The Other Josh Cohen NYC Reviews and Tickets

"If the songs never quite develop a signature sound, except for a few that aptly invoke Neil Diamond, they make up for it in their off-center point of view...The style recalls that of musicals like '[title of show]' and 'Spelling Bee,' with their apparently spontaneous digressions into the odd and outré...'The Other Josh Cohen' is a charmer, touching on real issues without pummeling them. It doesn’t need to push harder or further; in knowing itself, it has already found its beshert."
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“The show's story of sad sack Josh Cohen, a hilarious modern-day Job, has returned...and it feels as fresh and relevant as ever...With its cartoonish brand of comedy and zippy performances from the cast, ‘The Other Josh Cohen’ is the deliriously fun musical we all need right now...With terrific performances, a quirky story, and memorable songs, ‘The Other Josh Cohen’ is a fun ride that delivers a few good messages along with its feel-good vibe.”
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"A labor of love from the true friendship and life experiences of Steve Rosen and David Rossmer...The score, written by Mr. Rossmer and Mr. Rosen, contains some very clever lyrics and catchy melodies. Having all the actors double up on instruments makes it even better...The show is fun, lively and kept a smile on my face the whole time...This is quite an undertaking and deserves to be seen and experienced...A remarkable night of theatre."
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“’The Other Josh Cohen’ isn't just high concept, it's all concept...The songs are mostly agreeable time-fillers...Anyone looking for an undemanding hour and a half of Seinfeldian shtick, even if some of it has crept by its sell-by date, will probably get his or her money's worth. It's a fast, funny evening, but don't be surprised if, the next morning, you don't remember what you did the night before.”
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"Cleverly written by Rossmer and Rosen, 'The Other Josh Cohen' is a light and lively diversion that’s probably going to keep a smile on your face for its 95-minute entirety. Unpretentious in its style and scope, the musical brightly bounces along from one upbeat song to another...Meeting 'The Other Josh Cohen' won’t change your life, but this certainly will give you a dandy time, enhanced by the deceptively casual excellence of the off-Broadway production as nicely staged by Foster."
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"I can’t believe I have fallen for a schlub with a cheesy mustache and a Star Wars shower curtain. But, hey, I’m not the only one who’s succumbed to the silly charm of 'The Other Josh Cohen'...Luke Darnell, Hannah Elless, Elizabeth Nestlerode, Louis Tucci, Kate Wetherhead play all the supporting roles...Between lickety-split wig and costume changes, they also play just about every instrument you can imagine. They deserve all the Valentine’s Day candy."
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“Small in scope, big in heart, ‘Josh Cohen’ is a name that you won’t soon forget...A supporting cast of stellar comedic actors provide an adorably twisty backstory...The current production benefits from the addition of Hunter Foster’s excellent direction. He has made powerful moments more poignant through subtle actions, and added entertaining, clever choices to its delivery...It would be extraordinarily difficult to dislike ‘Josh Cohen’...The best show audiences will have seen in years.”
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"This little musical that manages to combine a big heart, fun, and laughter and a message has journeyed to many stages...It's light but not too light to have something meaningful and hopeful to say...Much of the fun comes from the verve with which Rossmar and Rosen's musician/actors play all those people in the Josh saga. That includes Josh's family who are hilariously brought to life..If you go, and I think you should, plan to get there a bit early."
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“Cheery revival...The show not only explores the limits of otherness, it literally runs on it...The multi-talented supporting ensemble is led by the very funny Wetherhead...Portraying various mean girlfriends and kind hearted Jewish mothers. Louis Tucci, when not busy on bass guitar, is both Josh’s landlord and his father. Darnell, Elless, and Nestlerode all turn in fine performances in sporadic appearances."
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“This perky, hopeful new musical with catchy tunes makes even this critic-grouch optimistic...With melodic songs, quirky charms, and a gee-whiz sweetness, it’s an appealing small-scale musical with delightful performances from its seven-member cast...While the material can be hokey at times, so can its inspiration: Neil Diamond. The musical is utterly aware of this. The winks, nudges, and sequins are part of it.”
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"The musical has an interesting book and relatable lyrics; however, the music seems very much the same except for a couple of numbers which thankfully vary in tempo and style. Director Hunter Foster moves the action along at breakneck speed despite some scenes seeming overlong and overwrought...The musical’s themes of the need to 'Hang On' and to embrace change are important and always timely. It just takes a bit too long to get to that resolution."
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“Mildly entertaining...Yet somehow, the humor in ‘The Other Josh Cohen’ often feels cliché and dated...Rosen and Rossmer have glorious chemistry onstage. Real-life childhood friends, it is easy to tell that they are basking in the glory of the show’s success...Talented cast. Not only are they gifted with comedic timing, but they also work a double shift, serving as the onstage band. Musically, there is some catchy material.”
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“Wetherhead is a standout as are the two Josh's, who are also the the composer, lyricist and book writers. For that matter the whole cast is a well rounded troupe of chameleons. Hunter Foster’s hones this piece in and gives it a delightful spin on a story many of us have gone through, minus the check. Though scrappy and tongue in check you will find yourself chuckling more than once.”
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"The potential for irritation is high, but in keeping the musical’s complaining, mulling, and resolving to a brisk 90 minutes and by keeping its charm and 11 songs witty and sunny, 'The Other Josh Cohen' succeeds with a humble and open-hearted modesty. The musical, directed with a ditzy energy by Hunter Foster, won’t shake up your world. It doesn’t reinvent musical theatre either. But it’s a lark and a polished lark at that."
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"An irresistible laugh-out-loud rock-musical rom-com with a positive message that will leave you exiting the theater with the biggest of smiles on your face. I know I did...The smart writing, infectious humor, and sweet underlying heart are flawlessly delivered by the pair of thoroughly engaging stars and an across-the-board terrific live on-stage band that doubles as the zany supporting cast."
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"The humorous, witty, superlatively clever production...With a versatile cast portraying many roles and Hunter Foster consummately directing, the show smashes audience funny bones with brio, and thankfully, what a pleasurable way to go!...Foster manages to stage this musical with an economy that boggles the imagination, and he makes these characters transcend time, place, and space with shimmering brilliance."
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"Proof that life is a comedy of tragedies. You have to laugh at its madness in order not to cry, and you also have to ponder at it so as to see its strange balance. With each song, the musical shows that life has a way of resetting its scales; as if every bumpy road leads to a smooth one. Hence, musically, every song flows into to other like an exuberant plot point...Every song is hilariously poignant, and backed by a phenomenal cast of actors/musicians that can do everything."
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"A sweet and winning musical comedy...'The Other Josh Cohen' bounces from song to song with high energy and infectious humor. The very able cast plays multiple roles as well as their own instruments, and the costume and wig designers do great work. One of the show’s greatest virtues is its modesty; it’s not a theatrical groundbreaker but uses its small scale to great advantage to deliver an enjoyable and funny 90 minutes."
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“A funnier-than-fiction, 90-minute-long musical comedy...Under the direction of Foster, sentimentality reigns, the music is catchy, songs are relatable, and laughs are plentiful in a seamless and well-conceived production that guarantees you will leave the show wearing your happy face...They never missed a beat, and their high energy was palpable...they cut through the material at high speed, using pantomime to fill in the blanks or give punchlines the occasional steroid boost."
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“90 minutes of high-speed plot development, witty banter, more than 10 finger-snapping tunes, and a seriously multi-talented ensemble. The musician-actors play every song live and the instruments woven into the plot feel like the musical ‘Once,’ if it had the cultural humor of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’...The ensemble.not only nails the comedic genre, but also plays an instrument (or three) throughout the show...Sharp comedy and a profoundly talented cast.”
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