Talk To Us, (TTU) an interactive theatre troupe made up of volunteers, was formed in 1987 as part of the University of Michigan Residence Hall Theatre Program. This new concept in residence education is a departure from standard programming. Crucial social and personal issues are presented to audiences as part of dynamic theatre "experiences" which are entertaining as well as educational. In creating and performing live theatre, troupe and audience members "feel" something about the issues. We don't just hear for the hundreth time that "prejudice is bad"; but we see a student experiencing racism, a young man being called a "faggot", a young women who has been raped. When the audience sees its own experience mirrored on the stage, the "issues" suddenly become personal instead of intellectual, and people can be moved towards deeper exploration.

Since its inception, TTU has developed a series of over 100 topical sketches in conjunction with various student service groups on campus including the University Health Service, the B'nai Brith Hillel Foundation, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness center, the Lesbian and Gay Male Programs Office, Housing Special Programs, Counseling  Services and many student organizations as well.

In TTU performances, the scenes "freeze" at a specific dramatic point in action; the characters then face the audience and discussion between the audience and the characters begin. These scenes are typical of what a student might overhear in a residence hall lounge, cafeteria, or in the library; but with TTU, the audience gets the oppertunity to actually question the characters, the challenge their bigotry and prejudice., The audience sees their own beliefs and the beliefs of others played out in concrete and real situations.

Each show usually involves three or four interactive scenes and an "artistic piece" or monologue. All of the scenes are intended to provide more than an intellectuial understanding of the issue and evoke compassion,sensitivity and understanding.

The troupe has performed shows on anti-Semitism, gay awareness, sexual assault, racism, AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, the "Jewish American Princess" stereotype, sexism, homesickness, and academic and social pressure. TTU has performed for Affirmative Action Office, the Office of Orientation, the Division of Physical Education, lesbian/gay male student groups and for fraternities and sororities.

One of the strenghts of the project is its tremoundous flexibility. The troupe can create a show at the request of a particular organization, developing scripts to meet that groups specific needs.TTU is truly a "responsive" theatre organization, working in direct consultation with individual groups to create live theatre experiences designed to benefit the larger campus community. The troupe has performed for both small audiences and groups as large as 600. In addition to extensive weekly performances on the UM campus, Talk To Us performs frequently for other universities and community groups. Performance have been held in Atlantic City, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia and Washington D.C.

Comments, questions, info, Write To Us - talk.to.us@umich.edu

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