Singing, Dancing, Acting & 4.0 GPA

You’ve probably heard the term “triple threat,” referring to someone who can sing, dance and act.

But in the case of sophomore Kurtis Brown, the correct term is “quadruple threat.”

Not only can he sing, dance and act, the 15-year-old sophomore is a straight-A student in SCAPA and the pre-engineering program at Lafayette High.

Kurtis, who will play the lead in “Shrek: The Musical” at SCAPA next spring, has a long list of performing roles to his credit.

In addition to performing at SCAPA and Lafayette, Kurtis is a member of the Lexington Children’s Theatre’s Starlight Singers, a dancer at Diana Evans School of Dance, has had roles in musicals with the acting group The REP and was a three-time state champion with the SCAPA speech team.

Kurtis’s love for singing started early. While attending a festival in Winchester when he was 4, he was fascinated by a singing competition and was determined to compete.

A year later, he sang “I Am a Promise” and won his age division.

The following year he won $100 and the overall top prize after he sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

He has loved the stage ever since, performing in “Peter Pan,” “The Crucible,” “Urinetown,” “Les Miserables,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Smackdown for the Christmas Crown” and “Georgie Boy” among others.

And the Starlight Singers performed 55 times last year alone, including a show at Disney World.

“On stage, you’re living in the moment, feeding off the audience,” Kurtis said.

“That gives you the experience that only a live performance can.

“There’s nothing like it.”

Along with musical theater, Kurtis practices up to 12 hours a week at Diana Evans School of Dance.

Last summer, his dance group took home Grand National Champion honors at the Dance Master’s of America competition in New Orleans, beating out nearly 1,000 other dance competitors.

So how does he have time for his studies?

Along with well-developed time management skills, Kurtis frequently arrives at school an hour early to get help from his teachers.

The work obviously pays off. As a freshman, he had a 4.667 GPA. This year he is taking AP world history and biology, advanced pre-calculus, English and French III, plus his chorale and madrigals singing classes.

“He is a hard worker,” his mother Jennifer said. “There are high expectations at SCAPA, and the teachers and students inspire him to do well.”

Does Broadway beckon for Kurtis, a dedicated and talented young man who has visited New York eight times and seen 18 Broadway shows?

With the credentials he already has established, the name Kurtis Brown may someday be in lights.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Nominate Your Artist
Please select a valid form