Danny Ashkenasi – Composer/Writer credits
– including ( )Directing / *Music Directing credits –
and critic quotes
contact: dannyashkenasi@gmail.com
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Current Projects:
The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre – short film musical Poe adaptation
- film shoot June 29 – July 9, 2021 – completed November, 2021
- composer / director / lead actor / producer
- currently showing in festivals; over 50 awards received so far.
” “The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre” is a mesmerizing musical film. This chilling adaptation of Poe’s classic tale delves into the plight of a desperate composer ensnared by the menacing Inquisition. Blurring reality and fantasy, the film offers a spine-tingling journey through terror and imagination. It’s a masterful fusion of drama, music, and visuals that you don’t want to miss.” – Pitch to Screen
“Danny Ashkenasi has remained fairly faithful to Poe’s story but put it into a narrative context via his framing story, as well as setting everything to music, so much so that some of Poe’s words are actually sung on screen. And this works remarkably well, as not only does Ashkenasi hit the right note when it comes to the film’s mood, he also enriches the story with nightmarish and often surreal imagery, often goes for associative rather than linear storytelling, and ultimately delivering an enjoyably disturbing piece of cinema.” – Mike Haberfelner – re(Search) My Trash
“Just the balance of the music, the dialog and some very interesting artistic chances that [are taken] within the film… As an artistic piece it is very impressive.” – Joe Mauceri – Winter Film Awards
“It was a true experience, not just a film. The directional sound was amazing, the look of the film, the voices, the whole composition just breathtaking. Bravo to the whole team on this.” – Josh Mabe – Horror Movie Freaks Film festival
The Tell-Tale Heart – a musicabre – short film of musical Poe adaptation (see below)
- film shoot Feb 11-18, 2019 – completed October 2019
- over 60 film festival awards received
- composer / director / lead actor / producer
“Riveting and remarkable … an artistic delight. [Ashkenasi’s] avant-garde approach to both direction and music provides the audience with an electrifying and enchanting macabre motion picture.” – Michael Haberfelner – Art is Alive Magazine
“The Tell Tale Heart feels like a gorgeous celebration of musical theatre and film, with the two elements complementing each other throughout. The songs themselves are beautifully arranged, I loved the use of cellos to really heighten the tension when it was most needed. In addition, the use of silence is also impressive, as it creates further suspense when needed.” – Lucy Buglass – Lucy Goes To Hollywood
“The Tell-Tale Heart shows the beauty of music, story and imagination. The musical adaptation is simply awesome. The overall presentation is well done and impressive. if you enjoy theatre quality films, then this is definitely for you.” – Utah Film Awards
Speakeasy – John and Jane’s Adventures in the Wonderland – musical
— showcase/workshop performances Feb 19- Mar 13, 2016, Theater for the New City
“One of the most wildly ambitious, inspired theatrical endeavors I’ve seen on an Off Off Broadway stage. Bursting with an excess of ideas and passion. The score is an appealing mix of period jazz, swing, cabaret, Tin Pan Alley, and operetta. The lyrics, melodies, and orchestrations are surprisingly rich and sophisticated.” – David Kennerley – Gay City News
“The music is what has me most excited about this new work of theater art. The songs are tuneful and catchy. The lyrics push the story forward without trying (as is the case is so much current musical theater repertoire) to explain the plot or explicitly lay out every dreary emotion the characters are feeling. Danny’s songs feel like tomorrow’s classics.” – Michael Hanko – Master Voice Teacher
Feedstore Quartet – musical; Book/Lyrics: Jack Hilton Cunningham; Lyrics: Danny Ashkenasi
- Director’s Choice Award Winner of Mainstreet Musicals
- Script and score perusal available at Mainstreet Musicals’ Online Library.
The Treasure – Jewish folk musical; book: Marsha Lee Scheiness; Lyrics: Steve Liebman
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Music Theater Works (a selection):
I Too Sing America – The Blues According to Langston Hughes
– musical adaptation of over 60 Langston Hughes poems – Premiered at the Metropolitan Playhouse Harlem Renaissance Festival Jan 17-30, 2011*
“It seems like Danny Ashkenasi’s ambition is to compose the Great American Literary Songbook, and he is up to the task.” – Mark Savitt – Hi Drama! (MNN TV)
Cock-A-Doodle-Doo!
– a musical play adapted from Herman Melville’s short story – Premiered at the Metropolitan Playhouse Melvillepalooza Jan 12-25, 2009* – Subsequent performances at the FringeNYC Festival August 14-30, 2009*
“Ashkenasi’s music is accomplished and attractive, his esthetics beautiful, his collaborators top notch.” – Avner Kam, The Fringe Report
beTwixt, beTween & beTWAIN – a Mark Twain Musical Comedy
– Showcase production at The Producer’s Club Crown Theater May 16 – June 8* – Special Performance at the Westport Library in CN May 19* – staged reading at the Twainathon Festival at The Metropolitan Playhouse, Jan 25-28, 2007 (*)
“Transcendent, lovely and moving. Evocative and exciting. A musical voice that commands attention” – Martin Denton, NYTheatre.com
The Tell-Tale Heart – a musicabre
musical adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s short story – theatrically produced Jan 12-29, 2006 at Metropolitan Playhouse* and Aug 11-29, 2006 at The Studio at Cherry Lane Theatre*, NYFringe Festival; and October, 2007 TrypTych Concert and Opera, Toronto
Recipient of Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics at 2006 NYFringe festival
“A well-honed and deliciously creepy chamber piece” – Amy Krivohlavek, Offoffoffline.com
Jenseits/Beyond
Chamber Opera, libretto by Helga Krauss, music and English translation by Danny Ashkenasi – theatrically produced Aug 12-21, 2005 Connelly Theatre, NYFringe Festival (*) – March 21, 04 concert reading of English version at Village Temple – August 28, 03 concert reading Biesalski Salon, Berlin Germany (*)
“Mr. Ashkenasi’s music has dimensionality and touches of poignancy.” – Jeremy Eichler, New York Times
Oratorio – theatrical production Aug 13-29, 2004, Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University, part of the NYFringe Festival (*) – concert readings: April 8 & Sep 23, 02, La MaMa Etc., Village Temple Sep.11, 02, Riverside Church Jan.26, 03, 15th St. Meeting House Dec 14, 03 (*) – Five 10th Anniversary concerts 9/9 – 9/16 2011 in 15th Street, PS 372, Village Temple, Theater for the New City (*)
“A stark and compelling work. Haunting melodies.” – Elias Stimac, Backstage
Boroughed Tales: Brooklyn
Commissioned score for one musical one-act (Lucky Hans – book & lyrics: Margorie Duffield), incidental music for five other plays, plus the music and lyrics for the Theme Song – March 8-23, 2002 at the Blue Heron Arts Center (White Bird Productions); excerpt “Lucky Hans” revived Apr. 04 at the Calhoun School.
Hexen (Witches)
two women musical – Book & lyrics: Peter Lund; music and English adaptation: Danny Ashkenasi – premiered 1991 in Berlin, Germany – Produced to date in at least 20 different theatres throughout Germany, Austria and Finland including the Deutsche Oper Berlin 1998 (and two other Berlin theatres). – Showcased in New York at the Tribeca Lab February 1993 (*) and ArtsNY 2012 (*)
“Ashkenasi’s music delivers an imaginative and remarkably original balancing act between old madrigals and modern day chansons and never stumbles.” – Hellmut Kotschenreuter, Der Tagesspiegel
Les Artistes
play by Greg Steinbruner featuring 6 songs with music by Danny Ashkenasi; premiered October 17 – 28, 2002 at the Intar Theatre*, NYC
Wir Pfeifen auf den Gurkenkoenig
musical – Book & lyrics: Peter Lund; music: Danny Ashkenasi – premiered 1990 in Berlin, Germany * playing at Hebbel Theater, Schalotte Theater and Deutsche Ope Berlin
When Thou, My Music, Music Play’st (the Shakespeare Sonnet Musical)
Book and lyrics adapted from Shakespeare’s Sonnets; music: Danny Ashkenasi – NYU, 1989 (*)
Once Upon a Frog / Es war einmal ein Frosch
musical – translation into German also by Danny Ashkenasi – Berlin 1985 (*) – German language premiere July 25, 2009 at the Wetzlarer Festspiele
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Previously produced one-act musicals (a selection):
Lemmings: a Real Cliffhanger – Inter. Schools Theatre Assoc.; York, England, 1991 *
Book: Devon Allen; music & lyrics: Danny Ashkenasi
All the World’s a Stage – NYU 1988 (*)
Book and music: Danny Ashkenasi developed with the ensemble.
Dancing On a Landslide – Berkshire Ensemble for Theatre Arts, 1987 *; NYU, 1988 (*)
Book & lyrics: Steve Bennett; music & lyrics: Danny Ashkenasi;
Dying to Live – Berkshire Ensemble for Theater Arts, 1986 *
Book: Regina Kelly; music & lyrics: Danny Ashkenasi
Chamber works (a selection – all performed in various concerts):
Spreewaldlieder – 12 song suite for Flute and Harp – recorded on cd 2009 by the Duo Elysee
Evocation 1- 24 – duets for viola and piano
Remembrances – Klezmer Rhapsody for clarinet, guitar, and cello – commissioned by the Trio Emanuel
8 Aphorisms for Mezzo Soprano and Trumpet
Cry of the Owl – duet for clarinet and piano; also excerpted as the score for short film of the same name
Awards: Awarded “ASCAP foundation Composer-in-Residence at the Met. Opera Guild Award” 1998
New York Fringe Festival 2006 Overall Excellence Award for “Outstanding Music and Lyrics” for “The Tell-Tale Heart – a musicabre”
Music Director for all productions marked *
Stage director as well for all productions marked (*)
Go here for Notes on Myself, a short post on Danny Ashkenasi’s thoughts on being a composer.
Danny Ashkenasi – Acting credits (a selection)
Member of Actors’ Equity Association
* denotes productions for which Danny also composed music
and critic quotes
—
Film and Television
THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM – a musicabre —–Protagonist/Judges —-Independent Short Film
multiple best actor awards from various film festivals
THE TELL-TALE HEART – a musicabre —– Narrator —– Independent short film
multiple best actor awards from various film festivals
MY LIFE IN NEW YORK—–Charles McLain—-RTL (Norddeich Prod.) German TV Series
NORMANDY (The Great Crusade)—–Gurowski/Pock–Warner Bros. (Discovery Channel)
ROTE ERDE———————Max Kruska————-Bavaria Film Germany (Mini Series)
KRAFTPROBE——————-Fatsy—————————– Telefilm Saar (Feature Film)
New York Theatre
THE ACCIDENTAL HAMLET—-John—————————————–Connelly Theater
“The energy these two actors brought to the piece was astounding.” – Nathalie Allen, Usher Madness
ONLY LOVE WILL DO————William—————————–Theater for the New City
“Danny Ashkenasi brings not merely loving, but tangibly human and humorous qualities to Billy, as well as more-than impressive few turns at the piano.” – Andrew Martin NiteLifeExchange.com
COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!*——–Herman————Flamboyan Theater at the CSV Center
“I am fond of Danny Ashkenasi’s amazing ability to mesmerize an audience.” – Hi Drama!
“A passionate authentic performer” – Avner Kam Fringe Report
BETWIXT, BETWEEN & BETWAIN*—-Narrator———–Producer’s Club Crown Theater
“Ashkenasi is an ingratiating presence on stage.” – Nytheatre.com
A ROPE IN THE ABYSS———–Hugh———–Rabbit Hole Ensemble/Blackbird Theatre
“Danny Ashkenasi [is] excellent”– TheaterOnline.com
THE NIGHT OF NOSFERATU—-Renfield——Rabbit Hole Ensemble/Workshop Theatre
“Danny Ashkenasi [is] spectacular. [He] offers the only believable Renfield I have ever seen.” – NYTheatre.com
“Of particular note [is] Danny Ashkenasi, whose Renfield is both grotesque and tragic.”
– offoffbroadwayreview
THE TELL-TALE HEART* —–Protagonist————-The Studio at Cherry Lane Theatres
“Ashkenasi often thrillingly evokes everyday lunacy, finding a creepy (yet intriguing) sexual satisfaction from the murder that most performers might miss; the drained, contented look on his face after smothering the old man is really something to see…[his singing is] precisely pitched musically and emotionally” – Talkin’Broadway.com
THE WITCH (Yiddish musical) —Hotzmach———————–Jewish Repertory Theatre
LES ARTISTES*——–Rothko Von Candy———FifthStreet Production/Interart Theatre
9/11 THE BOOK OF JOB*———-Job——————————————La MaMa E.T.C.
RICHARD THE SECOND*———Richard II—————————————Tribeca Lab
SALEM——————————–Eliphalet————————–Metropolitan Playhouse
BOHEMIA ON WRY—————–Allen Ginsburg——————Theater for the New City
MACBETH—————————-Malcolm————————————-Studio Theatre
JULIUS CAESAR———————-Casca—————————————Expanded Arts
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE——Launcelot Gobbo——————————Tribeca Lab
DOCTOR FAUSTUS*——————Good/Evil Angel a.o.—————NADA Faust festival
A (THE SCARLET LETTER)———-Chillingworth————– Ohio Theatre (Tiny Mythic)
NIGHTS OF ANNABEL LEE———-David Poe———————-Golden Fleece Opera Co.
WOYZECK*——————————Georg Buechner’s Ghost—————-Studio Theatre
SELFTORTURE & STREN. EXERCISE——Alvin——————————-The Trocadero
Regional Theatre/Tours
BETWIXT, BETWEEN & BETWAIN*—-Narrator————————Westport Library
THE NIGHT OF NOSFERATU————Renfield———-Wellfleet Harbor Actor’s Theatre
GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES——–Prince, Devil, a.o.——Nat. Theater ot the Perf. Arts (tour)
UNCLE ARTHUR—-One Man & Four Puppet Play—–Geary Street Theatre San Francisco
JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE & WELL….. —-Tenor——Berkshire Ensemble for Theatre Arts
Theatre International
UNCLE ARTHUR—– One Man & Four Puppet Play————-Malaysian/Australian Tour
KURT WEILL REVUE————2 Person Revue————————German Opera Berlin
BEI KROLL————————-6 Person Operatic Revue———–Academy of Arts Berlin
Notes from a Composer 
Hallo, für das Musicallexikon des Deutschen Musicalarchivs bin ich auf der Suche nach einem Scan des Programmheftes (Besetzung und Inszenierungscrew) der Uraufführung in Berlin und den Daten der Erstaufführungen in Österreich, der Schweiz und den USA. Kann mir da der Komponist helfen? Das Musicallexikon ist online unter http://www.musicallexikon.eu Gruß aus Deutschland. Klaus Baberg
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Bitte emailen sie mich (dannyashkenasi@gmail.com)
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