”