About Me
Hi! I'm an actor/director who is a new works enthusiast -- I love being part of the development of new works on both stage (plays & musicals) and screen (TV & film). I'm also an experienced audiobook narrator and voice actor, and occasionally a hand model. I'm based in NYC and have a Grammy 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.
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 and (more recently) directing!
I still play the violin every now and then.
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I also love cooking and restaurants and all things food-related. My dream job might actually be hosting or judging a cooking/food show? Won't know until I get to try it!
News
Current/Upcoming:
- November 1: Directing a table reading of a new musical - closed reading
- 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 14 release: Audiobook Narrator, The Wizard: When Words Kill (by Shi Wu) for LoveLove
- October 13: Directing a table reading of a new play - closed reading
- October 7 release date: Audiobook Co-Narrator, Squished (by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter) for Scholastic Audio
- Audiobooks for Brilliance, Hachette, HarperCollins, Tantor and more
- Performing a Guest Star VO role in 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!
Last Quarter:
- September 19: Speaking/performing at Unscripted: A Night Against Censorship, Featuring George Takei - Brooklyn Library, NY
- September 23 release date: 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 date: Audiobook Co-Narrator, The Fourth Daughter (by Lyn Liao Butler) for Brilliance Audio
- July 29 release date: Audiobook Narrator, Spelunky (by Derek Yu) for Highbridge Audio
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