Caroline Aaron stars in West Coast premiere
of The Best Medicine by Robin Gerber
LOS ANGELES (August 25, 2026) — Caroline Aaron (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) dives headfirst into the whiplash experience of what it is to live, love and lament in Odyssey Theatre Ensemble’s West Coast premiere of The Best Medicine, written by playwright and bestselling author Robin Gerber and directed by Jane E. Unger. Performances run October 10 through November 15 at the Odyssey Theatre in West Los Angeles. Three discounted previews take place on October 7, 8 and 9.
Aaron stars as Rachel in a laugh-out-loud, open-hearted solo show about caregiving, marriage, resilience and unexpected joy. A free spirit who has long prized her independence, Rachel has finally found a relationship worthy of commitment. Then the universe decides to test her. That “in sickness and in health” vow becomes a distant memory when Rachel’s husband is diagnosed with a progressive, incurable disease, and she’s thrust into the job she’s least suited for: self-sacrificing caregiver. A stand-up comedy class becomes her salvation and a portal to a transformative truth about life and connection. More than a romantic comedy, The Best Medicine is a hilarious, poignant and unexpected exploration of love, purpose and meaning.
The Best Medicine was inspired by Gerber’s experience caring for her husband, who has Parkinson’s disease. It premiered at Great Barrington Public Theater in August 2025, with Metroland Now praising it for “empathy, comedy, and a whole lot of depth.” The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble production is presented in partnership with Parkinson’s Community Los Angeles.
Gerber is a bestselling author whose books include Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way (Penguin), Katharine Graham (Penguin), Barbie and Ruth, about the founder of Mattel (HarperCollins), and the novel Eleanor vs. Ike (HarperCollins). Her first play, The Shot, was selected for the 2017 Ojai Playwrights Conference, and is currently being produced around the country starring Sharon Lawrence. She is also a professional speaker, motivating audiences with stories from the lives of great women leaders. She has appeared on the Biography and History channels, and on CNN’s documentary series First Ladies. Prior to becoming an author and playwright, Robin worked in the labor movement and on Capitol Hill. She served as committee staff in the House of Representatives and as a lobbyist and political director for two major international unions.
Aaron, perhaps best known for her role as Shirley Maisel in the Emmy Award-winning Amazon series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and for her recurring role as Pete’s wife, Carol, in Ghosts, is an acclaimed theater actor. She recently starred off-Broadway in The Reservoir, garnering Drama Desk, Drama League and Dorian Award nominations as well as the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress. Other recent theater credits include Conversations with Mother at NYC’s Theatre 555, for which she earned an Outer Critics Circle nomination for Outstanding Lead in a Play; Madwomen of the West in London, L.A. and NYC; and Bye Bye Birdie at the Kennedy Center, for which she was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award. Broadway credits include Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean; The Iceman Cometh; Social Security; I Hate Hamlet; The Ritz; and Relatively Speaking. Caroline has over 100 feature film credits including the recent indie hit Theatre Camp, Between The Temples, 31 Candles and the upcoming, Bookends opposite F. Murray Abraham. Other film credits include 21 and 22 Jump Street, Primary Colors, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Beyond the Sea, Edward Scissorhands, Joe Dirt and many more.
Director Jane Unger is the founding artistic director of Profile Theatre Project in Portland, Oregon, where she has featured and directed work by Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, Constance Congdon, Romulus Linney, Harold Pinter, Edward Albee, Terrence McNally, Lanford Wilson, Wendy Wasserstein, John Guare, Neil Simon, Horton Foote, Lee Blessing and Athol Fugard, working directly with many of these writers on new play development. Among the awards Jane has received, she is especially proud of Portland’s Drammy Award for Best Director for Wings and the Drammy Lifetime Achievement Award for Profile Theatre.
The creative team for The Best Medicine includes scenic designer Robert Mark Morgan, lighting designer Leigh Allen, sound and video designer Ramiro Hermosillorivera, and costume designer Lisette Lee. The stage manager is Jennifer Palumbo. The Best Medicine is produced by Beth Hogan for Odyssey Theatre Ensemble.
Founded in 1969 by Ron Sossi, a pioneer in the intimate theater movement who remained at the company’s helm for 56 years until his death in 2025, Odyssey Theatre Ensemble is one of Los Angeles’ most adventurous theater companies, offering world-class live theater experiences in its three-theater complex.
Performances of The Best Medicine take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. from October 10 through November 15. Prior to opening, there will be three previews on Wednesday, Oct. 7; Thursday, Oct. 8; and Friday, Oct. 9, each at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $15 to $45. A $3 fee will be added to each ticket purchased with a credit card.
The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (310) 477-2055 or go to OdysseyTheatre.com.
Details for Calendar Listings
The Best Medicine
WHAT:
Caroline Aaron (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) stars as Rachel in the West Coast premiere of The Best Medicine, a laugh-out-loud, open-hearted solo show about caregiving, marriage, resilience and unexpected joy. A free spirit who has long prized her independence, Rachel has finally found a relationship worthy of commitment. Then the universe decides to test her. That “in sickness and in health” vow becomes a distant memory when Rachel’s husband is diagnosed with Parkinson’s, thrusting her suddenly into the job she’s least suited for: self-sacrificing caregiver. A stand-up comedy class becomes her salvation and a portal to a transformative truth about life and connection. More than a romantic comedy, The Best Medicine is a hilarious, poignant and unexpected exploration of love, purpose and meaning.
WHO:
• Written by Robin Gerber
• Directed by Jane E. Unger
• Starring Caroline Aaron
• Presented by Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, Beth Hogan artistic director, in partnership with Parkinson’s Community Los Angeles
WHEN:
Oct. 7–Nov. 15
Previews Oct. 7–9:
• Wednesday at 8 p.m.
• Thursday at 8 p.m.
• Friday at 8 p.m.
Performances Oct. 10–Nov. 15:
• Fridays at 8 p.m.
• Saturdays at 8 p.m.
• Sundays at 2 p.m.
WHERE:
Odyssey Theatre
2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
TICKET PRICES:
$15-$45
(A $3 fee will be added to each ticket purchased with a credit card.)
HOW:
OdysseyTheatre.com
(310) 477-2055 ext. 2
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