Author Archives: dannyashkenasi

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About dannyashkenasi

I'm a composer with over 40 years experience creating music theater. I'm also an actor, writer, director, producer, teacher and general enthusiast for the arts.

Impressions from ART NEW YORK (with “artsy” musical accompaniment)

Posted on May 8, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Art New York was a huge showcase of artists at Manhattan’s Pier 55 this past weekend.  Here are some photographic impressions from my visit (with the artist name given above their artwork). And to add a little musical fun, I … Continue reading →

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NfaC Repost and Update – Mister Danny and His Most Sung Song

Posted on May 5, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Today I repost one of my first and still most popular “teaching artist” posts, featuring the Pre-K standard “We’re Singing” (well, standard in my Pre-K curriculum).  This year’s Pre-K classes at the Children’s School have taken to the tune with … Continue reading →

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SPRING – in Brooklyn & Berlin with Vivaldi

Posted on April 29, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Brooklyn

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Free University Berlin Remembers Abraham Ashkenasi

Posted on April 26, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

My mother was leafing through the Sunday paper as she was met with a heartwarming surprise: the Free University Berlin had posted their own commemoration announcement for my father.   This is what is says: “On March 27, 2016 passing … Continue reading →

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MERYL STREEP SINGS AGAIN – REALLY BADLY THIS TIME! YEAH!

Posted on April 21, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Last August I posted a (lavishly video annotated) piece about Meryl Streep’s musical performances over the years (which you can reread below).  I concluded the article with the following: Streep’s movie musical career continues with Florence Foster Jenkins, a movie … Continue reading →

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BUONA MUSICA; ON NUOVO INTRIGANTE MUSICAL – Mario Fratti reviews Speakeasy

Posted on April 17, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

The Italian playwright Mario Fratti, most famous for the musical “Nine”,  writes about New York Theater for the Italian publication OGGI.  And he included a nice little write up on Speakeasy in one of his recent articles.  A copy was … Continue reading →

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HERE BE GALLOWS’ HUMOR – Retreat ye who don’t care for that sort of thing

Posted on April 13, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Sunday April 3 my father’s memorial announcement was posted in the “Familienanzeige” section of the Tagesspiegel newspaper in Berlin.  Actually there were two announcements, the one my family arranged, and another purchased by close Berlin friends of Dad’s.  It was … Continue reading →

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STAHNSDORF – An American Red Oak for my Father

Posted on April 7, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

My plane was delayed by two and a half hours.  Needing only hand luggage for a five day stay I breezed past the baggage carousel at Berlin-Tegel, but the taxi ride added to the delay due to traffic jams on … Continue reading →

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NfaC Repost: THE DAY I BECAME A COMPOSER

Posted on April 2, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

I have not yet written much about my parents on this blog so far, but this piece from last June includes one of my favorite anecdotes about my father: “My parents were always supportive of all my creative endeavors, but … Continue reading →

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Abraham Ashkenasi

Posted on March 27, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Abraham Ashkenasi May 14, 1934 – March 27, 2016

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KICKSTARTER REWARDS MAILING

Posted on March 24, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Yesterday Kelly Aliano and I got together to put together the mailing of Speakeasy Reward gifts (T-Shirts and Booklets and Posters, oh my!) to those Kickstarter contributors to the showcase production of Speakeasy who weren’t able to pick up their … Continue reading →

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NfaC Double Repost: BREAKING INTO SONG IN MUSICALS

Posted on March 21, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Time for another Notes from a Composer rerun, or repost, this time a double feature from last April on the convention of breaking into song in musicals, and how cleverly the movie version of Cabaret subverted that convention.  This post … Continue reading →

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Cast Picture

Posted on March 17, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

  Jonathan Fox Powers (music director), Anne Bragg, Allie Radice, Amanda Thomas, Zachary Martin, Kristen Quinn, Rita McCann, Larry Johnson, Rebecca Marquardt, Brendan Mellette, Camille Atkinson, Tim Connell, Matias Polar, Darcy Dunn, Kayleigh Shuler, Brian Henry, Bri Molloy, Sebastian McCracken, … Continue reading →

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Contemplation before the show

Posted on March 13, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

  My husband Ed took this pic of me in the lobby of Theater for the New City sitting at our concession stand by the entrance into the Johnson Theater.  Speakeasy would be performing in about 40 minutes that Saturday … Continue reading →

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FINAL SPEAKEASY PERFORMANCES – Dance into the Light tonight, let Love have her way

Posted on March 11, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Tonight and tomorrow, 8pm Final Performance Sunday, March 13, 3pm Theater for the New City, 155 1st Avenue Thank you to all, contributors, performers, production team, audiences, who have helped make this workshop production of Speakeasy possible.  May we all … Continue reading →

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“SPARKLING MOMENTS OF MUSICAL THEATER” – OffOffOnline’s Speakeasy Review

Posted on March 7, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

OffOffOnline posted their Speakeasy review.  Here a few highlights: “Kayleigh Shuler as Jane and Matias Polar as John are the heartbeat of the show; they are the flawless young lovers, never missing a note or a cue.” “As Jane’s best … Continue reading →

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