From Talk-it-OUT! to the ACT Lab
Founded in 2018 by Dr. Aurélia Mouzet, Talk-it-OUT! began as an interactive theater initiative designed to equip students with creative tools for dialogue, reflection, and social engagement. Originally developed within the Department of French and Italian at the University of Arizona, the program brings together undergraduate and graduate students—primarily from the College of Humanities—to create and perform original skits addressing contemporary challenges faced by youth and communities.
Using methods such as Forum Theatre, Image Theatre, and Playback Theatre, Talk-it-OUT! fosters active listening, empathy, and collaborative problem-solving. Students have performed in local high schools, assisted living communities, and nonprofit organizations—bringing theater-based inquiry into diverse spaces across Tucson and beyond.
Through these public-facing performances and workshops, Talk-it-OUT! gives students meaningful opportunities to engage audiences in creative dialogue around real-world issues. The program encourages reflection on a variety of topic (tailored to the needs of each organization), such as peer pressure, digital habits, disabilities, and mental well-being, while helping participants develop strong communication and critical thinking skills.
This initiative laid the foundation for the ACT Lab (Applied Theater, Change, and Teaching)—a space dedicated to applied performance as a tool for education, community-building, and transformative learning.