“Curtis Bannister is the undisputed star of the show. He brings pathos and a deep amount of humanity to the role; he's a commanding performer”

Broadway World

“radiating with slowly simmering energy, Curtis Bannister proves his enviable control several times over.”

TimeOut Magazine

Curtis Bannister is proving to be a firebrand as a multitalented artist with his dynamic artistry as both a singer and actor. The recipient of the 2021 Actors Equity Foundation Roger Sturtevant Award for Excellence in Musical Theater, Drama League Award nominee for best concert performance and a special award honor from The Kurt Weill Foundation, Curtis has been praised as a “quiet revelation” by the L.A. Times and lauded as one of the most talented multi-genre performing artists of his generation for his achievements in theater, classical music, and film.

Since making his unexpected but lauded operatic debut in the title role of Verdi’s Otello with the Utah Festival, Curtis has been lauded as one of the most talented multi-genre performing artists of his generation for his achievements in theater, classical music, and film. In 2025, Curtis will make his stage debut at the Goodman Theater in “The Color Purple” following his debut with the company beside Heather Headley for the theater’s 2021 gala, “Together: Center Stage”, made his operatic debut in Washington DC as Robert Johnson in Damien Geter’s “Delta King’s Blues” for INseries Opera, and will return as co-host to Indianapolis Symphony’s “Yuletide” holiday performances opposite Broadway star Ashley Brown.

Curtis debuted at The Kennedy Center as Soloist 1/Celebrant (cover) in Leonard Bernstein’s MASS for the Center’s 50th Anniversary celebration with the National Symphony and has performed, in concert, with the Cincinnati Symphony/Cincinnati Pops Orchestra’s Celebration Concert, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and his The Philadelphia Orchestra in Bernstein’s “Candide” alongside Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan. Bannister has performed with Lyric Opera of Chicago, St. Petersburg Opera, Atlanta Opera, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Heartbeat Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre and Utah Festival Opera.

In 2024, Curtis debuted at Asolo Repertory Theatre to unanimous acclaim for his portrayals as Reverend Jeremiah Brown in the American classic, “Inherit the Wind” and as George in the Lynn Nottage Pulitzer Prize winning play, “Intimate Apparel and Juror #8 in the world premiere production of the musical adaptation of “12 Angry Men” following the sold-out run at Theater LatteDa in Minneapolis in 2022. Previous theatrical role highlights include Enjolras/Les Miserables, Coalhouse Walker Jr/Ragtime, Sid Sorokin/The Pajama Game, Ragotski & Cacambo/Candide, Celebrant/Bernstein’s Mass, Sweeney Todd/Sweeney Todd, John/Miss Saigon, Jim/Big River, Man 1/Songs for a New World, Jim Conley/Parade, Jamie/The Last Five Years, and Andre/Ain’t Misbehavin’. Future projects include debuts and return performances in Chicago, New York, Washington DC, and a supporting role in the upcoming film, “A Talented Man”.

In film and television, Curtis made his debut at the TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL in the feature film “The Conductor”, Marquis on season 2 of the Apple TV+ series, DICKINSON, opposite Hailee Steinfeld, Reimers in season 6 of NBC’s CHICAGO FIRE, and season 2 of Netflix’ SURVIVAL OF THE THICKEST, opposite comedian Michelle Buteau.