Danny Maseng

Don Tourliev "Danny" Maseng is an Israeli-born performer. An actor, singer and writer, Maseng is known as a composer of contemporary Jewish Liturgical music. He currently leads MAKOM LA, a spiritual community in Los Angeles, California.

Danny Maseng's Concert, in Potsdam

Biography

Maseng was born in Tel Aviv, Israel to an American born-Jewish mother and a Norwegian-American Lutheran father who came to Israel to serve as a volunteer in the Air Force during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War and later converted to Judaism.[1] Maseng rose to stardom in Israel at a young age and was the star of one of the first TV shows in Israel. Maseng came to America in 1971[2] to star on Broadway in the musical Only Fools are Sad under the patronage of Golda Meir.

After his Broadway run, Maseng remained in the States, living in several cities before becoming a practicing Buddhist and student of the late Dainin Katagiri Roshi in Minneapolis. He later found his way back to Judaism and became involved in the Reform Judaism movement through the Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute, where he ran the Tiferet Arts program for eight years.

Maseng resides with his wife in Los Angeles, California. He has three sons, Jonathan, Carmel and Jordan.

Theater, music and television career

Maseng directed and starred in productions in Minneapolis, including Cold Storage and The Day they Shot John Lennon for the Genesis Theater; The Secret Rapture; the Minnesota Opera's production of Carousel (musical); and the Ron Hutchinson (screenwriter) play Rat in the Skull with British Actor Richard Lumsden for the Theater Exchange.

After returning to New York in the early 1990s, Maseng had roles in the Circle Repertory Company's production of A Body of Water[3] and starred as Manasseh Da Costa ("King of Schnorrers") in the revival of the Broadway Musical King of Schnorrers in Los Angeles at the then "Westwood" now Geffen Playhouse.[4]

In 1995, Maseng debuted his critically acclaimed one man show Wasting Time with Harry Davidowitz at the John Houseman Theater off-broadway, where it enjoyed a long run and has since toured with it abroad.[5]

Maseng has released a dozen albums and appeared as a guest star on numerous television shows including many of the shows in the Law & Order franchise, Wild Discovery and One Life to Live; and has also done extensive voice-over work for JoS. A. Bank, American Express, Hewlett Packard and Hoehn Motors.

Maseng's song "Elohai N'tzor" was covered by Pink Martini on their 2010 Album Joy to the World (Pink Martini album).[6]

Jewish career

In addition to his performing and composing, Maseng helped found and run the Steven Spielberg Theater Fellowships for the Foundation for Jewish Camping and also served as the Artistic Director of the Brandeis-Bardin Institute in California. He was also the founding director of the Jewish Arts Institute, a program run out of the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village, Connecticut.

Maseng ran the Hava Nashira Jewish Songleader's institute for several years, where he worked closely with Debbie Friedman, Craig Taubman, and other prominent Jewish musicians.[7]

For several years, Maseng served as the spiritual leader for Congregation Agudas Achim in Livingston Manor, New York. He later served as the Artist-In-Residence/Cantor for Temple Israel of Columbus in Ohio. Maseng served as the Chazzan and Music Director of Temple Israel of Hollywood from 2008-2015.[8]

In 2007, Maseng was appointed the Patron Artist of the Jewish Institute of Cantorial Arts at the University of Potsdam in Germany, the first cantorial school in Germany since the Holocaust.[9]

Maseng has been involved in many interfaith and peace efforts. In 2008 he performed in honor of Prince Hassan bin Talal at the Abraham Geiger award ceremony in Germany.[10] He has also been a supporter of J Street, the liberal Jewish advocacy group that seeks a peaceful end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.[11]

In 2015 Maseng founded MAKOM LA, a spiritual community in Los Angeles, CA.[12]

Partial discography
  • Beyond the Gates - 2014
  • Heaven on Earth - 2010
  • Just Like Home (With Michael Skloff) - 2008
  • Yedid Nefesh - 2004
  • Labor of Love - 2002
  • Tapuach Zahav (Reissue: Hataklit Records) - 2001
  • Soul on Fire - 2000
  • Wasting Time With Harry Davidowitz - 1996
  • Songs for the Sabbath (SISU) - 1995
  • On Silver Wings - 1982
  • Danny Maseng: First Edition (ACUM Records) - 1975

Compilations
  • Danny Maseng Retrospective (Hataklit Records) - 2014
  • Immersed: Music for Mayyim Hayyim - 2007
  • Celebrate Shabbat (Craig N Co) - 2006
  • American Jewish Summer (Jewish Music Group) - 2006
  • Mitzvah Music - 2005
  • Shabbat Anthology: Volume One (Transcontinental) - 2003
  • Kol Dodi: Jewish Music for Weddings (URJ) - 2002
  • Ruach 5761: New Jewish Tunes (Transcontinental) - 2001
  • Israel Our Homeland: The First Songs (ACUM) -1981
  • The Songs of Israel (ACUM) - 1980

Partial filmography

References
  1. Raskin-Zrihen, Rachel (2000-02-04). "Actor memorializes grandfather in one-man show". J. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  2. "Maseng of Many Hats"
  3. "A Body of Water". www.iobdb.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  4. "Jewish Play Doesn't Beg Off Universal Themes". Los Angeles Times. 1993-01-28. Archived from the original on 2021-05-21. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  5. "Wasting Time with Harry Davidowitz". www.iobdb.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  6. "Pink Martini Discography"
  7. "Lifting Voices and Heart in Song at Hava Nashira"
  8. "Maseng Leaves TIOH"
  9. "The World Union for Progressive Judaism | Our Newsletter". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
  10. IMAGO, stock images, editorial and creative photos | picture agency (2008-03-04). "Abraham Geiger Preis 2008 Musiker Danny Maseng Verleihung des Abraham Geiger Preises 2008 an S K H Prinz". www.imago-images.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. "J Street | J Street Los Angeles". act.jstreet.org. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  12. "Makom LA with Chazan Danny Maseng Finds New Home at Hollywood Temple Beth El". West Hollywood, CA Patch. 2015-07-27. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
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