About Me
Hi! I'm an NYC-based, Grammy Award-nominated actor, director, and new works enthusiast. I work primarily on stage (plays & musicals) and on camera (TV & film). I'm also an experienced audiobook narrator and voice actor, print and hand model, and classical violinist.
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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.
I went to Rice University, where I majored in Asian Studies (Chinese History, Culture and Language, magna cum laude) and also studied 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; after attaining membership in AEA & SAG-AFTRA (professional arts unions), I left law and decided to finally pursue a career in the arts.
I went back to school (again) for a Master's Degree in Musical Theater from The Boston Conservatory (at Berklee), while also acting and modeling in the Boston area.
After obtaining professional representation from the BoCo graduation showcase, I moved to NYC and began auditioning. Over the past few years, I've been steadily climbing the industry ladder, and am having the time of my life acting, singing, modeling and (more recently) also directing!
I still play the violin every now and then.
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I also love cooking and all things food-related. ...My dream job might actually be hosting or judging a cooking show!
News
This Quarter:
- April 28: Reprising my performance in Le'Kee Antonio Horton's short play "New Edition" for "Best of PlayGround(NY) '25" - NYC in-person and streaming - RSVP here (Free!)
- April-May: Narrating an audiobook for Penguin Random House Audio - stay tuned for more details
- April-May: Narrating an audiobook for Dreamscape Audio - stay tuned for more details
- May: Performing lead roles in two new short play readings - NYC - stay tuned for more details
- May: Narrating an audiobook for Highbridge Audio - stay tuned for more details
- May: Performing a lead role in a new musical song presentation - NYC - stay tuned for more details
- May-June: Co-narrating an audiobook for Brilliance Audio (Amazon) - NYC - stay tuned for more details
- June: Directing a new short musical in concert - NYC - stay tuned for more details
Last Quarter:
- March 24: Performing a lead role in a staged reading of new short play "New Edition" (by Le'Kee Antonio Horton) for PlayGround-NY - NYC and streaming - RSVP here (FREE!)
- March: Narrating an audiobook for Tantor Audio - stay tuned for more details
- March 15: Reading a lead role in a new play - closed reading
- March 8: Performing in a reading of a new musical - closed reading
- February 24: Directing a staged reading of new short musical "Cravings" (by Le'Kee Antonio Horton) for PlayGround-NY - NYC and streaming - RSVP here (FREE!)
- February 20-23: Assistant directing a musical-in-concert of John Michael LaChiusa's Queen of the Mist for PEAK Performances - Montclair, NJ - get tickets HERE
- February: Recording scenes as a lead role for a new musical demo video - more details to come
- February 5: Release date of Amy Schumer's Kinda Pregnant film on NETFLIX (principal role) - watch it here
- January 29: Release date of Buddhism for All by Chade Meng Tan (Audiobook narrator) - listen here
- January 11: Directing a developmental reading of new play Parity by Howard Ho - MoCA NYC - click here to RSVP (free!)
- January: 2025: Recording songs as a lead/supporting role for a new musical demo album - more details to come
Past Highlights:
- 2024: Our comedy short-form 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