David Rossmer and Steve Rosen were teenage campers at a performing arts camp in Hancock, New York called French Woods. "Sure, you can do sports there, but you'll actually be less popular," says Rossmer. Before they even exchanged names they were paired up for a "remarkably cutthroat" improv troupe audition.
Steve Rosen and David Rossmer wrote and star in The Other Josh Cohen at The Westside TheaterCaitlin McNaney
"Bill and Bob walked into a bar," said the scene's narrator. Rossmer and Rosen, as the improvisors, sauntered into an old-timey bar. The narrator continued: "Bill and Bob ordered a drink." They each raised their index fingers and ordered a drink. Finally they heard "Bill spilled his drink on Bob." So both of them simultaneously spilled their drink on each other. "Because neither of us knew who was Bill and who was Bob," recalls Rosen. People were in hysterics. In that moment they realized they were a good team.
Most importantly, they made each other laugh. "As soon as we started talking, we realized we had a lot in common and are still the closest of friends," explains Rosen. "Brothers from different mothers."
Since French Woods their careers have thrived in a big way. On television, Rosen has had recurring roles on Law and Order: SVU and The Resident. On Broadway, he starred in Monty Python's Spamalot, The Farnsworth Invention and Guys and Dolls. He is also co-adapting the film The Secret of My Success as a musical, premiering in Chicago next year. Meanwhile, Rossmer's TV credits include SVU, Vinyl, Blue Bloods and The Good Fight, and the Broadway shows Titanic, Fiddler on the Roof, Peter and the Starcatcher and Les Misérables. Rossmer is currently writing a musical adaptation of Monopoly for Broadway. And both Rossmer and Rosen have also appeared in hit Netflix show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel!
As much of a force they are on their own, together they make up one genius duo. Just after college, when most of their friends were out drinking they would hang out at Rossmer's apartment and dream up ideas for sketches or write songs. They turned those apartment writing sessions into a very successful variety show benefit called Don't Quit Your Night Job, where Broadway stars (including Sting, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Bebe Neuwirth, Sutton Foster and Huey Lewis) would do funny and ridiculous things.
Nine years ago they were in Los Angeles and about to prep for a TV pitch meeting with Sony the next morning. To calm their nerves they decided to play whatever game system was in Rosen's sublet apartment. "We became so amused by the music from the Mario Kart start screen that we never actually played the game. It felt like a Neil Diamond song," says Rossmer. Instead of picking up the controllers, they grabbed a guitar off the wall and began writing songs in the style of Neil Diamond. "We had no idea why, or what use we'd have for them, but it was fun writing them. Never did we think it would go on to bring us so much joy," Rossmer adds.
Before they knew it, the sun was up and they had penned six tunes. "We crashed for a few hours and sang our new songs in the car all the way to Sony," shares Rosen. "The pitch went great by the way. Unfortunately, as is common in Hollywood, everyone we pitched to got fired the next week."
But the really good news? Those six songs became the basis for their latest show, The Other Josh Cohen. "The songs we made when we were supposed to be relaxing? Now we sing 'em eight times a week," explains Rosen. "We are bad at relaxing."
The toe-tapping, hope-inducing, make-your-heart-sing rock 'n' roll comedy is now playing at Westside Theater and stars Rossmer and Rosen. They are joined by a crazy multitasking cast of seven actors who perform more than 50 roles in 90 minutes. (The cast includes Jane Bruce, Cathryn Wake, Elizabeth Nestlerode, Luke Darnell, Louis Tucci, Zach Spound and Megan Loomis.) They also play all the different instruments. "One minute they're banging on the drums, then they're rocking out on electric bass or keytar or even switching mid-song to a mandolin," says Rossmer.
Directed by Hunter Foster, the musical centers around Josh Cohen, "a poor schlub" who seems stuck in an eternal streak of bad luck. However, everything changes when he receives a mysterious letter and gets to reexamine his entire existence. (With the help of Darth Vader and a page-a-day kitty calendar.) Rossmer and Rosen both play the same character, but one year apart. Early on they even released an all-star album recording of the show with their "fancy friends" including Sutton Foster, Kelli O'Hara, Brian D'Arcy James, James Monroe Iglehart, Hank Azaria, Caissie Levy, Jimmi Simpson, James Roday and Chita Rivera.
Luke Darnell, Steve Rosen and Louis Tucci in The Other Josh CohenCaitlin McNaney
Without giving too much more away Neil Diamond also heavily factors in. "The show is a love letter to him. The man is the ultimate tunesmith. He can, with sometimes only three or four chords, create an ear worm of a melody that will get stuck in your brain and a lyric that cuts straight to the heart," Rossmer explains. While Diamond hasn't seen The Other Josh Cohen yet, they have a message for him. "Mr. Diamond, thank you for inspiring us with your beautiful songs. We adore you and would love for you to see the show you've inspired. We like to think it would make you smile."
With Valentine's Day upon us, The Other Josh Cohen is the ideal romantic comedy to make everyone else smile. (Plus V-Day is part of the plot.) "While Valentine's Day is the most romantic holiday for some, for others – like us, when we were writing this show – it's an emotional nightmare," says Rossmer. "There's a feeling of expectation," adds Rosen. "If you don't have someone in your life, you're doing something wrong. As we say near the beginning, 'you have to be like a ninja, dodging awkwardness.'"
In fact, the show is also a great reminder, if you are single or not, to remain hopeful. "It celebrates how, before anything else, we have to learn to be kind to ourselves," offers Rossmer. "You don't need to be in a relationship to be a successful human, being kind is far more important."
David Rossmer and Steve RosenCailtin McNaney
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