SAG-AFTRA, AEA 2021 Grammy Nominee

Watch/Listen Now: 

• The star-studded virtual concert Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration - Austin's "Someone in a Tree" quartet was named one of the New York Times "Best Performances of 2020"! 
• Original Cast Recording of Soft Power, a new musical by David Henry Hwang & Jeanine Tesori (and watch the "Democracy" music video) - Austin is nominated for a 2021 Grammy Award (Best Musical Theater Album, Principal Soloist)! 
• Guest star in the webseries Assisted Living the Series (episode 1)
• Leading roles in podcasts of short play "Not That Difficult" and short musical "What Will She Do Next" (episode 105)
   

Upcoming:

• Recurring role on an upcoming new Netflix series
• Supporting role in a feature family film
• Lots of virtual readings, podcasts, benefit concerts, and more...
   

Recent Highlights:   

• Winter 2020: The lead role in the new musical Shanghai Sonatas in the UDel Master Players Concert Series - watch the TRAILER
• Fall 2019: A principal supporting role new musical Soft Power at The Public Theater Off-Broadway - get the ALBUM and watch the MUSIC VIDEO
• Summer 2019: A principal supporting role in the Paint Your Wagon revisal at The Muny

• "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

• Nominee, 2021 Grammy Award - Best Musical Theater Album (Principal Soloists) 
• 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 

I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where I grew up playing violin, then piano and choir, then school musicals and plays.

I went to Rice University, where I studied opera (and Asian Studies), kept doing school musicals and plays, and started modeling.

I went to UC Berkeley School of Law, yet I couldn't stop doing the school musicals and plays, and modeling and commercials too.

I became a lawyer, but had a lot more fun doing local musicals and plays, modeling and commercials, plus a little film.

So I got a theater degree at The Boston Conservatory, while doing musicals and plays, modeling and commercials, film and TV.

Now I live in NYC, and I do musicals and plays, modeling and commercials, film and TV... and hand modeling!

I still play the violin every now and then. 

...

I also love cooking and all things food-related.