Category Archives: Notes in the News

On current and historic events, likely with a musical angle

MOONLIGHT & the Queer Baker’s Dozen of NewFest LGBT Films – Part 1

Posted on October 25, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Moonlight – The Pass – Esteros – Lazy Eye I am “recovering” from watching 14 LGBTQ themed movies over the course of four and a half days.  Not “recovering” in a bad way, only in as much as after seeing … Continue reading →

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September 11, 2016

Posted on September 11, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

For this day: HOPE from the oratorio The Song of Job 9:11   For the full concert, go to the  Song of Job page.   Also: THE SONG OF JOB 9:11 – 14 year anniversary of 9/11/2001 Posted on September 8, … Continue reading →

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The Many Voices of Marni Nixon

Posted on July 25, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Marni Nixon passed yesterday.  She had a long, accomplished career as a classically trained singer on the concert and theater stage, but she is most famous for her leading contributions to some of the most famous musicals of Hollywood’s golden … Continue reading →

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NEW YORK NEW YORK in Pieces (of Song and Puzzle)

Posted on July 25, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Let’s celebrate New York, New York in pieces!  Musical pieces!  Jigsaw puzzle pieces! The first song must be New York, New York of course! What, you thought It’d be Old Blue Eyes’ New York New York?  No worries, I won’t … Continue reading →

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Ian Mckellen’s richly detailed and historically edifying “It Got Better” video

Posted on July 18, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

We’ve come a long way. @IanMckellen tells his @It_Got_Better storyhttps://t.co/7XBpAsvHGW — L Studio (@LStudio) July 18, 2016   Pretty cool video, an inspiring must see. And not that it really matters, but Sir Ian and I share the same birthday, … Continue reading →

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SINGING HAMILTON IN CARS

Posted on July 7, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Celebrities, Politicos, Soccer-Moms and Babies gettin’ their Alexander on! Exploring the intermittently sublime sub-sub-sub genre of singing along to Hamilton while riding in a car!   Above is the famous Late Late Show Carpool Karaoke starring James Corden and Lin-Manuel … Continue reading →

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MARCHING WITH THE QUAKERS – A NYC Pride Parade Photo Diary

Posted on June 28, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Sunday, June 26, was Pride Day in New York City.  Close to 2 million people watched hundreds of thousands of marchers within about 485 contingents (groups and floats) make their way down 5th avenue, 8th Street and Christopher street, from … Continue reading →

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HAPPY PRIDE DAY – One Year to the Day Our Day Had Come

Posted on June 26, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Happy Pride Day, everybody.  Today is the Last Sunday in June, when New York City commemorates the birth of the modern Gay Rights Movement and the 1969 Stonewall riots with our Pride Parade and Festivities.  Ed and I will be … Continue reading →

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WIN A MUSICAL DOWNLOAD!

Posted on June 21, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

OK, I’m feeling a little silly and in the mood for a puzzle.   I just posted this tweet: “I finished a composition la la la la Part of a cycle 23 years (& counting) in the making la la … Continue reading →

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WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE, SWEET LOVE – Broadway for Orlando Charity Single – updated

Posted on June 20, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

The Broadway community has gathered together to produce a charity single to honor the victims of the Orlando massacre.  They have given the Bacharach/David classic “What the World Needs Now is Love” the “We are the World” treatment, and the … Continue reading →

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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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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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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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