Talking It Out is an ongoing virtual theatre festival dedicated to promoting mental health awareness.

Founded by award-winning writer & producer Anthony J. Piccione, the first Talking It Out performance was presented live at the Dramatists Guild Foundation's Music Hall on March 10th, 2019. At the time of the initial readings, Michael D'Antoni wrote a rave review of the event for Five-Star Arts Journals, describing it as having “nothing less than pure, unadulterated, genuine, unpretentious focus on the agonies and anguish of mental illness, while also celebrating the triumphs and accomplishments over those living with, or those living with someone who suffers from mental health issues.“

Originally intended to be a one-time event of minimalistic staged reading of short plays, the event has since been revived as an ongoing festival of short plays presented online via Zoom.

Every 4 months, 5 short plays are presented by an ensemble of actors from different corners of the world. While each of the plays are unique, in their own way, they all share a common goal of highlighting various issues of mental illness - ranging from anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, and more.

Admission to the event is free of charge. However, we kindly ask attendees to consider making a donation, if they are able to do so. For each donation we receive, half of it will be donated to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, while the other half will be evenly distributed amongst the playwrights, actors & producer.

Read below for details on our current 2020-2021 season. We hope you will join us for our upcoming performances!

2020-2021 Season

November 21st, 2020

Broad Daylight by Alex Goldberg

Jeremy - Max Berry

Beverly - Susan O'Doherty

Mean Girl & Best Friend by Monique Hebert

Mean Girl - Rayah Martin

Best Friend - Gemia Foo

Eddie & Edna by Donald Loftus

Eddie - Jamil Al-Chokhachi

Edna - Louise Heller

Danny - Max Berry

Amygdala by Cassidy Tilden

Nick - Scotty Corn

Brain - Andres Gallardo Bustillo

Angels of the Mansions of the Moon by Randy Gross

Requiel - Alexis Kurtz

Chubba Stone - Will Matus

Kylie Stone - Haley Anderson

Mikal Smythe - Devon Lennon

Samantha Smythe - Sarah Elizabeth Haga

Mike - Scotty Corn

March 20th, 2021

Because by Marcus Gorman

Teenage Woman - Haley L.R. Anderson

The Silence of My Lonely Room by Scott C. Sickles

Kenneth - Francis Mabborang

Ben - Sebastian Hagelstein

Joint Adventure by Steven Hayet

Emily - Alexis Kurtz

Jim - Marc Verzatt

Glass Slipper by Molly Peterson

Ella - Beatrice Manfredi

Nicole - Haley L.R. Anderson

Princeton - Scotty Corn

Warpaholics Anonymous by Russell Nichols

Rigel - Francis Mabborang

Celeste - Rayah Martin

Stella - Gemia Foo

Leo - Travis John Martin

July 17th, 2021

Dinosaur by Steven Hayet

Jamie – Mia Rose Kavensky

Spencer – Amanda Ribnick

Obsession by Bridgette Dutta Portman

Cass – Ariel Francoeur

Rachael – Candy Dato

A Day in Life by Huss Rasit

Abdul – Reginald Clark

Broken Mind – Scotty Corn

What Size is Your Onion? by Lindsey Brown

Tammy – Ciara Conway

Josie – Cameren Jackson

Bonsai! (Or How I Learned to Live With My Extreme Fear of Miniature Trees for the Next Ten Thousand Years) by Randy Gross

Dilwyn Taylor – Reginald Clark

Mrs. Taylor – Renee Charlow

Gretal – Rose Meehan

Dr. Moss – Michael Westmoreland