2021 Grammy Nominee SAG-AFTRA, AEA

Current/Upcoming: 

• October 1, 2021: Appearing in the PBS telecast of the star-studded The Kennedy Center at 50
• October 8-10, 2021: Performing a lead role in developmental lab presentations of the new play Speak American at Soho Rep
• November 2, 2021: Release of the Penguin Random House audiobook of China Boy by Gus Lee

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 was nominated for a 2021 Grammy Award (Best Musical Theater Album, Principal Soloist)! 
• A supporting role in the feature family film Project Pay Day (Apple TV, Amazon, etc.)
   

Up Next:

• Recurring role on an upcoming new Netflix series
• Supporting role in a Netflix feature comedy film
• Readings and Workshops and Concerts, Oh My!
   

Recent Highlights:   

• Summer 2021: Performed from Soft Power in the star-studded Kennedy Center 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert
• Winter 2020: The lead role in the new musical Shanghai Sonatas in the UDel Master Players Concert Series - watch the TRAILER
• Fall 2019: A supporting role in 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

I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where I played a lot of violin as a kid, and then got more into choir and theater as a teen.

I went to Rice University and majored in Vocal/Opera Performance for a time, later switching to Asian Studies (Chinese Culture & History).

Hoping to find a "practical" career in the arts, I went to UC Berkeley School of Law and became an entertainment lawyer in S.F... Briefly.

I was having a blast doing theater on the side (community then regional), got agents for modeling and on-camera, joined AEA & SAG-AFTRA...

Finally I realized I had to go for it, so I went to The Boston Conservatory (now The Boston Conservatory at Berklee) for my theater degree.

Now I live in NYC, and am having the time of my life doing musicals and plays, film and TV, modeling and commercials... and hand modeling!

I still play the violin every now and then. 

...

I also love cooking and all things food-related.