Author Archives: dannyashkenasi

About dannyashkenasi

I'm a composer with over 30 years experience creating music theater. I'm also an actor, writer, director, producer, teacher and general enthusiast for the arts.

TELL TALE OMENS

Posted on October 14, 2018

  What is this about? Have I decided to add cartoonist to my jack-of-the-arts-box?     No.  I am quite aware that my drawing skills are more on the feeble side. These sketches are for practical reasons, which however are … Continue reading →

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Sensual Statues of the Musée D’Orsay

Posted on October 5, 2018

Tensions of the world making you anxious? Here is much soothing, sculptural sensuality but also some less comforting, chiseled objectification Continuing my fascination with sensual statuary in Paris, the greatest concentration of such aesthetically, artistically, and, let’s admit it, amorously … Continue reading →

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WITCHES IN HOUSTON

Posted on September 30, 2018

UPDATE:  Lone Star Lyric has postponed their production of “Witches” to June, 2019 However, my Nov 3 talk at the Round Top Theater Forum will include numerous performed excerpts -songs and scenes – from the musical. —— Looking for something … Continue reading →

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What Makes Us ANXIOUS – What Gives Us HOPE

Posted on September 23, 2018

I want to have a happier marriage Love wins My Trump voting relatives I am tougher than dirt   Currently at the Rubin Museum in New York City, there is an exhibit curated by the public’s hopes and fears. One … Continue reading →

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Sensual Statues in the Streets of Paris

Posted on September 19, 2018

Nude statues are all over Paris. I don’t know if statistically there are more nude statues there than in other European cultural capitals, or if the nude statues of Paris are particularly more sensual than elsewhere, or if it is … Continue reading →

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AH, PARIS!

Posted on September 13, 2018

The EIFFEL TOWER, as seen from many different Paris neighborhoods, constitutes the official kick off to a whole lot of Paris infused blog posts (even if it is actually the third of such blog posts – I’ll just call those first … Continue reading →

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TELL TALE SIGN…

Posted on September 8, 2018

  Something’s coming…   Something murderous, mad, musical…   A pale blue eye…   Cellos signing;  moaning;  screaming…   His hideous heart…   It’s all returning…   But not the way it was…   It will take on a whole … Continue reading →

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MONA LISA & ME

Posted on September 5, 2018

Yep that’s me.  And that’s the Mona Lisa.  And this is a little tale of how I spent some time with her. It starts with a trip to Paris.  And a whole day set aside for the Louvre, the immense … Continue reading →

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ISADORA DUNCAN and the View from Pompidou

Posted on August 29, 2018

A pioneer of modern dance.  A preserved treasure of early film. Ed and I are spending two weeks in Paris (don’t feel sorry for me) and Monday we went to the Pompidou museum, where this little treasure of dance and … Continue reading →

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HAPPY SONGS FOR DARK TIMES #2: Miss Marple, Tatu, and the Chipper Harpsichord

Posted on August 22, 2018

Theme from Miss Marple – Ron Goodwin and his Orchestra A while back I promised there would be a series of Happy Tunes for Dark Times to highlight what I consider sure fire musical mood boosters. What with ever escalation Twitter … Continue reading →

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FALLING INTO JACKSON POLLOCK

Posted on August 15, 2018

This Sunday I was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and found myself in front of their monumental Jackson Pollock “Autumn Rhythm (Number 30)”.  And once again I had that hallucinogenic experience I often have in front of Jackson Pollock’s … Continue reading →

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FACES. REFLECTIONS. REFRACTIONS.

Posted on August 10, 2018

Some more expected and unexpected impressions at the Brooklyn Museum   First, encounters with some singular faces. It’s hot and humid out, but she is eternally the embodiment of frigid winter.        

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WIZARDS AT THE LYRIC

Posted on July 31, 2018

My birthday present – my quite extravagant birthday present to myself – was tickets to the two-part all day performance of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” at the Lyric Theatre in New York.  And since today is Harry Potter’s … Continue reading →

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THEY KILLED MERYL! – but she still left us one or two musical gems

Posted on July 24, 2018

When the first trailers for “Mamma Mia – Here We Go Again” arrived, the absence of Meryl Streep was conspicuous.  As were certain lines that hinted at her character Donna Sheridan’s absence in the “Mamma Mia” movie sequel.  Her likely … Continue reading →

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BEFORE THE SUNSET – with the Sun Song Quiz

Posted on July 21, 2018

The lady saw me walk onto the middle of the street with my phone out, and said to Ed “he’s taking a picture of the sunset” in that universal “that’s so sweet” tone of voice. Except it wasn’t quite the … Continue reading →

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MAMA MIA – Here We Sing Along Again

Posted on July 17, 2018

Escapism for the New Great Depression I slid the “Mamma Mia” disk into the blu-ray player.  I asked Ed whether it we should activate the sing-along function this time?  Ed hesitated, then demurred.  But I knew he wanted it.  So … Continue reading →

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