Press
This page has interviews, features, and reviews from over the years!
LOVE QUIRKS, LONDON’S OFF-WEST END, FALL 2025
All That Dazzles 5 Star Review
“It’s not easy to write a musical score that is both memorable and emotional, but Seth Bisen-Hersh does exactly that and then some. The songs are smart, fresh, and extremely catchy. They manage to help with progressing character development without ever feeling too explanatory. The harmonies in group numbers like ‘Love Quirks’ and ‘In Love’ are rich and tight, and the cast sings them beautifully. There’s a particular magic when their voices blend, as if the sound of their friendship is fixed in the music.”
Jolien’s Theatre Diary, 5 Star Review
“Let me just say, I think I’ve found a new favourite musical.”
“The songs are absolutely incredible — full of harmonies, humour, and heart.”
West End Best Friend, 4 Star Review
“The production features some remarkable character songs that we hope to see more musical theatre performers get their hands on soon.”
“From hearing sparks to booms of laughter and applause, to audience members compelled to sing the original songs of Seth Bisen-Hersh to themselves as the lights come up for intermission, it was clear the show was well received. Of all the expectations we could have listed before our night at the theatre – casual, easy, colourful, sexy, inclusive, uplifting, artistic, creative, complex, realistic – all boxes stand ticked by the final bow.”
“The brilliant score provides an engaging and witty musical backbone. A huge credit goes to the composer Seth Bisen-Hersh who has composed to fit the play’s tone and add to the dynamism.”
Theatre Reviews Design, 4 Star Review
“The lyrics are spot-on. Clever and incredibly funny!”
Centre Stage Reviews, 4 Star Review
“Overall, the songs in Love Quirks are strong. The harmonies and melodic structure are beautifully constructed. Most of the songs have a good memorable hook and lyrics that are funny and thoughtful.”
Pink Prince Theatre, 4 Star Review
“Seth Bisen-Hersh’s score is genuinely catchy, with songs that are both witty and poignant. I found myself humming the tunes as I was leaving the theatre which is always a good sign, with the titular track perhaps standing out as my favourite.”
MALKA (short film), 2025
“What we have here is a film that’s been described as Chicago meets Cabaret by way of Schindler’s List. It’s unique and that is definitely one way of putting it.”
“Through Stacey Maltin’s direction and Lenny Schwartz & Seth Bisen-Hersh’s script, Malka is not just a plunge into trauma. It is a short film that plays out as a triumphant ode to life, memory, and resilience—a testament to survival not only through suffering, but through art and spirit, reminding us that even after the darkest hours, dawn inevitably comes.”
“Malka is the type of film that should be starting conversations, especially given the level of Jew-hatred today. But will the people who need to watch films like this even bother to give it the time of day? I’ll tell you. I don’t know.”
EB Indie Film Festival Interview
W.42st West Side Story Interview
THE DIAMOND AS BIG AS THE RITZ, OFF-OFF-BROADWAY, FALL 2024
“The music offers a number of beautiful melodies, especially in “The Diamond As Big As The Ritz,” the title song, and the moving finale “Enough, Already,” a sentiment which I think most of us can appreciate in this unsettling age…” –Hi! Drama, Jan Ewing
“A critical element of musical theater in what is considered a true musical is that the lyrics of the song are integrated with the storyline, so taking a song out of the play leaves a hole in the dramatic arc. In this production, each musical number provides details about the characters and the play’s structure that move the story forward.”
“The show’s closing song makes a powerful statement about the present-day political environment.”
LOVE QUIRKS OFF-BROADWAY, SUMMER 2022
Interview with Tap Into East Brunswick
“Bisen-Hersh’s music, on that note, is catchy and bouncy — the bounciest being the title tune — to offset the somber struggle of the subject matter, but is also tender when it needs to be, allowing insight into how these four really feel about themselves, their partners, and their friends. The thoughtful, poignant lyrics – “All my stuff fits in this bag, but there’s no room for the baggage I’ve amassed” and “A shell of myself is what I had become… I woke up no longer me” among the highlights – as well as the motifs in the melodies, most notably the ongoing repetition of “It Never Works” (until it does!) do much to both move the show forward, and mine through the characters’ emotions conversationally to get at what they really want.”
“I later listened to the soundtrack on a streaming platform and savored the playful lyrics, vocal arrangements, and orchestrations.”
PODCAST INTERVIEWS, 2023-PRESENT
LOVE QUIRKS, OFF-BROADWAY, WINTER 2020
Interview with Unlock the Music Blog
Interview with Says Me Says Mom
DON’T TELL MAMA CABARETS, 2007-PRESENT
2021 Celia & Friends Sing SBH Review
“What do you do when you’re a songwriter who doesn’t get fame and acclaim? What do you when your life’s work and personal passion are writing musicals but you don’t get to be the next Jerry Herman, Stephen Schwartz, or Sarah Bareilles? What do you when you ask yourself, with some regularity, “Why am I not famous, yet?” Do you stop writing? Do you stop the inspiration from flowing without? Do you throw in the towel? Some do, but for Seth Bisen-Hersh, not writing songs is simply not possible, as evidenced by the wealth of musical material on display last night at Don’t Tell Mama.”
“Musical director for the evening, Mr. Bisen-Hersh was able to provide accompaniment for the actors, as well as a running commentary for the music being presented, and who better to do that, since there are backstories and anecdotes that inform each of the compositions being performed?”
“Mr. Bisen-Hersh has found a voice that is more accessible to audiences than some more famous composers that get overly complicated with their lyrics by placing his focus solely on emotion, be it his, the character’s, the performer’s, or ours. As a poet, he has a knack for looking inside of the human heart and putting what he sees there on paper; indeed, the heart to be found in his work is most easily compared to the work of the late Carol Hall, while his storytelling skills are very reminiscent of the songwriting team of Maltby and Shire, not bad company to be in, in the opinion of this writer.”
“A musical theater writer, Bisen-Hersh manages to create a clear story in each of his compositions, all of which are theatrical in nature and distinctly character-driven.”
2023 Women Composer Cabaret Review
“It was a treat to see Seth’s Talent Showcase cabaret this Tuesday night at Midtown’s Don’t Tell Mama. Composer and lyricist Seth Bisen-Hersh’s weekly talent showcase has been going on for quite some time, and this week’s edition, held on Tuesday, January 24th at 7pm, was no slouch.”
2019 Jerry Herman Cabaret Review
“I’ve seen a sampling of Seth Bisen-Hersh’s shows now, both when he’s been the producer and when he’s been musical director. He’s efficient, throws in a dash of the comical, and generally lays the gist out very well…Bisen-Hersh brought in a solid line-up of performers and had strong underlying material. As musical-director and MC, he guided the movement of the show by sharing anecdotes about the exceptional Herman between songs… Bisen-Hersh sang a pair of songs, but most notably, his commentary drew laughs as he pointed out the tricks of cabaret that generally go unspoken such as ‘complementing your audience, so that they like you’…With Bisen-Hersh at the piano, it’s safe to say this talented cast ‘carried it off’.”
2019 Interview with Broadway Select
LOVE QUIRKS, OFF-OFF-BROADWAY, FALL 2014
With a score that shines and four strong performers (Teresa Hui, Robert McCaffrey, Brian Shaw, and Lauren Testerman) each struggling through very different love stories, LOVE QUIRKS is If/Then meets First Date: a new musical for a new generation of a new New York.
“Mr. Bisen-Hersh’s songs are funny, touching and come alive in the hands (voices) of four exceptional actors.”
STANLEY’S PARTY, MANHATTAN CHILDREN’S THEATER, SPRING 2010
“It’s a lovable, quick-moving romp that kept the very small kids in the theatre attentive and involved throughout, yet offers enough sophistication and variety to keep their accompanying grown-ups diverted as well.”
“The story unfolds speedily and mostly to the bright and chipper music of Bisen-Hersh…Among the highlights: the show-stopping title tune, which features more complex harmonies than you’d expect to find in a kids’ musical, and ‘Do the Doggy Dance’, a high-energy number that the littlest members of the audience seemed to get a big kick out of.” -— Martin Denton, Editor/Producer, nytheatre.com
“Run on two feet or all fours down to Manhattan Children’s Theater. Stanley’s Party…is a rollicking, high-spirited adventure that doesn’t let up.”
“What is most impressive is the catchy, clever score by Seth Bisen-Hersh. The music and lyrics are reminiscent of the Disney cartoons of the 1990s; that is to say, sophisticated while still audience-appropriate…Every tune is hummable, enjoyable, and leaves plenty of Easter eggs for the careful listener. It takes a considerable amount of energy not to sing along, or jump on stage and join the show.”
“It succeeds on a whole in entertaining all ages, and will surely have a long life, not just in dog years, after its run at MCT.” —- Lori Chandler, TheaterOnline.com
“It’s like Sondheim for kids!” —- Matt Windman, AMNY
“This was truly a delight for the whole family!” —- Eva Heinemann, HI! DRAMA
BROADWAY CAN!, WINTER 2009
“On December 14th, I finally got the opportunity to hear Seth Bisen-Hersh’s songs at Broadway Can! for the Bowery Mission. Over a dozen of the best singers shared their favorite canned good stories, usually involving a memory of a loved one and then belted out such delightful tunes as “SO YOU WANNA BE A PERFORMER” sung by Elyse Beyer about the hardships of an actor’s life; Celina Carvajal had the power ballad “DREAMS” about being scared of mediocrity; Brooke Sunny Moriber sang a valentine to NY with “MY NY.” Kimberly Faye Greenberg and Brian Childers currently doing Danny and Sylvia sang songs about Thanksgiving and ending a bad relationship.” — Eva Heinemann, HI! DRAMA
BROADWAY MEOWS, SUMMER 2009
“Broadway Meows was a really enjoyable benefit concert for the Humane Society of New York…It featured the songs of Seth Bisen-Hersh, and he was the emcee. I had never seen him before so I didn’t really know him, but his first song was about being obsessive compulsive, and he certainly seems to be but in a charming and funny way…it was really nice, and Don’t Tell Mama’s a fun place to be, so if they do something like this again – please go!” — Mark Savitt, HI! Drama
I’LL RELAX WHEN I’M DEAD, SPRING 2009
“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
WRITER’S BLOCK, SPRING 2008
Interview with NY Theatre Mike
