World Premiere of 'O: A Rhapsody in Divorce' Coming to Outside In Theatre

The new play by Jami Brandli explores heartbreak as a turning point through a modern lens on The Odyssey.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:35pm

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A striking, minimalist silhouette of a person in motion, rendered in bold, high-contrast colors, conceptually capturing the themes of reinvention and self-discovery at the core of the new play.A bold, abstract visual representation of the emotional journey at the heart of 'O: A Rhapsody in Divorce', a new play exploring heartbreak as a turning point.Los Angeles Today

Outside In Theatre in Los Angeles will present the world premiere of 'O: A Rhapsody in Divorce', a new play written by Jami Brandli and directed by Jessica Hanna. The play reimagines The Odyssey through a modern lens, following a successful neurobiologist in her 40s whose world is turned upside down when her husband asks for a separation but refuses to leave their home. Displaced and untethered, O embarks on a couch-hopping journey that blends memory, science, and surreal theatricality as she struggles to navigate her way back toward a 'new home'.

Why it matters

The play explores heartbreak as a turning point rather than an ending, weaving in the neurobiology of heartbreak to reveal how our bodies experience lost love as both psychological and biological upheaval. As a modern reimagining of The Odyssey, the play offers a fresh perspective on the themes of survival, reinvention, and finding one's own sense of home.

The details

Funny, bold, and emotionally grounded, 'O: A Rhapsody in Divorce' follows the protagonist O as she moves from couch to couch and memory to memory, navigating the knottiness of charting a course toward a new life defined not by loss, but by what comes next. The play will run from May 17 through June 9, 2026, with previews starting on May 9 at Outside In Theatre in Los Angeles.

  • The play will have its world premiere on May 17, 2026.
  • Previews for the production will begin on May 9, 2026.

The players

Jami Brandli

The playwright of 'O: A Rhapsody in Divorce'.

Jessica Hanna

The director of 'O: A Rhapsody in Divorce'.

Outside In Theatre

The Los Angeles theatre company that will be presenting the world premiere of 'O: A Rhapsody in Divorce'.

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The takeaway

This modern reimagining of The Odyssey offers a fresh perspective on the themes of survival, reinvention, and finding one's own sense of home, using the neurobiology of heartbreak to explore how we can emerge from loss and create a new life.