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The Odyssey

  • Feb 11, 2025 - Mar 16, 2025

  • Loeb Drama Center

  • Run Time: 3 hours, including two intermissions

  • Run Time

    3 hours, including two intermissions

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Clever, gorgeous, and superbly acted! Hamill’s crafted something special, and I’m changed.

WBUR

Acclaimed writer and adaptor Kate Hamill (Sense & Sensibility, Vanity Fair, Dracula) turns a contemporary lens on Homer’s Odyssey in this new play that reimagines the stories of both Odysseus and his wife, Penelope, and asks how we can learn to embrace healing and forgiveness in order to end cycles of violence and revenge.

This production contains sex, violence (including death of children and animals), and references to sexual assault, as well as fog, haze, strobe, and flashing lights. Recommended for ages 14+.

By Kate Hamill
Based on the epic poem by Homer
Directed by Shana Cooper

Notable dates

Opening Night: 2/18
Member Night: 2/27
ASL Interpreted:  3/5 at 7PM & 3/8 at 1:30PM
Audio Described: 3/12 at 7PM & 3/16 at 1:30PM
Open Captioned: 3/12 at 7PM & 3/16 at 1:30PM
Sensory Inclusive: 3/9 at 1:30PM

Listen to Pre-show Audio Description

Production Sponsors of The Odyssey
Choate
Alan Jones and Ashley Garrett
Development Support
The Bob and Alison Murchison New Work Development Fund

Accessibility

Find out about our theater’s accessibility.

Find out about our theater’s accessibility.

Plan Your Visit

Information on getting to the theater, local restaurants, and the Loeb Drama Center, including restrooms and concessions.

Information on getting to the theater, local restaurants, and the Loeb Drama Center, including restrooms and concessions.

Ticketing Policies

Learn about our ticketing policies and discounts, including for seniors, EBT cardholders, students, and audience members under 25.

Learn about our ticketing policies and discounts, including for seniors, EBT cardholders, students, and audience members under 25.

Content Key

Language 3 out of 5     
Violence 4 out of 5     
Sexuality 3 out of 5     
Substance Use 1 out of 5     

Language 3 out of 5     
Violence 4 out of 5     
Sexuality 3 out of 5     
Substance Use 1 out of 5     

Ticket Offers

All Discounts

Standard tickets start at $35, and discounts are available to students and ticket-buyers under the age of 25, Blue Star families, EBT card holders, seniors, Harvard faculty and staff, and others.

More Info

 

Audience members entering the theater.

Take Five

All Performances (Except FEB 18)
$5 Tickets

Take Five invites community members who feel attending theater is financially out of reach or want to take a chance on something new to experience the A.R.T. with a $5 ticket. These tickets are sold out for The Odyssey.

More Info

All Performances (Except FEB 18)
$5 Tickets

Take Five invites community members who feel attending theater is financially out of reach or want to take a chance on something new to experience the A.R.T. with a $5 ticket. These tickets are sold out for The Odyssey.

More Info

ArtsThursdays Logo

Harvard ArtsThursdays

FEB 20 at 7PM
Free with RSVP

Free tickets will be available to the performance on February 20 as part of Harvard ArtsThursdays, a university-wide initiative supported by Harvard University Committee on the Arts. An RSVP is required for one or two tickets as space is limited. On the day of the performance, tickets will be distributed at the Loeb Drama Center to the RSVP list on a first-come, first-served basis.

More Info and RSVP

FEB 20 at 7PM
Free with RSVP

Free tickets will be available to the performance on February 20 as part of Harvard ArtsThursdays, a university-wide initiative supported by Harvard University Committee on the Arts. An RSVP is required for one or two tickets as space is limited. On the day of the performance, tickets will be distributed at the Loeb Drama Center to the RSVP list on a first-come, first-served basis.

More Info and RSVP

Photos & Videos

Press Coverage

Reviews

Features

Explore

Kate Hamill

Developmental Workshop of The Odyssey

Behind the Scenes
OCT 19, 2023

After a developmental workshop, actors present a free reading of Kate Hamill’s adaptation of The Odyssey.

More Info

Behind the Scenes
OCT 19, 2023

After a developmental workshop, actors present a free reading of Kate Hamill’s adaptation of The Odyssey.

More Info

Mosaic of Odysseus tied to the mast of his ship.

The Odyssey in Ulysses

Civically Speaking
FEB 28, 2022

Explore how Kate Hamill’s new adaptation of The Odyssey is in dialogue with both the original epic poem and James Joyce’s landmark modernist novel, Ulysses.

More Info

Civically Speaking
FEB 28, 2022

Explore how Kate Hamill’s new adaptation of The Odyssey is in dialogue with both the original epic poem and James Joyce’s landmark modernist novel, Ulysses.

More Info

Kate Hamill, Chukwudi Iwuji, and Alejandra Escalante

Virtual Reading of The Odyssey

Behind the Scenes
JAN 12, 2021

Writer and performer Kate Hamill shares a scene from her new play, discusses reexamining classic texts through a feminist lens, and explains why she feels she has always been meant to adapt Homer’s epic.

More Info

Behind the Scenes
JAN 12, 2021

Writer and performer Kate Hamill shares a scene from her new play, discusses reexamining classic texts through a feminist lens, and explains why she feels she has always been meant to adapt Homer’s epic.

More Info

Essential Question

If you’ve gone through something traumatic, can you ever go back to who you were? Can you ever go back home?

A.R.T. leads with inquiry and asks questions in a spirit of brave curiosity in a never-ending journey of learning and growth. For each production, the creative team, company, and Engagement team develop an Essential Question to guide work in the rehearsal room, onstage, and for engaging with audiences.

Credits

Learn about the collaboration of artists who created the show, as well as the staff, supporters, and partners who made it possible.

Read the Program

Creative Team

By

Kate Hamill

Based on the epic poem by

Homer

Directed by

Shana Cooper

Scenic Design

Sibyl Wickersheimer

Costume Design

An-Lin Dauber

Lighting and Projection Design

Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew

Sound Design and Music Composition

Paul James Prendergast

Hair, Wig, & Make-up Design

Rachel Padula-Shufelt

Puppetry Director and Designer

Kate Brehm

Movement Director

Stephanie Martinez

Casting Director

The Telsey Office/Karyn Casl, CSA

Fight Director

Ted Hewlett

Intimacy Coordinator

Kayleigh Kane

Associate Movement Director

Taylor Yocum

Production Stage Manager

Terence Orleans Alexander

Cast

Carlo Albán Headshot

Telemachus/​​Nausithous/​​Hector

Carlo Albán

Carlo Albán Headshot

Telemachus/​​Nausithous/​​Hector

Carlo Albán

Abigail Baird Headshot

Puppeteer

Abigail Baird

Abigail Baird Headshot

Puppeteer

Abigail Baird

Benjamin Bonenfant Headshot

Elpenor/​Achilles/​Suitor

Benjamin Bonenfant

Benjamin Bonenfant Headshot

Elpenor/​Achilles/​Suitor

Benjamin Bonenfant

Wayne T. Carr Headshot

Odysseus

Wayne T. Carr

Wayne T. Carr Headshot

Odysseus

Wayne T. Carr

Ben Cherry headshot

Understudy for Odysseus, Polites

Ben Cherry

Ben Cherry headshot

Understudy for Odysseus, Polites

Ben Cherry

Alejandra Escalante Headshot

Woman 1/​​Nausicaa

Alejandra Escalante

Alejandra Escalante Headshot

Woman 1/​​Nausicaa

Alejandra Escalante

Kristian Espiritu Headshot

Understudy for Penelope, Woman 3

Kristian Espiritu

Kristian Espiritu Headshot

Understudy for Penelope, Woman 3

Kristian Espiritu

Kate Hamill Headshot

Woman 2/​​Circe

Kate Hamill

Kate Hamill Headshot

Woman 2/​​Circe

Kate Hamill

Nike Imoru Headshot

Woman 3/​Madame/​Melantho/​Anticlea/​Andromache

Nike Imoru

Nike Imoru Headshot

Woman 3/​Madame/​Melantho/​Anticlea/​Andromache

Nike Imoru

Alexandria King Headshot

Understudy for Woman 1, Woman 2, Puppeteer

Alexandria King

Alexandria King Headshot

Understudy for Woman 1, Woman 2, Puppeteer

Alexandria King

Keshav Moodliar Headshot

Amphinomus/​​Antinous

Keshav Moodliar

Keshav Moodliar Headshot

Amphinomus/​​Antinous

Keshav Moodliar

Andrus Nichols

Penelope

Andrus Nichols

Andrus Nichols

Penelope

Andrus Nichols

Jason O'Connell Headshot

Polites/​Polyphemus/​Ajax/​Suitor

Jason O’Connell

Jason O'Connell Headshot

Polites/​Polyphemus/​Ajax/​Suitor

Jason O’Connell

Chris Thorn Headshot

Eurylochus/​Agamemnon/​Suitor

Chris Thorn

Chris Thorn Headshot

Eurylochus/​Agamemnon/​Suitor

Chris Thorn

Understudy for Elpenor, Telemachus, Eurylochus

Rodney Witherspoon II

Understudy for Elpenor, Telemachus, Eurylochus

Rodney Witherspoon II