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.

What we are doing with our Coronavirus Relief Money

Posted on May 1, 2020

  Ed and I will be donating our Coronavirus relief money to “Church and State”.   Ed to “Church”, meaning his Quaker Meeting.   Me to “State”, meaning the baker’s dozen of senate races where Democrats have a good to … Continue reading →

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CLASS 1-3’s FIRST GRADE OPERA – involving a magic carpet and a family transformed into chameleons

Posted on April 29, 2020

    NYC’s schools closed due to the COVID 19 pandemic the week the three first grade classes at the Brooklyn Children’s School were scheduled to perform their operas, which the children had written and composed themselves.  I still held … Continue reading →

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CLASS 1-2’s FIRST GRADE OPERA – of the moon and the earth and a celestial smash up

Posted on April 29, 2020

  NYC’s schools closed due to the COVID 19 pandemic the week the three first grade classes at the Brooklyn Children’s School were scheduled to perform their operas, which the children had written and composed themselves.  I still held out … Continue reading →

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CLASS 1-1’s FIRST GRADE OPERA – in which a dragon and a tiger meet in a dungeon

Posted on April 29, 2020

  NYC’s schools closed due to the COVID 19 pandemic the week the three first grade classes at the Brooklyn Children’s School were scheduled to perform their operas, which the children had written and composed themselves.  I still held out … Continue reading →

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4/25/20

Posted on April 25, 2020

  Today is Ed and my anniversary. 27 years together.  22 years married. And it’s a Saturday.  Last time our anniversary fell on a Saturday was five years ago.  It won’t happen again for another six years. So of course … Continue reading →

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GRAND CANYON – BRIGHT ANGEL TRAIL

Posted on April 20, 2020

  Taking a Morning Hike Down into the Grand Canyon   The morning of our final day at the Grand Canyon, we took the Bright Angel Trail down to the first rest house and back up again. These first pictures … Continue reading →

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DROPPING NAMES

Posted on April 12, 2020

  A Collection of Mini Memoir Memories You may have seen this going around on Facebook or Twitter:  People listing names of celebrities they have met in their life times, but including one name that is a lie.  Then people … Continue reading →

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CORONAVIRUS DANCERCISING

Posted on April 8, 2020

  Boogieing Away the COVID 19 Blues New York City’s gyms were shut down four days after Broadway and one day after the schools.  Six days later the whole state would be ordered to shelter at home.  There was to … Continue reading →

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DREAMS and MEMORIES

Posted on April 3, 2020

  A Dream Memory for the Grand-Niece   Our niece Linden is homeschooling her children since the shelter-at-home order took hold in her state, just as it has done for millions of families all over the planet. She sent an … Continue reading →

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The TELL-TALE VEGAS / NYC / MOSCOW TRIFECTA that was – and then wasn’t

Posted on March 28, 2020

  Thanks for Nothing, COVID 19   I was supposed to watch “The Tell-Tale Heart – a musicabre” in a Moscow movie theater today, in fact precisely while I’m typing this, “sheltering in place” this Saturday morning New York time, … Continue reading →

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TELL-TALE LIVE STREAM Q&A

Posted on March 26, 2020

Watch my Q&A after Wednesday’s Tell-Tale live-streaming   Yesterday evening NewFilmmakers NY hosted a Facebook live streaming of most of their Wednesday program originally scheduled to screen at the Anthology Theatre in New York City, and now postponed for sometime … Continue reading →

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GRAND CANYON – Long Walk along the South Rim

Posted on March 23, 2020

  Day Two at the Grand Canyon (South Rim)   The day after we drove along the Desert View Drive, and a lovely sunset at the trailer park we were staying, we returned to spend a full day walking along … Continue reading →

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The 3/25 NYC TELL-TALE SCREENING will be LIVE-STREAMING

Posted on March 19, 2020

“The Tell-Tale Heart – a musicabre” was scheduled to receive its New York City screening premiere next Wednesday, March 25, at the Anthology Theater , sponsored by New Filmmakers NY. Well, we lately hit a little snag in the form … Continue reading →

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No First Grade Operas – for now

Posted on March 16, 2020

  Thanks for nothing, COVID19   On Friday I received the following email from one of the first grade teachers at the Brooklyn Children’s School:   Dear Danny, The first grade operas have to be postponed. The DOE and our … Continue reading →

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PRAGUE BEST ACTOR?

Posted on March 9, 2020

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO RECEIVING THIS AWARD   I received this email Sunday: Dear DANNY ASHKENASI, Congratulations! We are happy to announce that your film “THE TELL-TALE HEART – A MUSICABRE“ was a WINNER in our Quarterly Festival’s latest edition in the following … Continue reading →

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GRAND CANYON – DESERT VIEW DRIVE

Posted on March 6, 2020

  Grand Canyon South Rim – Day One   Our first approach to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim (see the North Rim post here) was from the East. Even before one enters the East Entrance of the Grand Canyon, one … Continue reading →

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