BIO


As a wee lad in the 5th grade, I was a chorus member in a children's theater production of Cinderella on the outskirts of the Windy City, from whence I hail.  Something magical happened during the curtain call of our opening night...I fell in love. But it wasn't with the cute and talented 6th grade girl I had my first backstage crush on.  No. I fell in love with performing. I "caught the bug," as they say, which is probably more accurate, it being like an incurable illness to dedicate one's life to this insanity! But alas, there was no fighting it.

Since that night, I have been performing nearly non-stop ever since (no joke.) Whether it's 
film & TV, musical theater, Shakespeare, sketch, variety, cabaret, fronting a band...like some crazed drug addict, I can never get my fill. And being the masochist I am, the bigger the challenge, the better!

Some highlights of my early days were writing, directing and starring in a popular community theater production entitled Big Louis' Speakeasy. At the age of 16, I won the 1987 Junior National Juggling Championship of the International Jugglers Association. Tragically, just a few months later, I broke my neck doing a front flip over ten people while performing in the circus. In front of my parents. Like you do. Luckily for me, I was 10 minutes from the best spinal unit in the country, and I lived (and walked and tumbled,) to tell the tale! All this led me to being the youngest ever paid main stage act at the Bristol Renaissance Faire. 

Moving to Los Angeles in 1988, I continued my theatrical training, gaining a BA in Theatre from Cal State University, Northridge, where I starred in several Main Stage productions such as LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Dentist), and A FUNNY THING HAPPENED…FORUM (Pseudolus). I was also active in many student productions, both as an actor and director, including Kurt Vonnegut's only stage play, HAPPY BIRTHDAY WANDA JUNE and David Mamet's one act, THE SHAWL.

The past few years has been a busy one on the boards (that means the stage for the uninitiated) for me. 

This summer (2017,) I debuted the slasher musical mashup SLASHED! at the Hollywood Fringe Festival (nominated for Best Musical.) Having just finished a workshop of another exciting new musical, TESLA: AN ELEKTRICAL SPECTACLE (directed by CARRIE THE MUSICAL director Brady Schwind,) I'm headed for the Southeast, where I will be rehearsing and performing PART OF THE PLAN at The Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville. Produced by Elite Theatricals (COME FROM AWAY,) it features the musical of Dan Fogelberg, and looks towards a long life heading for Broadway and beyond.

As a member of the lauded theater company, Sacred Fools, I had the joy of breaking ground on several new musicals and plays. THE BEHAVIOR OF BROADUS, written and co-produced by The Burglars of Hamm, in association with Center Theater Group, played to sold out houses and stellar reviews. Curt also returned in October from the NY Fringe Festival Encore run of the hit new play ABSOLUTELY FILTHY, a darkly comedic adult Peanuts parody in which Curt plays a grown up Schroeder. ABSOLUTELY FILTHY originated at The Sacred Fools in 2013 and has gone on to win 3 LA Weekly Awards (Best Comedy Ensemble, Best Male & Female Comedy Performance,) and top honors at both the 2013 Hollywood Fringe (Top of Fringe, Best Comedy & Best Male Performance) and the 2014 NY Fringe (Audience Favorite, Best Play and Best Male Performance.) 

I held the reigns in the "scorching drama" BILL & JOAN, playing the late William S. Burroughs. I was also the only performer in both the Best Musical (EXORCISTIC: A ROCK MUSICAL PARODY) and Best Comedy/Top of Fringe (ABSOLUTELY FILTHY) during the 2013 Hollywood Fringe Festival.  I graced the stage in the hit comedy A KIND OF LOVE STORY (Sacred Fools Theater;)  the twisted take on the Kennedy assassination THE MAGIC BULLET THEORY (The Matrix Theater;) and the critically acclaimed STONEFACE: THE RISE AND FALL AND RISE OF BUSTER KEATON (Sacred Fools Theater,) starring French Stewart. 

Previous productions include my portrayal of Frank Sinatra in the multi-award winning LOUIE & KEELY LIVE AT THE SAHARA at the Geffen; the premier stage adaptation of the 1980 cult film classic FORBIDDEN ZONE: LIVE IN THE 6TH DIMENSION at The Sacred Fools Theater;  the long running and major cult hit THE BEASTLY BOMBING (winner of the LA Weekly Award for Best Musical and successful Off‐Broadway run at the New York Musical Theater Festival in 2007;) HOBOKEN TO HOLLYWOOD (LA Weekly Musical of the Year winner) and LOVELACE: A ROCK OPERA, winner of the LA Weekly Best Musical Ensemble award, and favorite at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  

Another favorite was my portrayal of famous playwright Tennessee Williams in KOWALSKI at the Two Roads Theater. Critics said “he fits the role like a soft slipper,” “the talented actor is out-and-out brilliant in the role,” and “personifies the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright in spirit, mind and body leaving little to the imagination. His is a brilliant performance.”

As a former member of the award winning theatre company The Road, my credits include the highly acclaimed West Coast Premiere of MARKED TREE; the Off‐Road production THE JUNTO; plus notable roles in the award winning productions of THE PAGANS and playwright Tom Jacobson's OUROBORUS, staged by noted LA director Michael Michetti.

Other theatre credits include GREAT EXPECTATIONS, THE MUSICAL (LA Weekly Best Musical nominee) at The Hudson Backstage; BIG RIVER at The Actor’s Co-Op; THE TRAVELING LADY at The Company of Angels, HAMLET at The Nevada Shakespeare Festival, and most notably as the star in a popular local production of the musical HAIR, directed by the show's creator, James Rado, who dubbed Curt "The best Claude I've ever seen." This production eventually took Curt to Moscow for the first ever Russian production at the city’s largest theatrical venue, The Astrada Theater, where it is still running to this day.

I also frequently perform in Sacred Fools Theater's hit late night show, SERIAL KILLERS, which has become a sold-out Saturday night cult favorite in the Los Angeles area. 

You also may have seen me in several national TV commercials and independent films including I WANT TO GET MARRIED, VISIBLE SCARS (winner of the LA Shockfest), and TRIPLE THREAT. Or you may have caught me in syndication as a twisted hick serial killer on the CBS drama CRIMINAL MINDS. I also continue to reprise my role as Brad King, has-been 80's rock star, for the 4rd season of the award-winning web-series OLD DOGS & NEW TRICKS, previously on Hulu. And more reently, you can catch me recurring as the sketchy inmate "Glasses" in the new Paramount web series CHOP SHOP.

My artistic aspirations extend to film production as well. I have produced, directed, edited, shot and created several short films, documentaries and music videos. Notable projects include SEAT FILLERS! which won the Oklahoma Downstream Film Festival and was named in the top 50 picks of the 2003 TriggerStreet.com online film festival, as well as the band King's X video for the song Smudge.

  • Bonnem’s complex turn slides artfully along the razor’s edge...it’s a pleasure to see him assay a role that’s this subtle and arch, richly textured, and multi-dimensionally fascinating. 
    STAGE & CINEMA
  • The cast is flawless...Curt Bonnem steals the show...
    BROADWAYWORLD
  • It is astonishing to witness Curt Bonnem... From his sophisticated...dialect to his brilliantly blatant way with words, Bonnem’s portrayal...seems more like a channeling than a characterization.
    showmag

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Contact Me

STEWART TALENT ATLANTA: (404) 952-2214

PHONE: (608) 561-CURT / (608) 561-2878

EMAIL: IAM@CURTBONNEM.COM