Palisades High graduate (2004) JT Curtis plays George Harrison in the Broadway musical “Let It Be,” which is playing at New York’s St. James Theater through Monday.
The show, which originated in London’s West End to celebrate the legendary band’s 50th anniversary, opened on Broadway in July and chronicles The Beatles’ rise from Liverpool’s Cavern Club to stardom, with performers singing 40 of the Beatles hits, such as “Twist and Shout,” “She Loves You,” “Drive My Car,” “Yesterday,” “Hey Jude” and “Come Together.”
The producers were probably unaware that Curtis had already appeared on stage as George Harrison. As a fourth grader at Canyon Elementary, he appeared in a Theatre Palisades production of “Wizard of Oz in Space,” playing the guitar and singing “Here Comes the Sun.”
Curtis learned to play guitar with Patrick Hildebrand at Amazing Music. “The first song he learned was ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ by the Beatles,” said mom Rebecca, who noted that he also learned to play drums at Amazing Music so he could play in the Paul Revere Band and Orchestra.
During high school, Curtis formed the band 7th Sun with another PaliHi student, Colin Cronin. The name of the band came from an Orson Scott Card novel, “Seventh Son.”
Curtis studied music at Santa Monica College and played in a jazz ensemble under the direction of band leader Keith Fiddmont. He also performed with the great jazz trumpet player, Oscar Brashaer, and attended USC’s studio guitar program.
“By the time I released my debut album “From the Beginning” in 2008, 7th Sun was a completely different band featuring notable musicians Adam Kury, Stephen Quadros and Michael Russeck,” Curtis said. “Colin co-wrote four songs on the album, as well as my last single, “Make It to the Bridge.
“I kind of left 7th Sun behind when I moved to New York (2010), but I remain in contact with the other bandmates and am always open to working with them again in the future,” Curtis said. “I did a number of Beatles tributes in Los Angeles and in New York. When I heard about the ‘Let It Be’ production coming to Broadway, I contacted the company about becoming a sub on the show.
“I sent them my promotional materials and they said they were interested in me playing George Harrison,” Curtis continued. “I ended up auditioning with the band in a rehearsal studio next door to where Steely Dan was rehearsing. A few days after the audition, they called me up and said they’d like to make me an offer. I thought they were just going to offer me a sub position, but they said I was going to be one of the principal cast members. I thought, ‘Well that should pay the rent for a little while.’”
While at PaliHi, Curtis spent his time writing and recording original music and playing with 7th Sun, which meant he did not have time to participate in the drama department’s musicals.
“When I was in high school, my ambition was to form an original band, make albums and tour,” Curtis said. “I never really had any ambition to be on Broadway, even when I moved to New York. Always on the lookout for work, I was interested in joining my colleagues in being a Broadway musician (playing in the pit to make ends meet). When I got the gig, I think my family, friends and fellow musicians were more excited about it than I was.”
Producers were interested the most in Curtis’ singing and playing ability, but “they did want to see some acting ability, hear my Liverpool accent and see my physical presence onstage,” he said. “For the most part, however, it was a very quick process. Within a couple days, I was onstage at the St. James Theater doing sound checks and getting fitted for costumes. If I wasn’t at the theater, I was at home practicing the repertoire, much to the annoyance of my neighbors.
“While I very much enjoy doing ‘Let It Be’ and playing The Beatles music, I just treat it like any other gig,” Curtis said. “It doesn’t feel like my life has changed in oh so many ways, but having the Broadway credit should help elevate my status as a musician and lead to bigger and better things. And of course, it helps finance my original music, which is my first love and passion.”
In New York, Curtis leads his own band, Mad Mongoose, and collaborates with top musicians (Darcy MacRae, Tetsuya Sato and Troy Jackson). He is completing an album that will feature the latest single tracks as well as “Shake It Off,” a fusion of rock, funk, jazz and rap. He has also written and produced music for CBS, ABC, Fox, the Super Bowl and for the NCAA’s March Madness
Curtis is the son of Jay Curtis, who worked for CBS-TV in Los Angeles for 20 years before relocating to New York, and Rebecca Curtis, a former rock band singer, who is now working at Pace University in NYC.
Visit: jtcurtismusic.com.
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