Despite his young age, he was cast as the lead in the show. The following year, Kurland was performing again in Oliver! while simultaneously working with his cousin Jaime Ray Newman in Boston University's production of Stop the World: I Want to Get Off.
At a relatively young age, he landed the starring role in the series. A year later, Kurland appeared again in Oliver!, simultaneously collaborating with his cousin Jaime Ray Newman in Boston University's staging of Stop the World: I Want to Get Off.