"Rising star Seth Bisen-Hersh shows off his ability to convey a myriad of emotions...the multi-talented cast breezes through each with refreshing ingenuity...While some may lament the state of cabaret, with Bisen-Hersh on the scene no one needs to worry."

-- Lori Chandler, TheaterOnline.com

Seth Bisen-Hersh, composer of six cabarets including "Neurotic Tendencies," "Why Am I Not Famous Yet?" and "Writer's Block" returns to Don't Tell Mama this May to premiere his 7th cabaret: "I'll Relax When I'm Dead." With direction by Laura Pestronk and co-starring Elyse Beyer, Allison Linker, Gordon Maniskas, Ryan Neller, Jace Nichols, Rori Nogee & Brian Shaw, "I'll Relax When I'm Dead" features 10 new songs as well as 2 mini-musicals developed at The Small Pond Musical Theatre Writing Lab last fall.

"My New Computer" (book by Zachary Drummer) explores the exciting and exhilarating journey switching from PC to Mac.

"What If...?" (book and co-lyrics by Michael DiGaetano) follows the loves and lives of 4 New Yorkers at a crossroads.

The ten new songs include both comedy numbers and tearjerkers: "Um, Yeah..." about an awkward okcupid first date, "Can You Believe I Was Ever Sad We Broke Up?", "To My Grandparents" and "The Wedding Song" which was dedicated to and performed at Bisen-Hersh's best friend's wedding last summer.

I'LL RELAX WHEN I'M DEAD VIDEOS

I Guess Sung by Brian Shaw
My New Computer
To My Grandparents Sung by Elyse Beyer
Um, Yeah... Sung by Ryan Neller
Can You Believe? Sung by Elyse Beyer
Waiting for the 1 (from "What If...?") Sung by Rori Nogee & Jace Nichols



ELYSE BEYER is thrilled to return to Don't Tell Mama, having previously been featured in Why Am I Not Famous Yet?: Songs of Bitter Frustration, Writer's Block: A Cabaret That Was Hard to Write, as well as several fundraiser events, including Broadway Can! and Broadway Meows. Recent Off Broadway credits include Janet in The Gayest Christmas Pageant Ever and Stephanie in Judy And Me. Check out her latest endeavor in the race to become Miss Fag Hag 2010 here.

SETH BISEN-HERSH is a prolific composer/ lyricist, accompanist, vocal coach and performer. Musicals: Meaningless Sex (FringeNYC 2003, Audience Favorite Award), The Spickner Spin (Fringe NYC 2004, Audience Favorite Award), More to Love, Stanley's Party (currently playing at Manhattan Children's Theatre till 5/31/10) . Cabaret acts: And Then She Dumped Me (2003), The Gayest Straight Man Alive (2004), Meaningful Sex (2005), Neurotic Tendencies (2006), Why Am I Not Famous Yet? (2007), Writer's Block (2008), I'll Relax When I'm Dead (2010). Charity concerts: Broadway Meows, Broadway Can!. Also, Seth has produced/ emceed/ accompanied over 100 weekly talent showcases at Don't Tell Mama since 2007. 2 Bachelors, MIT; Masters, NYU. www.sethbh.com

MICHAEL DIGAETANO (Book/ Co-Lyrics: "What If...?") is a television writer/producer and screenwriter. He has written, produced and created series and pilots for NBC, CBS, Fox and HBO. As a screenwriter, Michael co-wrote the movie Houseguest starring Phil Hartman. For the theatre, Michael wrote the book, lyrics and co-composed the music for The 'Gay No More'Telethon: (Let's Get One Thing Straight...You!), the opening night production at the 2008 NYC International Fringe Festival. His play Sorority Queen In A Mobile Home, written with Kevin Mahoney, was featured in the 2009 NYC International Fringe Festival and will be opening in Los Angeles in June. Michael just completed the book and lyrics for a new musical Miss Humanity with composer Daniel Lincoln. Michaelwriterguy@aol.com

ZACH DRUMMER (Book: "My New Computer") is a graduate of Boston University's College of Communications class of 2009. He has written a number of straight plays for his college theater group and currently works as a script reader for the Public Theater. He is ecstatic to see his first musical collaboration put up in Seth's new show!

ALLISON LINKER is delighted to join Seth for his seventh cabaret extravaganza, I'll Relax When I'm Dead! Recent performances include excerpts from Melissa Li's Surviving The Nian (The Lounge at Dixon Place), Christmas Rappings (Theatre at the Judson), and the Project Footlight Festival (Dixon Place). She can also be heard playing flute on the soundtrack of Seth's new children's musical Stanley's Party. Allison is originally from Connecticut and holds degrees in Theatre and Psychology from Wellesley College.

GORDON MANISKAS is a recent graduate from Syracuse University, who is thrilled to work with Seth again! He has recently been seen in Dear Edwina with Daryl Roth Productions and If You Give A Pig A Pancake with Theatreworks USA. Future projects include Sunset Boulevard at Ogunquit Playhouse, The Andrews Brothers at Cortland Rep, and is currently workshopping Of Mice And Manhattan in association with The Kennedy Center. Much love to friends, family, and Chrissy.

RYAN NELLER is thrilled to perform in I'll Relax When I'm Dead, after recently appearing at Don't Tell Mama in Seth's 100th Showcase Celebration. Favorite roles include Wickersham # 3 in the national tour of Seussical, Edwin in Unlock'd, Jamie in The Hot l Baltimore, and the title character in Pippin. Ryan is a graduate of NYU Tisch/Lee Strasberg Institute and a proud member of AEA.

JACE NICHOLS is excited to be back working with Seth again. He played the role of Aaron in Seth's mini-musical, What If? and jumped at the chance to take another crack at these great songs. NYC; Pinkalicious (Bleecker Street). Regional credits include Sweeney Todd, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Assassins, Carousel, and most recently, Guys On Ice.

LAURA PESTRONK (Director) received her B.F.A in Drama and Psychology from NYU, Tisch School of the Arts. Credits include Opening Night at Where Eagles Dare, Unblessed at Jimmy 43, Broadway Can!, the award winning Jump! for the NY Strawberry Festival, 200 Mystical Fictions for the NY Fringe Festival, It Was A Good Day at The Barrow Group, Nicky Silver's Fat Men In Skirts, John Patrick Shanley's Savage In Limbo, Broadway Barks!, Winter at the Looking Glass, Marea (assistant director) and William Bell (assistant director) for Packawallop Productions. Her one woman show, Interesting Topics In Significant Similitude Starring Cindy Cinnamon performed at Downtown Art Theater and NYU. Laura studied at Playwrights Horizons Theater School, concentrating in directing and acting.

BRIAN SHAW hails from Ledyard, CT (land of casinos and cows and is thrilled to be in NYC and beginning his career. Favorite theater credits include Prodigal (Luke Flannery), Our Town (George Gibbs), A Chorus Line (Mark, Music Director/Conductor) and West Side Story (Music Director/Conductor). Brian is also a multi-instrumentalist, conductor, music director and female impersonator. http://web.mac.com/brianjshaw


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