We recently connected with Sarah Windfeld Nandola and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I don’t think there was ever another path for me. I was so curious as a child…but not with anything logical. I was always fascinated with the magical, the beautiful, the strange. I loved stories and music and dancing and laughing. And I liked the joy, peace and wonder that would follow. I mean, I guess the first thing I wanted to be was a princess. I wanted the adventures and the beautiful nature and gorgeous, twirly gowns and to sing with the animals. Actually, now that I think about it…the moment I knew what I wanted to do with my life was when I was 4 years old…at Disney World…and Belle came out with a wooden box and asked for a volunteer. I raised my hand (especially high because I distinctly remember my dad putting me on his shoulders) and was lucky enough to be picked. I went up to the wooden box, they slipped a Cogsworth costume on me and then they started doing a scene. I watched them, mesmerized. Possibly my favorite princess of all time was 2 feet away from me…when all of a sudden, she bent down and whispered a line in my ear. I remember being nervous but when I said it out loud, there was a thunderous applause. I remembering thinking, now THIS is what I want to do with my life. And I’ve never turned back. I didn’t immediately start acting – I sang with my Mormor, was told stories by my Morfar, sang musicals with my grandpa, performed living room shows for my parents and had the biggest imagination with my brother (passed down by my dad of course…he was the best to play with). When I was 7 years old, I wrote down a list of everything I wanted to be when I grew up (as this was a very, very important answer to know when another student asked you at school). I probably wrote down around 50 jobs…and I thought, alright…I need to narrow this down. I remember reading that Julie Andrews was an actor, writer, and director. I thought – that sounds perfect. And from then on…that’s what I would turn my energy too. I would go on to play Bozo The Clown…but I would really say my first impactful show was Charlie and The Chocolate Factory at improv playhouse that my best friend Nina was a part of where we played Oompa Loompas. I went on to play Scat Cat in The Aristocats, Cinderella in Cinderella, Alice in Alice in Wonderland, The Ladybug in James and The Giant Peach, Drake The Butler in Annie, and many more. When I was 11, Nina and I decided to collaborate on our first script, the hilarious “Cheesy Movie”. I also ended up directing officially for the first time at my children’s theatre (Willy Wonka Jr. – full circle moment). It was off from there.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

How I got into this industry…I don’t know. I don’t like industries, I don’t like anything that is too organized…anything where there are too many rules to follow. It sounds cliché – but I am an artist. I don’t believe you have to pursue something as a career path to be an artist. It’s something you choose. I also don’t think it’s something you are born with. I think any person alive has an inner artist and if everyone awakened their creative genius…we would live in such an incredible world (everyone go do The Artist’s Way). It can be difficult though, I do empathize. My goal in this life is to leave the world a more beautiful place. I think it can be done by making work that makes you feel something. Whether it’s joy (because we all need that), laughter (the best medicine in life), sadness (to release, remind ourselves of our heart), belonging (you’re not alone in how you feel), and on and on and on. The mediums I choose are usually singing, acting, writing and moving. The first time I felt aligned with this goal was when I was in “Nightclub Cantata” by Elizabeth Swados at The Cell directed by Bill Castellino. I have never been so moved by a piece in my life. Every night, I felt like I was giving a gift to the audience and simultaneously receiving one. It was a profound, soulful and fun performance. I remember Bill crying everyday – and I understood why…because I cried everyday too. It wasn’t out of depression or despair though, but tears of gratitude. That work was abundant. It just gave and gave and gave. I remember telling my director, “This is the work I want to do the rest of my life”. And he replied, “Don’t we all”. I met my creative collaborators (my best friend, Noah Ruebeck and life partner, Miles Whittaker) through that show. And now, we’ve just put on our first show (Three Siblings written by Noah) outside of that experience (with Greg Lakhan) at The Stonewall Inn. We were just this young group of artists…putting on a show by ourselves. It was amazing. And soon it will be my show…and then Miles…and then Greg’s…it’s incredible…having all these multi-talented people surrounding me. Where we can be present and play and create. I’m currently working on my play, “The Butterfly”, writing my own songs, acting and opening up a safe, beautiful space for womb-en with Taylor Griffith.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I think my entire journey has been one of resilience. I am an American born, South Asian woman pursuing the performing arts. People have only started accepting our existence in this field very recently. I want other South Asian women and BIPOC people to know that you deserve to be seen. You deserve to be heard. You deserve to be loved. You deserve to be the star. You are allowed to be the main character of your life and you are worthy of everything you desire and dream of. I know it’s been hard, believe me…but you GOT this. We don’t deserve to live our lives in the shadows of fear. Step into the light. You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone anymore.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Spreading love, beauty, awareness. Giving people the same peace, wonder, validation, transcendence, empathy and joy I feel when a piece of art touches my soul. I want people to know that we are much more similar to each other than we believe so we can treat each other better.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: sarahnandola

Image Credits

FigJam Headshots, @pmbphoto, Carol Rosegg, Thomas Nandola, me!