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.

The SEVEN HOS are now WICKED ADDICTED!

Posted on June 17, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Last June I posted an impressed and irreverent report of of  “Snow White and the Seven Hos“, a Disney parody musical benefit for SCA (Sexual Compulsives Anonymous).  SCA supports gay and bisexual men with sex addiction issues.  Every year they … Continue reading →

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The Best Hamilton Anecdote Ever (well, surely one of the best)

Posted on June 13, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

The actor Rob McClure (currently performing in Something Rotten) just posted the following anecdote about Hamilton on his Facebook page.  It’s going viral, as they say nowadays.  Read it to see why:   “Hamilton deserved every Tony. Here’s one of … Continue reading →

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ANTOINETTE LOVES ALEXANDER – 11 Tonys for Hamilton

Posted on June 12, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

To no one’s surprise, the musical Hamilton dominated the Tony awards show tonight, winning a near record 11 Tonys (after racking up a record breaking 16 nominations). But beyond the electric charge and grace not only exhibited by Hamilton, but … Continue reading →

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A ROSE BY ANY OTHER SONG WOULD SOUND AS SWEET

Posted on June 9, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

It’s June, rose blooming season.  So let’s enjoy some beautiful roses, and since we can’t enjoy their visual splendor accompanied by their sweet smells, we’ll enjoy their sweet sounds in the forms of favorite “Rose” songs from the last hundred … Continue reading →

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NfaC Pride Month Repost: THE NEARLY INVISIBLE BISEXUAL MALE

Posted on June 4, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

June is Pride Month.  So I thought I should make my first post of the month a post that deals heavily with LGBTQ issues.  And although my many posts related to my musical Speakeasy almost invariably deal with LGBTQ issues, … Continue reading →

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SPEAKEASY – Douglas McDonnell sings “Dance into the Light”

Posted on May 31, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

The tenor Douglas McDonnell sang two songs from Speakeasy at last weekend’s Lower East Side festival at the Theater for the New City: “Dance into the Light” and “All You Are”.  Unfortunately technical difficulties got in the way of recording … Continue reading →

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NfaC Repost: Forbidden Movies, Forbidden Music

Posted on May 26, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

*Originally posted May 14, 2015: I walked out of the Film Forum mind abuzz and guts churning.   I was chewing on a whole lot of food for thought as well as the ice cream melt I bought to soothe my … Continue reading →

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NafC Classic: 5 X FUN with LUDWIG’S 5th

Posted on May 23, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Let’s have some fun with Beethoven!   Specifically the 1st movement of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, easily the most famous piece of classical music in the world.  The indelible Duh Duh Duh DAH motif that opens and shapes the movement may … Continue reading →

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A Funeral – Ein Begräbnis

Posted on May 14, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

My father would have turned 82 today.   Friday, April 29 – Funeral Service in Stahnsdorf Cemetery

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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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