Billi Pod’s Tony Predictions

The 2011-2012 season chalked up a record $1.139 billion in ticket sales to 12.33 million theatergoers, a banner year, so let’s get right to tonight’s ceremony that starts at 8:00pm on CBS, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.

These are Billi Pod’s predictions in what he considers to be the major categories --

Best Play

Clybourne Park

Other Desert Cities

Peter and the Starcatcher

Venus in Fur

Will Win: Clybourne Park

Billi Pod Wants To Win: Peter and the Starcatcher

Best Musical

Leap of Faith

Newsies

Nice Work if You Can Get It

Once

Will Win: Once

Billi Pod Wants To Win: Newsies

Best Revival of a Play

Death of a Salesman

The Best Man

Master Class

Wit

Will Win: Death of a Salesman

Billi Pod Wants To Win: Death of a Salesman

Best Revival of a Musical

Follies

Porgy and Bess

Jesus Christ Superstar

Will Win: Follies

Billi Pod Wants To Win: Jesus Christ Superstar

Best Book of a Musical

Lysistrata Jones

Newsies

Nice Work If You Can Get It

Once

Will Win: Once

Billi Pod Wants To Win: Newsies

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Bonnie & Clyde

Newsies

One Man, Two Guvnors

Peter and the Starcatcher

Will Win: Newsies

Billi Pod Wants To Win: Newsies

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

James Corden, One Man, Two Guvnors

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Death of a Salesman

James Earl Jones, The Best Man

Frank Longella, Man and Boy

John Lithgow, The Columnist

Will Win: Philip Seymour Hoffman

Billi Pod Wants To Win: James Corden

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Nina Arianda, Venus in Fur

Tracie Bennett, End of the Rainbow

Stockard Channing, Other Desert Cities

Linda Lavin, The Lyons

Cynthia Nixon, Wit

Will Win: Linda Lavin

Billi Pod Wants To Win: Stockard Channing

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Danny Burstein, Follies

Jeremy Jordan, Newsies

Steve Kazee, Once

Norm Lewis, Porgy and Bess

Ron Raines, Follies

Will Win: Steve Kazee

Billi Pod Wants To Win: Jeremy Jordan

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Jan Maxwell, Follies

Audra McDonald, Porgy and Bess

Cristin Milioti, Once

Kelli O'Hara, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Laura Osnes, Bonnie & Clyde

Will Win: Jan Maxwell

Billi Pod Wants To Win: I really don't care

So there you have it my loyal and faithful readers. Enjoy the show tonight.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

BILLI POD HAS A TRIPLEHEADER!!

Good morning everyone out there in the hinterlands, boondocks and wastelands. I hope you all are having a great weekend because Billi Pod certainly is. Yes ... yesterday was an incredible day ... it was a tripleheader. 

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers, Billi Pod had a tripleheader that began with an afternoon show at a theater at 76th and Broadway in the Upper Westside ...

THE BAD GUYS, about five childhood buddies who reunite on a late summer afternoon, only to experience the ghosts of hidden pasts and unforeseen futures==>A-.

The story line has way too many twists and turns to be totally believable but the outstanding cast makes it a fast moving and engrossing 90 minutes.

In the remarkable cast is Raviv Ullman, who blew me away earlier in the season in RUSSIAN TRANSPORT.

Billi Pod Says==>See It!!

Oh ... another plus was running into my FaceBook friend Will MacAdam who was ushering. We did some chatting and updating.

When the show was over I walked down to the AMC Theater at Broadway and 68th for the second part of the tripleheader, which was the recently released movie ... 

MOONRISE KINGDOM - “In Wes Anderson’s charming romantic drama, two lonely 12yr-olds living on an isolated island fall in love and run away. The cynical adults in their lives (Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Edward Norton and Francis McDormand) will either be their downfall or their salvation.”

This movie received almost universal rave reviews when it opened several weeks ago in a limited number of theaters. It has now been released for general distribution so when it shows up in your area this is a must see, trust me on this ... it is.

The cinematography is incredible and all of the actors are terrific. The running time is 1:35.

When the movie was over I had plenty of time to leisurely walk down to Columbus Circle to the Jazz at Lincoln Center complex for the third part of my tripleheader, which was ...

THE GREENVILLE WAVAIRES, the multi-award winning High School group from Greenville, Ohio==>A.

OMG!! This 25-member chorus gave an outstanding 90 minute performance of singing and dancing at a level that makes you quickly forget they are all just teenagers. OMG!!

Folks, it was non-stop action and the choreography was incredible. The energy level of this mega-talented ensemble spilled over into the full-house audience. Virtually everyone was transfixed by what was happening in front of us.

This was my first event at The Allen Room, which overlooks Central Park, and the view and scene is awesome and that added to the magic of this show.  

My friends Michael Pederson and Dennis Dohman were also in attendance and they, too, enjoyed the show about as much as I did.

Bottomline==>I am soooooo glad I booked this event.

When the show was over I left the complex with a huge smile on my face and then walked back to the apartment (a mile) while listening to the YANKEES/METS game on my trusty but now aged Walkman.

I made it back to PHC in time to watch the final two innings on the tube and as most of you loyal and faithful readers know ...

The Yankees won 4-2 on a sterling performance from Phil Hughes and homers from Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson.

Yes, this was the topping for my unbelievably awesome entertainment tripleheader.

When I finally crashed at the usual 2:00am I have to admit that Billi Pod was tired and a bit emotionally drained from this awesome day in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

What about today, you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well ... it will go down like this ...

1:05==>YANKEES/METS @ Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, with Andy Pettitte on the mound for The Bronx Bombers, going for the sweep against those woeful Mets. The weather is supposed to be awesome.

Then for this evening Billi Pod will stay in to watch ...

8:00==>ANNUAL TONY AWARDS CEREMONY, live from The Beacon Theatre in New York City, on CBS. The Host for the evening is Neil Patrick Harris.

When I get back from the ballgame I will post my Tony predictions, I promise.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

The Bombers Kicked Butt!!

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers, it was a wonderful night at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, as The Yankees kicked butt, winning 9-1, behind the long-ball and a stellar performance from Hiroki Kuroda. 

Kuroda gave up only one hit and zero runs in 7 innings. He had to leave the game when he was hit in the foot by a line-drive.

Johan Santana just didn’t have it. In the 3rd inning he gave up back-to-back-to-back home runs to Cano, Swisher and Jones and that pretty much sealed his fate.

These are the headlines in today's newspapers that basically tell the whole story of the game ...

“YANKED AROUND. Johan goes from No-No to Oh-No!” - front page of NY Post

“OH, NO-HAN! In first start since no-no, Santana shelled in Bronx.” - backpage of The Daily News

“From a No-Hitter to No Mercy for Santana.” - front page of the sports section of the NY Times

Game number two is tonight at 7:05pm with Phil Hughes (5-5) on the mound for the Bombers vs. the Mets Dillon Gee (4-3).

Billi Pod wishes he could be there tonight but it wasn't part of his 41-game package and he didn't want to pay scalper prices for a ticket. He will be at Sunday's afternoon game.

Today, being a Saturday, it is another entertainment doubleheader for Billi Pod, beginning with ...

2:00==>THE BAD GUYS - “Five childhood buddies reunite on a late summer afternoon for some beer, grilling and weed, but deep within their friendship lurk ghosts that rock the patio beneath them - it is the story of a generation at war with itself over what it means to ‘man up.’” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This one-act comedy-drama got an excellent review from the NY Times and I am looking forward to seeing it.

It is playing at a theater at Broadway and 76th Street in the Upper Westside and has a running time of 80 minutes. My second show is in the Columbus Circle area so in all likelihood I will spend the time between shows walking and wandering, including Central Park, weather permitting, of course.

I may even try to catch a movie if I can find something that fits my time schedule.

The second entertainment event is ...

7:30==>THE GREENVILLE WAVAIRES - “This multi-award winning High School group from Greenville, Ohio, brings its diverse musical repertoire to the Allen Room @ Jazz at Lincoln Center.” (complimentary ticket).

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting I have to admit that when I booked this event about two weeks ago I didn’t realize that it was a High School group. Oh well ... we will see ... I did learn that they are the youngest group ever asked to perform at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

I hope everyone out there in the boondocks, hinterlands and wilderness is having a great weekend.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

Yes, Even Billi Pod Screws Up.

To all of my loyal and faithful readers==>TGIF!!

First ... I want to start this posting on a very positive note with a posting that I took from my FaceBook friend Barbara Humston Periman ...

“EXPLANATION OF LIFE: For the first twenty five years, we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. 

For the next forty years, we slave in the sun to support our family. 

For the next ten years, we do all kinds of tricks to entertain the grandchildren.

And for the last ten years, we retire to a rocking chair so we can growl and say anything we want to say.”

Sounds about right to me.

Spoiler alert==>from this point on it is a downhill journey ... so let’s get right at it ...

Yesterday afternoon was pretty much ideal walking and wandering weather and this is what Billi Pod did ... he walked and wandered in and around the Chelsea area for several hours. It felt really good.

He was back in PHC around 4:30 and it was time for a shower, the usual fruit and cheese plate and then head out to his evening’s entertainment event, a NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC concert @ Avery Fisher Hall, part of his season subscription series.

As he was checking his email, a dark black wave appeared from out of nowhere and Billi Pod was immediately immersed in a desire to stay in and watch the final game of the YANKEES/RAYS series in what would, no doubt, be a nail-biting pitcher’s duel between our ace CC Sabathia and their ace David Price.

WTF was happening? Billi Pod became zombie-like, really, he did. As the drool began oozing out of his mouth he went to the NY Phil website and in less than 5 minutes had exchanged his ticket for the night's concert for another concert on June 14th. Yes ... he was able to take advantage of one of the premiere benefits of being a season subscriber.

Oh Yes ... it was done and the zombie-like state disappeared and all was well in Billi Pod's world ... except ...

When he turned on the TV at 6:30 for the pre-game show he discovered that there was a rain delay and the tarp was on the field. OMFG! This can’t be happening, he thought ... 

Luckily ... the storm moved through The Bronx rather quickly and the game started only about 30 minutes late. Whew ...

Well, my loyal and faithful readers, that was the last good thing that happened for the next agonizing 3 hours and 30 minutes because the Yankees sucked, losing 7-3. CC just didn’t have it and Price did.

The embarrassing loss was aided and abetted by Alex Rodriguez, who made a critical throwing error in the 3rd inning and then struck out swinging with the bases loaded (what else??) in the 5th inning.

Man ... what is it with him? He seems to be deliberately giving less than 100% in the field and at bat. When he struck out he was given a roaring Bronx Cheer from the crowd. He more than earned it.

Anyway ... it wasn’t a pleasant evening for Billi Pod in any way, shape, manner or form and he acknowledges, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting, that he made a HUGE MISTAKE in rashly changing his entertainment plans at the last minute.

Moving on ... well ... I guess it is moving on ... because tonight’s entertainment event for Billi Pod will be ... tada ...

7:05==>YANKEES/METS, the first of the 3 game Subway Series at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built.

Hiroki Kuroda will be on the mound for the Yankees vs. Johan Santana (coming off of his no-hitter) for the Mets. The weather is supposed to be good, in the mid-70s.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

Another Terrific Entertainment Doubleheader!!

Yesterday’s entertainment doubleheader was terrific in all aspects ... so let’s get right to it ...

My third visit to JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, the revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s dramatized rock-opera version of the last 7 days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, receives the same A as Billi Pod gave it the first time he saw it on March 5th and then again on March 14th.

The cast still exudes energy and the performers are all excellent. When I saw the show the first two times I commented that the weak link in the cast was Chilina Kennedy’s Mary Magdalene. Well, I am pleased to report that she has greatly improved and now gives a very riveting performance.

Yes, I am totally aware of the continuing negative buzz about this show but I found the afternoon to be very enjoyable and entertaining.

Remember folks, this is a rock-opera written when Sir Andrew was only 21 years old, it ain’t and never will be a “Broadway-classic” but ... and a big butt ...... it was never intended to be ... it is what it is ...

So ... if you like rock music, an energetic cast of basically young performers and provocative staging ... then see this show ... if not ... then stay the Hell away, so sayeth Billi Pod.

Another positive aspect of the afternoon was the opportunity to meet up with my theater-buddy Marty Kosarik and do a bit of catching-up.

When the show was over I came back to the apartment, had my usual fruit and cheese plate, dressed warmly and then headed out to Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, for the second half of my entertainment doubleheader.

When I arrived at 161st Street in The Bronx the weather was really gloomy looking and it was very windy. Just as the game got underway it began to lightly mist but, luckily, it went away and the weather wasn’t a factor for the rest of the game, although it was chilly. 

I am still so happy with my new seat assignment, which is, as you loyal and faithful readers know, under an overhang ... meaning ... I am totally protected from bad weather.

Now about the game==>The Yankees won 4-1 with a terrific performance from Ivan Nova who went 8 innings, giving up only 1 run on 4 hits. It was actually a nail-biting pitchers duel until the Yankees broke the game open in the bottom of the 8th inning with 2 “insurance” runs.

With this win The Yankees are now in sole possession of second place in the highly competitive AL East, 1/2 game behind The Orioles, who are beginning to unravel (as expected).

Tonight will be a classic lefty pitcher’s duel with our ace CC Sabathia (7-2) against The Ray’s ace David Price (7-3).

When I got back to PHC around 10:45pm I was almost overcome with the positive feelings from such a great day/night in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World==>I AM SO F**KING LUCKY!!

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for this evening is ...

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall - The program is: Bach - Violin Concerto in A minor; Mozart - Violin Concerto No. 3; Mozart - Symphony No. 39; and Stravinsky - Concerto in D. (subscription series)

Yes, Billi Pod is definitely in need of a classical music fix.

It is a beautiful day and I intend to spend the afternoon walking and wandering ... so ...

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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