DAVID ROSSMER and STEVE ROSEN
(Book/Music/Lyrics/Cast)
met each other on stage during an improv at French Woods summer camp. They have since been collaborators on a number of projects, and occasionally punch each other in the face. Rosen and Rossmer created, wrote and hosted (with Dan Lipton and Sarah Saltzberg) the comedy improv variety show Don’t Quit Your Night Job, which began at Joe’s Pub in downtown NYC and migrated Off-Broadway to the HA! Comedy Club in Times Square, The Zipper, The Julia Miles Theater and Le Poisson Rouge. Rossmer and Rosen wrote, with Lipton, The Great Broadway Shuffle, which Rosen has performed to standing ovations at Joe’s Pub, Ars Nova and somewhere else no one can remember. Currently, Rosen and Rossmer are splitting their efforts between creating their warped new game show “People You Know Are Aliens” in New York, and developing their TV show, “Say Ah”, in Los Angeles. The Other Josh Cohen is their first musical…and quite possibly their last, because one of them doesn’t bathe properly. You know who I’m talkin’ about. Seriously, it’s gross.
REVIEWS
85-minute show is brisk and satisfying, a result of spandex-tight writing, crackling comic delivery and clever direction by Ted Sperling, who uses his cast and band with maximum efficiency.
“The Other Josh Cohen” may be the reason they invented off-Broadway.
“Clever and original musical .”
It is witty and smart and far more entertaining than many of the projects that open (and usually quickly close) on Broadway. The songs are bouncy and lyrics funny. In the end you’ll be sorry there aren’t more Josh Cohens around.
‘The Other Josh Cohen’ Is a Hilarious and Smart New Musical
The Other Josh Cohen” is a superlative musical laugh fest.
It’s hard to know where to start heaping on the praise.
The writing is ingeniously comic. The music is delicious. The lyrics are uproariously witty. The six multitalented cast members are divine. The direction is brilliant.
The most wonderful things about the show are its informal theatrical style and the generosity of its hard-working performers.
David Rossmer (left) and Steve Rosen are very funny
catchy pop/rock score satirically heavy on Diamond’s musical stylings
engaging looseness to the proceedings that’s typified by a very funny opening scene
The Other Josh Cohen” is funny enough to make us wish there were even more of them.
You are going to fall in love with all the Josh Cohens on stage in THE OTHER JOSH COHEN of clever music inspired by Neil Diamond’s styling
Sarcasm, a resilient spirit, a touch of vulnerability, a bit of Jewish guilt, and a massive amount of genius make THE OTHER JOSH COHEN an enjoyable voyeuristic romp through the life of a guy who definitely deserves a break. Give yourself one and go see this show.
The Other Josh Cohen is a lightweight, but extremely fun musical.It whizzes by at 80 minutes, with plenty of laughs per minute.
played with enthusiasm and heart by Steven Rosen (real time Josh) and David Rossmer (Narrator Josh).
The Other Josh Cohen snuck up on me. It starts gently and builds in humor and pathos as the show progresses. By the end, I kind of loved it, and left with a huge grin. You can’t ask from much more than that.
Our only negative review – he mentioned he had a bad time because someone yelled at his mother for opening a candy too loudly – true story…
A great night of unique, inspired theatre!
Delightful.
It deserves a longer life, but just in case, you probably should stop reading and just go get your tickets.
Clever, witty songs!
There’s a lot of talent in this small band of merry-makers.
You’ll enjoy the comic ride directed by Ted Sperling with choreography by Andrew Palermo.
Off-beat charm and humor
Rossmer and Steve Rosen
deft hand for ironic and sarcastic comedy
pathos arising from the midway point that is both a welcome surprise from a writing standpoint and a great thematic fit at that.
It’s always a joy for me when I am entertained by a production and it turns out to be a lot (okay, a little) smarter then it lets on
keep me intrigued and chuckling often
It’s impossible not to be endeared by their performances because both of them were that great. Kate Wetherhead, playing a myriad of supporting characters, also turns out a stunning performance.
This show is an indication that Rossmer and Rosen should collaborate more often – I’ll get the petition and investor interest going.
THE OTHER JOSH COHEN is a lively, energetic fun musical romp performed by an amazingly adept sextet of actor/comedian/musicians
Hannah Elless (the bounciest, prettiest, funniest drummer/actress in town),
. Ted Sperling has directed with great comic panache,
The clever songs, played and sung by the six, are melodic and funny. The result is the most entertaining comedic/musical group in New York. It’s hilarious.
“Unfortunately, David Rossmer and Steve Rosen‘s play “The Other Josh Cohen” is really funny and very sweet and you’re just going to have to spend some money and go see it. I’m sorry, it is what it is.”
Jason Robert Brown
“Just saw THE OTHER JOSH COHEN at the Soho Playhouse. If you are in NYC, you must go!!!! It’s the best time I’ve had at a play in a long time!!!”
Todd Buonopane
Last night I saw The Other Josh Cohen – directed by the amazing Ted Sperling. It has got to be one of the funniest shows in New York at the moment!
Cannot wait to have Ted in Denmark to direct the Danish Premiere of The Drowsy Chaperone later this season! 
Søren Møller
As many of you know, I love to go to first previews and then return late in previews or during the actual run of the show. One does not have to love Levy’s Rye Bread to enjoy this rollicking, very human and humane new chamber musical. From the billing: “One man’s battle with money, heartache and Neil Diamond [CD III]”
Books, Music and Hysterical Lyrics by the delightful Steve Rosen [SPAMALOT] and his pal Dave Rossmer. Directed by the multi-talented TONY-winning Ted Sperling.
I truly look forward to visiting the wistful world of Josh Cohen again this week.
eMusings
This past week I was invited to see the preview of a new Off Broadway show called The Other Josh Cohen. It’s a musical comedy about a Jewish guy who has no luck with women or anything else, really. Until a simple case of mistaken identity changes everything. I went expecting to be mildly entertained. Instead I fell in love with the show. It is hysterically funny, brilliantly written, inventively staged, the actors rock, and the songs are both hysterical and musically satisfying. And the Jewish family stuff is hysterical as well.
When the show was over, I wanted everyone I know to go and see it.”
Jonathan Tropper