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.

Dawn of my own personal NEW YORKER CARTOON captions

Posted on June 15, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Looks like the food court is far far away … I keep trying… (More here, here, here, here, here, here and here) The elephant in the room went into early retirement. Get back to me when it flies.

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LADY LIBERTY in foul and fair weather

Posted on June 9, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Mid April Ed and I escorted visiting family to Liberty Island for a trip to, and up, the Statue of Liberty. The morning started grey and rainy but turned sunny and blue around the time we reached the viewing gallery … Continue reading →

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Beyond / Jenseits – The Grand Finale

Posted on June 5, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

We have come to the final episode of the Beyond / Jenseits blog posts, at least as far as recounting the little night opera’s libretto and music in German and English. (Catch up with all of the opera and the … Continue reading →

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CANNES IMPRESSIONS Part 3

Posted on May 30, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

The final installment of my Cannes Impressions focuses on the town of Cannes itself, the plazas and old town around the Palais, the marina, the Croisette (the avenue along the beach), and some views in the town periphery.

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CANNES IMPRESSIONS Part 2

Posted on May 27, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

More Premieres and the Virtual Reality / Immersive Competition I saw 27 movies in Cannes, plus 6 of the programs/installations in the Virtual Reality / Immersive competition (more on that at the end of this post). I saw a lot … Continue reading →

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CANNES IMPRESSIONS – Part 1

Posted on May 23, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

I spent 10 days in Cannes, attending the famous film festival on the Croisette. It’s my first Cannes. This will be the first in a series of blog posts of Cannes impressions, of the festival, the movies, the town. Below … Continue reading →

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Beyond / Jenseits – Our Hearts Meet in the Silence

Posted on May 18, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Section XXI of Beyond / Jenseits begins with the piano playing a mournful rendition of the lullaby, while the Woman’s Son, as played by the 2nd Angel, lists the many ways he feels he has disappointed her. The Woman responds … Continue reading →

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Film Festival Jury Member

Posted on May 14, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

I am happy to officially share that I have been made a jury member of the FFTG Awards (who showcased my film “The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre” last year, giving the film six nominations, and an award … Continue reading →

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BEYOND / JENSEITS – Torn Between Two Lovers

Posted on May 9, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Welcome back to the next episode of our little night opera, Beyond (catch up on previous installments here). This is the section where our favorite opera diva’s dilemmas with the men in her cosmic life-in-review come to a head. I … Continue reading →

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TULIP FEVER!

Posted on May 2, 2024 by dannyashkenasi
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PS 133 Verticles

Posted on April 28, 2024 by dannyashkenasi
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BEYOND / JENSEITS – Turning the Tables on the Therapist

Posted on April 24, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Section XVI of the little night opera I composed for my mother Catherine Gayer with librettist and family friend Helga Krauss (catch up with all previous episodes via the opera’s homepage) takes the Woman back into therapy analyzing dreams. When … Continue reading →

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Rise of my own personal NEW YORKER CARTOON captions

Posted on April 18, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

This is the seventh installment. I’m beginning to run out of obvious sequel titles. Time to go the Planet of the Apes route. That should do me for the next four or five… Contest #892 Yes, it’s called Thesaurus. But … Continue reading →

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BEYOND / JENSEITS – Just Some Bimbo from the Ballet

Posted on April 15, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

In this installment of Beyond – a little night opera, the Woman walks in on her lover, the Conductor, in flagrante delicto with another woman. (Catch up on all installments of Beyond/Jenseits on its home page.) The Conductor rather slimily … Continue reading →

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PARK SLOPE, EARLY SPRING

Posted on April 11, 2024 by dannyashkenasi
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Special 4/26 NYC Encore Screening of “The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre”

Posted on April 8, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

“The Pit and the the Pendudulum – a musicabre”, my (intake of breath) musical short film Edgar Allan Poe classic horror story adaptation officially concluded its one-and-a half year festival run late last year. However, and this is a nice … Continue reading →

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