In a word, joy. That is my gift; that’s what I’ve been sent here to share. As actors, we must traverse the full spectrum of human emotions. We must tune our instrument to channel whatever our characters encounter. But my central wavelength, my main frequency, is joy.
As a Jesus-loving free Black man, joy is an asset. A weapon. A treasure. It buoys me on in this demanding, sometimes debilitating, industry. After seven years of higher education at four different universities with three degrees, I chose to be a storyteller. I view my vocation as a privilege. An honorable tradition. In this profession, I get to profess my spirit. We challenge each other to see each other more clearly and truly. It is a calling. It is a privilege. It is a joy.
A proud native of Florence, Alabama, Garrett Turner is an actor, singer, poet, playwright, and scholar. As an artist and follower of Christ, he believes in the power of both joy and righteous indignation as tools for liberation. He has acted in television shows such as Law & Order: SVU and Madam Secretary. Some of his theater credits include originating the role of Anger in the world premiere of Thoughts of a Colored Man at Syracuse Stage and Baltimore Center Stage, playing Bayano in Bayano at the National Black Theatre, Jay Jackson in The Royale at Theatrical Outfit, Vertus in the post-Broadway regional premiere of Holler If Ya Hear Me at True Colors Theatre, Anthony in Half Time at Paper Mill Playhouse, Chad Deity in The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at Asolo Repertory Theatre, the White Knight in Lookingglass Alice at Baltimore Center Stage, Delray in Memphis at Mason Street Warehouse, Benny in In The Heights at Aurora Theatre, and Mr. Franklin/Mr. Venus in Passing Strange at Playhouse on Park. Turner was a 2020 Arts & Social Justice Fellow at Emory University and has also taught at Hunter College in Manhattan. He is currently writing a musical, entitled Eleanor: A Church Story, about a young Black girl from Tennessee who stages a mini revolution in her own church when they ban her from preaching because she's a girl. Turner is an Emory University grad and Marshall Scholar. He holds two Masters degrees, one from Queen Mary University of London and one from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. @garrettmturner
Psalm 115:1
Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us. But to Your name give glory. Because of Your mercy, because of Your truth.
