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| Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus |
Warning: New girl on the blog! I come in peace. (How else would i come, really?) Allow me to introduce myself...
My name is Sandra Turley. I am a wife, a mother of 3, a constant thinker, a late-blooming reader, an over-organizer, a teenager in a 33 year old body, a pinterest aficionada and…oh yah, a happily retired Broadway actress who is excited to be speaking at Time Out for Girls this year.
My maiden name is Dudley. Sandra Dudley. Yep. Sandra D. Just like in Grease! My whole pre-married life, friends would sing to me: “Look at me, I’m Sandra D” (you know how it goes).
When I was 19, I took a year off of school and was hired at Disney World to spend my days singing as the Little Mermaid. All of my nights were free, so when I heard about an upcoming production of Grease I decided to audition. I was offered the lead – Sandra D was going to play Sandra D! I made it clear to the director that I would accept the part only if I was not asked to smoke or drink on stage. He agreed.
The first day of rehearsals came and the director oddly started off by blocking (fancy word for telling the actors where they are going to stand) the last scene of the show. Immediately he called me to the stage, told me where to stand and informed me that I would then have a “fake cigarette” in my hand. “No big deal” he said, “It’s not real – you just put it in your mouth, inhale and then blow out, but it’s all safe.” I looked at him blankly. Really? We had talked about this already. Was this his solution? I quickly found the right opportunity to speak privately with him. We walked to the back of the theater and I nervously reminded him of our agreement. He then looked at me sternly, and in so many words said: “You’re fired.”
I left the theater in a state of did-that-really-just-happen?!? I had stood up for what I believed, but still, I was fired! Most of my theater “friends” who heard about the situation made fun of me or assumed I just couldn’t cut it in the business. At first I felt hurt – but ultimately, I was strengthened.
Paul taught this to the Romans and it is surely applicable today:
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2).
There is no need for us peculiar people* to conform to the world. Yes, we must take the goodness of the world and enjoy it, but we need not conform to that which is not the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. Rather, we should allow ourselves to be transformed by renewing our commitment to the Lord and to the truthfulness of His gospel.
I introduced myself up front as a happily retired Broadway actress. My years on Broadway were difficult, rewarding, defining and transformative. I have the most wonderful memories to hold close to my heart. Though I claim early retirement from “the business,” I will never retire from singing, sharing the stories I love and using the talents Heavenly Father has given me to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. For His is the best news about which to be singing.
*Deut 14:2
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| Turley family |