Category Archives: Notes in the News

On current and historic events, likely with a musical angle

FASCINATING VIDEO OF JULIAN ELTINGE IN DRAG (with bonus clip of Gene Malin in drag too!)

Posted on January 27, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

One of the musical Speakeasy‘s lead characters, Julian Carnation, is based in part on the real life female impersonator Julian Eltinge (as well as the red Queen and the Mad Hatter from Lewis Carroll’s Alice books). I want to share … Continue reading →

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OSCAR NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED – so, what happened with those hoped for bragging rights, Danny?

Posted on January 14, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

So the Academy Award nominations were announced this morning, and as every year I had the TV on, munching my breakfast, and followed along as they were read out (see the full list of nominees at the bottom of this … Continue reading →

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Speakeasy Tickets Now on Sale

Posted on January 6, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Tickets for the showcase production of SPEAKEASY – John and Jane’s Adventures in the Wonderland are now on sale. Check out the Theater for the New City Speakeasy webpage here! Check out the Smarttix Speakeasy ticket purchase page here! Plus, … Continue reading →

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MY 1978 SANTA BARBARA EARTHQUAKE

Posted on January 4, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

I was standing near my croquet ball holding my mallet waiting my turn when we heard the rumbling. First thing I saw was the house shaking.  A one story ranch style house made with vertical wooden slats, which were now … Continue reading →

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HOPE for a New Year

Posted on December 31, 2015 by dannyashkenasi

I believe in the good of mankind I believe in the end truth prevails It resides in our hearts and our minds Should we seek it we’d find love unveiled HOPE Happy New Year.  Let’s hope for a 2016 that … Continue reading →

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94% FUNDED! 3 DAYS TO GO!

Posted on December 19, 2015 by dannyashkenasi

We’re so-o-o-o close! Hundreds of friends and strangers have come together to help make next year’s showcase production of “Speakeasy – John and Jane’s Adventures in the Wonderland” a reality! Will you join them? Remember, with each pledge, no matter … Continue reading →

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Revealed: SPEAKEASY Poster and Postcard DESIGN!

Posted on December 17, 2015 by dannyashkenasi

Voilà, the poster/postcard design for the February/March 2016 showcase run of “Speakeasy – John and Jane’s Adventures in the Wonderland”! Designed by Derk Scholtz in an ever evolving process that I will get into more behind-the-scenes detail below.  But first, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts-a-Poppin', Live! On Stage, Notes in the News, The Speakeasy Chronicles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

BEST SONG OSCAR SURPRISE? – The movie song I predict will be this year’s stealth surprise Oscar Best Original Song nominee

Posted on December 14, 2015 by dannyashkenasi

A few days ago the Academy, aka the people who hand out the Oscars, revealed the list of songs from this year’s movies that are eligible to be nominated as best original song in a motion picture.  There are 74 … Continue reading →

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THANK YOU

Posted on December 8, 2015 by dannyashkenasi

Thank you everybody who came to the reading Monday night. Thank you for your enthusiasm and all the wonderful comments. Thank you to the performers for all their incredible talent and hard work. Much was accomplished and much learned putting … Continue reading →

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BroadwayWorld.com Spotlights Speakeasy Reading!

Posted on December 3, 2015 by dannyashkenasi

BroadwayWorld.com just posted this article about Speakeasy: New Musical SPEAKEASY to Receive Reading at TNC Next Week           The creative team of Speakeasy: John and Jane Allison in the Wonderland, a fantastical musical of Prohibition-era NYC … Continue reading →

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SPEAKEASY GOES OFF TO THE BALLROOM – The Great Drag Balls of the 1920’s/1930’s

Posted on December 2, 2015 by dannyashkenasi

The centerpiece in Act Two of the new musical “Speakeasy – John and Jane Allison in the Wonderland” is the great drag ball at the Jefferson Lodge Ball.  Chet Cheshire presides over the festivities, attended by a sparkling variety of … Continue reading →

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SPEAKEASY Reading December 7

Posted on November 27, 2015 by dannyashkenasi

R  E  M  I  N  D  E  R There will be a reading of SPEAKEASY John and Jane Allison in the Wonderland by Danny Ashkenasi December 7 7pm at the Theater for the New City 155 First Avenue, between 9th … Continue reading →

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JULIAN CARNATION / JULIAN ELTINGE – Speakeasy’s Red Queen and Mad Hatter & Broadway’s Famous Female Impersonator

Posted on November 20, 2015 by dannyashkenasi

When I was researching Gay Culture of the 1920’s and 1930’s in preparation for writing “Speakeasy”, I came about an anecdote about a once famous female impersonator of the 1910’s and 1920’s, Julian Eltinge, a star of Vaudeville and the … Continue reading →

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Speakeasy – An interview conducted by author Rebecca Cantrell – updated

Posted on November 17, 2015 by dannyashkenasi

The bestselling Author Rebecca Cantrell has posted an interview with me about Speakeasy on her blog.  In it I reveal some tidbits about Speakeasy and a song demo that had not yet found their way to Notes from a Composer. … Continue reading →

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SPEAKEASY KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED!

Posted on November 16, 2015 by dannyashkenasi

The Day Has Come!  We Have Launched Our Kickstarter Fundraising Campaign! CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE PROJECT PAGE!   Help bring this original, ambitious new musical onto the stage! “Speakeasy – John and Jane Allison in the Wonderland” brings … Continue reading →

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BERLIN WALL MEMORIES #2 – You Might as Well Have Told Me the Earth was Flat.

Posted on October 21, 2015 by dannyashkenasi

The night the Berlin Wall came down, Nov 9, 1989, I was living in New York.  I got a phone call around 6pm that night, less than an hour in real time after East German Border guards had received the … Continue reading →

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