About Me (scroll down for News/Events)
Hi! I'm an actor/director who is a new works enthusiast -- I love being part of the development of new works on stage (plays & musicals) and on screen (TV & film). I'm also an experienced audiobook narrator and voice actor, and occasionally a print model & hand model. I'm based in NYC and have a Grammy Award Nomination for Musical Theater!
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I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where I played a lot of violin as a kid and then got more into school choir and drama as a teen.
Then I went to Rice University in Houston, TX, where I majored in Asian Studies (Chinese History, Culture and Language, magna cum laude), with additional major studies in Vocal Performance (Opera Performance) at Rice University's prestigious Shepherd School of Music. I also began to act and model professionally in the Houston area.
Seeking a "practical" career in the arts, I then went to the UC Berkeley School of Law and began to work in entertainment law in the Bay Area.
However, I was still drawn to performing and continued to act and model on the side, and it wasn't long before I left law (and the Bay Area) to pursue a performing career.
So I went back to school (again) at The Boston Conservatory (at Berklee), where I obtained a Master's Degree in Musical Theater (while also performing in the Boston area).
After a successful "BoCo" graduation industry showcase, I moved to NYC and began making my way up the ladder. I am having the time of my life acting, singing and now directing too!
I even still play the violin every now and then.
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I also love cooking and restaurants and all things food-related. My new dream job might be hosting or judging a cooking/food show? Won't know until I try it!
News/Events
Current/Upcoming:
- NOW PLAYING: "Problematic" short series (Series Regular) on BRIC TV and YouTube - click HERE (scroll down past the synopsis for Season 1 episodes)
- Coming soon: Audiobooks for Brilliance, Tantor and a Guest Star VO role in Season 3 of the award-winning audiodrama Visionaries
- Nov-Dec: Performing with NYC's premier caroling group, The Manhattan Holiday Carolers - available for holiday parties and events in NY and NJ! - book us HERE (and please use my name as a referral)
- November 21: Premiere screening & party for "Problematic" short series (Series Regular!) - BRIC Brooklyn - tickets start at $10 with donation HERE (select incentive)
- November 17: Performing a small cameo in "Lewis Loves Clark" in the Bound For Broadway Concert - tickets HERE
- November 9: Principal role in a table read of a new play for The Motor Company - NYC
- November 11 release: Audiobook Narrator, The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class: Theo Chang is not a Cat (by Mike Jung) for Hachette Audio
- November 1: Directing a table reading of a new musical in development - NYC
- October 28 release: Audiobook Narrator, The Crack at the Heart of Everything (by Fiona Fenn) for Tantor Media
- October 27: Directing a staged reading of Uma Incrocci's short play "William 3" for (PlayGround-NY's "Monday Night PlayGround" (topic: Murder Mystery) - NYC and online (FREE/donation)
- October 21 release: Audiobook Narrator, The Book of Crows (by Sam Meekings) for Tantor Media
- October 14 release: Audiobook Narrator, The Wizard: When Words Kill (by Shi Wu) for LoveLove
- October 13: Directing a table reading of a new play - NYC
- October 7 release: Audiobook Co-Narrator, Squished (by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter) for Scholastic Audio
Last Quarter:
- September 19: Speaking/performing at Unscripted: A Night Against Censorship, Featuring George Takei - Brooklyn Library, NY
- September 23 release: Audiobook Narrator, Underspin (by E.Y.Zhao) for Brilliance Audio
- September 23-25: Performing a lead role in a new musical demo recording - NYC
- September 22-26: Performing a principal role in a new musical reading - NYC
- September 15-19: Performing a lead role in a new musical workshop - NYC
- Aug-Sep: Directing Observer for the new Off-Broadway musical This is Not a Drill - York Theatre, NYC
- August 5: Principal role in a new musical reading - NYC
- August 1 release: Audiobook Co-Narrator, The Fourth Daughter (by Lyn Liao Butler) for Brilliance Audio
- July 29 release: Audiobook Narrator, Spelunky (by Derek Yu) for Highbridge Audio
Past Highlights:
- 2024: Our BRIC TV comedy short series "Problematic" (Series Regular) played at several festivals including SeriesFest in Denver, CO (won Best of Digital Short Series) and Stareable Fest 2024 in Los Angeles, CA (won the Audience Award and Best Writing)
- 2024: Professional directing debut for PlayGround-NY (Winner, PlayGround-NY People's Choice Award); Directing Observer for Oh, Mary! and Yellowface on Broadway
- 2022: Recurring role ("Michael Xufu Huang") in Shonda Rhimes' Netflix series "Inventing Anna" (episodes 103 & 104), and Supporting role in Judd Apatow's Netflix comedy film The Bubble
- 2020: Guest Starred in the star-studded virtual concert Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration - the "Someone in a Tree" quartet (1:40:55-1:48:28) was named one of the New York Times "Best Performances of 2020"!
- 2018-2019: Played the principal role of "Bobby Bob" (the good-hearted sidekick) in the new musical Soft Power (Pulitzer Prize finalist) at The Ahmanson (Los Angeles), The Curran (San Francisco), and The Public Theater (Off-Broadway) - watch the MUSIC VIDEO and get the ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM (I was nominated for a Grammy Award as a principal soloist, Best Musical Theater Album!)
- 2017: Played the Boy (in the Tree) in John Doyle's critically-acclaimed revival of Stephen Sondheim's Pacific Overtures at Classic Stage Company - NY Times Critic's Pick; Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Buzzfeed "Best of Theater" lists
Awards
- Nominee, Grammy Award - Principal Soloist, Best Musical Theater Album
- Nominee, Barrymore Award (Philadelphia area) - Supporting Actor in a Musical
- Nominee, IRNE Award (New England area) - Supporting Actor in a Musical (Large Theater)
- Nominee, BroadwayWorld Boston Award - Lead Actor in a Musical (Medium Theater)
- Recipient, Dean Goodman Choice Award (S.F. Bay Area) - Supporting Actor in a Musical
Quotable Quotes
- "It is Austin Ku who steals the show" - Jan Nargi, BROADWAYWORLD.COM
- "He's the funniest thing onstage" - Louise Kennedy, BOSTON GLOBE
- "A find" - David C. Nichols, LOS ANGELES TIMES
- "It's refreshing to hear Austin Ku's natural voice" - Steven Winn, SF CHRONICLE
- "An expert storyteller" - Madeleine Marshall, DC METRO THEATER ARTS
- "A standout" - Deb Miller, DC METRO THEATER ARTS