Conversations with Nathan Turner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Turner.

Hi Nathan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was raised homeschooled in a Christian household as the youngest of 5. Music and theatre were a big part of my life growing up, and at the same time, coming from a lower-income family, college always felt uncertain to me. So, wanting to find purpose and prove I could figure out my own way, I joined the Marine Corps infantry.
During my service, I faced a lot of foreign challenges for the first time, including isolation because of COVID, the loss of a friend, and struggled with mental health. Shortly after attempting suicide, I smoked weed and was discharged other than honorably, which forced me to confront who I was, who I wanted to become, and where I wanted to go.
Coming home, I started rebuilding my life by pursuing my associate’s degree while working full time as a night-shift janitor. Through everything, my faith and my passion for musical theatre never left me. Whether it was singing on long hikes in the Marines or in empty stairwells at work, performance has always been where I feel most like myself.
Now, because of the love and loss I have experienced, I attack my goals head on with a stronger sense of discipline, but also joy! I was recently accepted into the American Musical an Dramatic Academy in New York, and I’m overjoyed and looking forward to taking steps toward a career in acting and theatre!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The most difficult obstacle for me to overcome has been the way in which I deal and handle rejection. No one tells you how hard it is to work on a song for two weeks straight and then have some random person tell you no without even looking at you. But the way I’ve gotten past this is to just be delusional confident in my ability, but to also not take it so personally. These are also people who are just at work doing their daily routine, and the more I was able to recognize that I don’t need to be so serious about it all the time is when it started to become easier to say yes to more opportunities, and not shy away from things I may feel unready for.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m currently a singer/actor originally from the suburbs of Chicago, and you could say I specialize in musical theatre. I’ve performed in over 17 productions, with the most recent two being a community production of Next To Normal, and a musical review/Cabaret. But to answer the question, “what am I most known for?”, I’d say constantly and consistently making loud noises. Additionally, I often struggle to feel proud of my accomplishments, but I’d have to say getting into a performing arts school with a $50,000 scholarship! I feel so blessed, but also grateful for the opportunity to study and learn more about a craft I’m so passionate about

I hate to glaze myself, but what I think sets me apart from those around me is my ability to relate and connect with people from such wildly different backgrounds. I was raised homeschooled, Christian, and in theatre. I also played soccer for 5 years on an all Hispanic team, and in high school I did wrestling, football, and cheer, and additionally, I was in the Marines.

My point not being to brag about all the “stuff” I’ve done, but that because I’ve had these experiences, I feel there is nothing that is too much for me to handle, and from the wise words of Lightning McQueen, “I just didn’t think I couldn’t”.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
So many things make me happy for so many reasons! But above all, the love of Jesus makes me happy! But also theatre and singing, as well as the sun. I work the night shift as a custodian, so nothing puts a smile on my face like the bright light of the morning sun shining down.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: TathanNurner
• Youtube: TathanNurner

Image Credits
Jennifer Heim.