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 an early stage in his career, he secured the starring role in the show. A year later, Kurland reprised his performance in Oliver!, concurrently collaborating with his cousin Jaime Ray Newman in the university's production of Stop the World: I Want to Get Off.