Austin Ku
SAG, AFTRA, AEA

Actor/Singer/Dancer, Model, Musician






My Performer Website
Performances / Press - News, Schedule, Performing Photos and Reviews

Latest News and Current/Upcoming Performances
  • July: Called back for a national TV commercial for a clothing chain - New York, NY.
  • Ongoing 2010: Founding acting ensemble of the new Asian American theatre group, Leviathan Theatre Lab, which is presenting a monthly reading series of classical works performed by all Asian American casts - New York, NY. 
 
Highlights of the Past Year
  • June: Shot a major print campaign for an upcoming television show (model) - National and Online.
  • June 6-19: All-Mozart orchestral concert (first violinist) with Musica Bella chamber orchestra - New York, NY and Brooklyn, NY.
  • May: Shot an internal print ad for a major electronics company (Customer) - Long Island, NY.
  • May 10: Benefit kick-off concert (soloist) for the new Asian American theatre ensemble Leviathan Lab - New York, NY.
  • April 26: Reading of the play The Siege of Numantia (Caius Marius) with Leviathan Lab - New York, NY.
  • April 12: Performed in the annual Lights Up! benefit at The Lyric Stage, celebrating Boston's Men of Musical Theatre - Boston, MA.
  • March: Corporate photo shoot (Businessman) - Jersey City, NJ.
  • February 22: Reading of the new Asian American-themed musical Allegiance (ensemble), by Jay Kuo, starring Tony-winner Lea Salonga, Star Trek's George Takei, Joy Luck Club's Tamlyn Tomita, Paolo Montalban, et al. at Playwrights Horizons - New York, NY.
  • February: Developmental table reading of the new Asian American-themed musical Allegiance for the creative team - New York, NY
  • January: Shot an internal print ad and industrial video (Businessman) for a technology company - New York, NY.
  • January: Shot a commercial print ad (hand model) for a major cosmetics company - for Hong Kong.
  • December: Shot a commercial print ad (Young Dad) for baby formula for a major pharmaceutical company - for China.
  • December: Developmental reading of Act I of a new musical based on political activism in 1999 for the creative team - New York, NY.
  • December: Developmental table read of a new Asian American musical for the creative team - New York, NY. 
  • November: Shot a commercial print ad (Grad Student) for an educational testing company's website - Online.
  • November - December: Singing with the holiday caroling group Definitely Dickens - Available for private parties and events in NYC and NJ.  Be sure to mention my name when booking (I get a referral bonus)!  Quotes available by contacting the NY office here.
  • May 18: Performed as a soloist in Lost and Found: Treasures and Gems of Musical Theatre, this year's theme for the annual Lights Up! Benefit at The Lyric Stage - Boston, MA 
  • May 16: Commencement Ceremony, Graduation from the master's in musical theatre program at The Boston Conservatory - Boston, MA

...and check out my independent film work!
  • Completed production (9 am films): David A. Daniels' modern sci-fi take on Alice in Wonderland, "P3: The Alchemy of Lila Rose" (Reminghue Viscount - supporting) - Click here for the trailer (you must be logged into a Myspace account)
  • Completed production, and won awards at film festivals nationwide! (TroyFilm Productions): Troy Choi's independent/experimental film noir thriller "Blind Love" (Killer/Leon - lead) - Click here to view the YouTube movie trailer (you can also visit the Blind Love MySpace page if you have a Myspace account)!   
        2006-2007 FESTIVAL SELECTIONS:

Performance Gallery (Selected Photos)


Reviews (includes all known reviews where I am personally mentioned)
2010
"In unskilled hands a production with 37 characters in 25 ethnic-flavored skits could become an unwieldy, hackneyed disaster.  167 Tongues is anything but, and that's due primarily to the collaboration of 11 talented playwrights and 29 actors, assembled by director Ari Laura Kreith, who also conceived the entire production for Jackson Repertory Theatre.  ...  Among the standout characters of 167 Tongues are a homeless man who is partial to Little Debbie Snack cakes and a graduate student who delivers Chinese food for a living.  There's a humorous dosa chef, a suspicious Korean fruitseller, a Russian bookseller with a poetic side, a cantankerous, housebound Vietnam War veteran, a no nonsense Indian jewelry maker who rejects a footloose suitor, and others far too numerous to mention.  Most of them feel entirely real rather than slight, one-dimensional caricatures. ... The living residents of Jackson Heights also have a thematic communion with with residents long dead.  The use of ghosts in a theatrical production can be a disaster.  Yet, here, the device is used to great effect, as when a pair of them, one white and one black, haunt a young interracial couple whose lives reflect those of the ghosts' children, in love in a bigoted society some 40 years earlier. ... Due in no small part to to consistently first-rate writing, acting and direction, this production's tasty concoction, against all odds, manages to work much like the neighborhood it lovingly chronicles."

--William Coyle, Offoffonline.com (05/07/2010), available here

Read the lovely review "167 Tongues Strikes Theatrical Gold" on Queensbuzz.com (05/07/2010) here
Read the lovely feature article "Capturing the Vitality of Jackson Heights and Putting It on Stage" in THE NEW YORK TIMES here
"Performed to a full house in the 216-seat mainstage theater, the event was filled with bursting emotions of laughter and tears from the audience.  Joining Salonga and Takei were [cast list], Austin Ku..."

--coverage by Oliver Oliveros and Anthony Tarrosa Ong, Broadwayworld.com (02/24/2010) available here
2009
"Starlight Theatre has mounted a lively production of the classic Depression-era musical "Anything Goes." ... Director Eliot Wasserman and his design team have served up a handsome show, with a fair share of delights....  Starlight [has staged] the 1987 version, but even so the show descends into some regrettable stereotyping before it's all said and done.  The problem isn't in the performance of Vi Tran [and] Austin Ku as Chinese characters who have supposedly converted to Christianity but who really want to fleece the passengers with games of chance.  The trouble comes when Billy and Martin appear late in the show pretending to be Chinese..."
--Robert Trussel, Kansas City Star (07/15/2009) [full review no longer available on-line]

2008
  • October 2008: Gutenberg! The Musical! (Doug, dance captain) with New Repertory Theatre - Watertown, MA
"Brendan McNab and Austin Ku, who've both demonstrated serious singing gifts elsewhere, here also draw on their great talents for comedy. ...Ku makes book writer Doug's thinly veiled crush on Bud feel like more than the running gag it's written as. ... As for their musical performances, Ku is delightfully, wackily sincere as Gutenberg and hysterically hysterical in his turn as the lovelorn Helvetica. ... And don't let the silliness fool you: These guys have to do some real singing here, and their ridiculous performances would not be half so funny if they weren't also highly skilled."

--LOUISE KENNEDY, BOSTON GLOBE (10/08/2008); full review here

"Gutenberg! is a charmer and garners likeability from the two leading men, Brendan McNab as Bud and Austin Ku as Doug...  McNab and Ku have worked together before and it shows in their onstage chemistry.  Their comic timing is spot on...  Both men are also gifted with wonderful singing voices and make some of the songs better than they are."

--NANCY GROSSMAN, BROADWAYWORLD.COM (10/08/2008); full review here
Read Jenna Scherer's review ("Brendan McNab and Austin Ku [are] gosh-darn cute as Bud and Doug") for the Boston Herald (10/07/2008) here
Read Carolyn Clay's review ("As enthusiastically and ingenuously embodied by paradoxically excellent singers Brendan McNab and Austin Ku") for The Boston Phoenix (10/08/2008) here
Read Jennifer Brubriski's review ("actors Austin Ku as Doug and Brendan McNab as Bud are an energetic delight") for EDGE Boston (10/09/2008) here
Read Beverly Creasey's review ("Ku and Brendan McNabb [sic] are wildly inventive ... portraying all forty one roles with gusto") for TheaterMirror.com (10/2008) here
  • May-June 2008: Bernstein Tribute with the Boston Pops Orchestra (Pangloss in "Best of All Possible Worlds" from Candide - Boston, MA
"'The Best of All Worlds' from Candide follows, receiving sprightly treatment by the Pops as well as from Austin Ku as Dr. Pangloss and David Vogel, Lindsey St. Onge, Caitlin Doonan and Joseph Kamay as his classroom of eager students."

--JAN NARGI, BROADWAYWORLD.COM (05/16/08); full review here
  • January-February 2008: Christopher Durang and Peter Melnick's new musical Adrift in Macao (Tempura - principal) at The Lyric Stage - Boston, MA
"And then there's Rick's henchman Tempura - so named, as he mincingly explains, "because I have been battered by life."  Boston Conservatory student Austin Ku delivers that line, along with a nonstop battery of exaggerated ethnic stereotypes, with an expert mix of knowingness and innocence.  He's the funnest thing onstage, even before the big revelation near the end that takes the showbiz satire to a new level."

--LOUISE KENNEDY, BOSTON GLOBE (01/16/2008); full review here

"It is Austin Ku as the always smiling Tempura, however, who steals the show from his self-absorbed American interlopers.  The seeming model of congeniality and subservience, Ku unleashes a devilishly sinister and gleeful laugh when least expected, suggesting that there's more beneath his impenetrable facade than meets the eye."

--JAN NARGI, BROADWAYWORLD.COM (01/20/2008); full review here

"But the biggest hit of the night is Ku, in a role that feels like it was written for him. Not only will his performance make you laugh in all the wrong places, but his big finish will keep you singing the ridiculously likable “Ticky Tocky Tock” all the way home"

--Nick Dussault, Boston Metro (01/18/2008); full review here

"The scene-stealer turns out to be Austin Ku, whose Tempura is an affectionate and quite funny send-up on Hollywood Asian stereotypes.  He's also priceless in drag."

--Robert Nesti, EDGE Boston (01/16/2008); full review here

"Of particular interest, however, is one performer new to the area - a rubber-faced, sweet-singing comedian named Austin Ku - and one number he delivers late in the line-up about certain of his talents....  And that brings us to Austin Ku, whose credits include a long list of roles in San Francisco Bay area theaters. He is currently studying for a master’s degree in musical theater at the Boston Conservatory, a lucky find for this show. As Tempura, Ku embodies the old vaudeville actor who made a career out of transforming into many characters on stage in front of the audience. Ku does so with glee and sharp-edged turns of motive, despite his ‘‘chewing of the scenery’’ - a stage term for too, too, too much mugging. His big number at the end is performed with breathtaking skill and is one marvelous moment of the show, along with his final appearance, which is knock-out."

--Iris Fanger, The Patriot Ledger (01/15/2008); full review here

"... which brings me to my favorite character in Macao.  It's about time someone held Hollywood's bound feet to the fire. Austin Ku is nothing short of hilarious as the "inscrutable" houseboy, groveling to his boss and cursing behind his back.  When his real identity is revealed, in joyous song, of course, he brings down the house, or rather, J. Michael Griggs' wonderfully seedy bar."

--Beverly Creasy, Theater Mirror (01/13/2008); full review here

"Austin Yu [sic] as, I kid you not, Tempura ... is the steLeotypicaR YeRRow PeaLR (How does he DO that???), pretending obsequiousness and cursing the white trash in asides, but obviously has Hidden Agendas --- as do everyone on stage."

--Larry Stark, TheaterMirror.com (1/13/2008); full review here

Read Carolyn Clay's review ("the excellent Austin Ku") for The Boston Phoenix (01/16/2008) here
Read Brian Jewell's review ("Newcomer Austin Ku ... manages to land laughs through comic brute force") for Bay Windows (01/16/2008) here
Read John Black's review ("Austin Kin [sic]") for Boston Now (01/16/2008) here
Read Jenna Scherer's review ("Ku goes full-throttle as Tempura") for the Boston Herald (01/14/2008) here
2006

  • December 2006: Jay Kuo's new musical Homeland (Lincoln Park - principal) at The Magic Theatre, presented by The San Francisco New Theatre Workshop - San Francisco, CA

"Austin Ku is almost too fun to watch on the Magic Theatre's intimate stage--it's easy to imagine Ku in one of those big Broadway extravaganzas or in a Hollywood musical." 

--MARC BREINDEL, GAY.COM (12/19/2006); full review here

"Austin Ku as Lincoln, Rose’s brother, is delightful in the song “Something in the Key of D” and very heart rendering in the duet 'You’ve Got Me'."

--Richard Connema, TalkinBroadway.com's "All That Chat" (12/18/2006); full review here 

"...Mrs. Meers' [Cynthia Myers] Chinese henchmen, Bun Foo (Austin Ku) and Ching Ho (Michael Cabanlit), two characters who punch all sorts of holes in the stereotypical Chinese-movie stock character. ...Neiman [playing Trevor Grayden] is hilarious, as are Myers, Ku and Cabanlit..."

--PAT CRAIG, CONTRA COSTA TIMES (10/10/2006); full review here

"Ms. Myers, Austin Ku as Bun Foo and Michael Cabanlit as Ching Ho are side splitting in singing a tribute to their Hong Kong "mammy" in Chinese with English subtitles overhead.  The two Asians also are hilarious singing the reprise of 'Not For the Life of Me' in authentic Chinese."  

--Richard Connema, TalkinBroadway.com (10/27/2006); full review here

"...the two Chinese hotel workers, Ching Ho (Michale [sic] Cabanlit) and Bun Foo (Austin Ku) steal scene after scene."

--Charles Jarrett, Rossmoor News (10/12/2006); full review here 

"In fact, Myers' songs with Michael Cabanlit (Ching Ho) and Austin Ku (Bun Foo), complete with sub-titles, are the funniest in the show."

--Sally Hogarty, Walnut Creek Journal (10/13/2006); full review here

  • August-September 2006: M. Butterfly (Kurogo/Dancer, u/s Song Liling) at TheatreWorks of Palo Alto - Mountain View, CA

"In TheatreWorks' production, it is the Chinese vision that dominates the elements. Gallimard sits meekly on the sidelines through two substantial Beijing opera sequences featuring (and directed by) Jamie H.J. Guan, with Nicholas Hua Guan, Austin Ku and Francis Jue in tall headdress as opera star Song Liling. A highly choreographed battle scene features synchronous twirling with colorful staffs to dramatic Chinese percussion."

--Marianne Messina, Silicon Valley Metro (08/30-09/06, 2006); full review here

"The director has Beijing Opera Consultant Jamie H.J. Guan lending his artistry to the production, including a dazzling Chinese opera segment in the first act with Austin Ku, Nicholas Hua Guan, Francis Jue and Jamie H.J. Guan performing the characters brilliantly."

--Richard Connema, TalkinBroadway.com (08/22/2006); full review here

"Austin Ku shows his versatility as the talented dancer Tulsa and, in a hilarious bit, as a Chinese waitress."

--SALLY HOGARTY, CONTRA COSTA TIMES (03/30/2006); full review here


2005

"The youngest troupers are precocious Treitel Schlemazel (pert Sharon Guggenheim) and rambunctious Velvel Schnook (Austin Ku, a find)."

--DAVID C. NICHOLS, special to THE LOS ANGELES TIMES (12/24/2005); full review here

"Skillman’s cast is, for the most part, young and energetic, and at their playful best when playing. Many of the best moments are those between the kinsmen, antagonists alternately expressing mutual love or hate (or both at the same time). ...  Austin Ku’s Arcite is a case in point: his competent portrayal of the banished lovelorn who sneaks back into Thebes becomes real playing when he’s hilariously disguised as a poet in Afro wig and sparkly glasses, in what amounts to a slam for Emilia’s affections."

--Ken Bullock, special to the Berkeley Daily Planet (10/21/2005); full review here

"Despite the play's overarching merriment, the dark side of San Francisco Shakespeare Festival's slickly staged and beautifully acted production surfaces in moments like Hero's memorial service (featuring haunting vocals by Brendan Simon and Austin Ku)..."

--Chloe Veltman, SF Weekly (09/21/2005); full review here 

"Austin Ku fulfills the earnest Anthony with a beautiful lyric tenor and the requisite good-guy good looks." 

 --Jeanie Forte, Palo Alto Weekly (02/25/2005); full review here 

"The supporting cast has outstanding voices, including Austin Ku [...] as Anthony Hope.  He, along with Keite Davis [...] as Johanna, are standouts in this production."

--Richard Connema, TalkinBroadway.com (March 2005); full review here

"Ku is a very winning and attractive performer and singer as the lovestruck Anthony."

--Keith Kreitman, Insidebayarea.com (02/22/2005); full review here

Read Judy Richter's review ("...the hauntingly beautiful 'Johanna', sung by Austin Ku...") for AisleSay.com (03/2005) here

Download/Listen to my radio interview on Sing Tao Chinese Radio (South Bay broadcast, 02/03/2005) here 


2004

"The multi talented cast shines, and perhaps the most telling number comes when the men sing the melancholy 'Tomorrow Belongs to Me' in thick harmonies to the lone violin of actor/musician Austin Ku (who also plays Hans and Rudy)."

--Marianne Messina, Silicon Valley Metro (06/30-7/06, 2004); full review here

"The star-crossed lovers, Tuptim (Rizza Quinio) and Lun Tha [Austin Ku] are two of the most exciting contributors to the show with voices and acting skills that should take them far if they pursue professional careers.  These two are quite outstanding performers."

--Charles Jarrett, Rossmoor News (02/18/2004); full review unavailable on-line


2003
  • June 30, 2003: I Remember it Well: The Songs of Alan Jay Lerner (Featured Vocalist and Violinist), Gala benefit for 42nd Street Moon at the Herbst Theater - San Francisco, CA

"...nearly everyone seemed possessed by Lerner's witty genius: Davis Gaines, Caroline Altman, Bill Fahrner, Kelly Houston, Austin Ku, Marsha Mercant, and 42nd Street's artistic directors Stephanie Rhoads and Greg MacKellan."

--OCTAVIO ROCA, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE (07/02/2003); full review here

  • April-May 2003: Roberta (Violin Player) at 42nd Street Moon - San Francisco, CA
"For Roberta, the accompaniment consisted of the excellent piano/violin duet of Dave Dobrusky and Austin Ku."

--Francis Garcia, ManifestoNews.org (June/July 2003); full review here

  • March-April 2003: Paint Your Wagon (Salem Trumbell, Fiddler) at 42nd Street Moon - San Francisco, CA 

"David Dobrusky, who is always an asset as the pianist in these productions, is great. This time he is joined by Austin Ku on violin in several numbers.  He has a lovely touch on that string instrument.  Austin also plays Salem the owner of the general store." 

--Richard Connema, TalkinBroadway.com (March/April 2003); full review here


University Productions

"It's refreshing to hear Austin Ku's natural voice in the sly, lyrical 'Sailing.'"

--STEVEN WINN, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE; full review no longer available on-line 

"Austin Ku, in the role of Roger, possesses a well-trained voice..."

--Joe Mader, SF Examiner; full review no longer available on-line

"...the relationship between wryly frightened Gordon and Roger (the elegant Austin Ku) is tender and absolutely, heartbreakingly believable.  Ku has a stunning moment in 'A Lousy Day in the Universe' as a man desperately afraid of losing his comatose lover.  Operatically trained Ku is perfectly cast as Roger..."

--Lisa Drostova, East Bay Express; full review no longer available on-line

  • The Threepenny Opera (Street Singer, Filch, Priest, Warden, Queen's Messenger) at the Seagle Music Colony - Upstate NY tour

"Austin Ku showed himself to be a fine comic with a sound voice in a startling number of roles ranging from an incompetent beggar to a drunken minister to - finally - Victoria's messenger who comes riding to save Mac from the well-deserved gallows." 

--Ruth Breen, Jack & Ann Metcalfe, for The North Creek News Enterprise; full review unavailable online 

"Ku also gives a strong performance... He has a powerful voice - easily one of the best in this strong cast - and an impressive stage presence..." 

--Jett McAllister, Rice University Thresher; full review unavailable on-line

"As emcee, Ku steals the show.  He's able to interact with the audience in away that make it feel as if it were actually at a cabaret, and his sexually ambiguous role is scandalous enough to make everyone's eyes widen in surprise at various points during the musical."

--Jett McAllister, Rice University Thresher; full review unavailable on-line


                                    This page last updated: 07/2010
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