Actor. Director. Producer. Teacher. Activist. Parent.
I love telling stories. I love to laugh. I love sharing and making stories with other people. I am incredibly lucky to do exactly that as my job.
I grew up in a suburban town in CT with 5 siblings and lots of pets. I have a BA in Theater from Brown University and an MFA in Acting from Brown/Trinity Rep. After grad school I formed Fiasco Theater with some of my Brown collegues and am enjoying the hell out of the work I get to do with them as an actor, director and producer. In addition to my work with Fiasco I have also worked individually on Broadway, Off-Broadway and regionally, and have briefly appeared on your TV a couple times, if you didn't blink.
I also spent my time teaching acting and voice at NYU's Gallatin School and organizing events to make this world a safer, more sustainable, more humane, loving and equal place for our kids to grow up. When not doing all of the above, I am relishing time in Brooklyn with my amazing husband, Noah Brody, our son, Asher, and our two cats, Bandit and Cowgirl.
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Official Bio:
Jessie Austrian is a theater-maker, educator, activist and parent based in Brooklyn, NY. She is one of Fiasco Theater's Co-Artistic Directors and founders. Broadway: Lend Me a Tenor, The Importance of Being Earnest. Off Broadway: Fiasco’s Merrily We Roll Along, Into the Woods, Measure for Measure, Cymbeline and The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Roundabout, BST, TFANA, New Vic), The Marriage of Bette and Boo (Roundabout). London: Fiasco’s Into the Woods (Menier Chocolate Factory). Regional: The Old Globe, McCarter, Folger Theatre, The Guthrie, Trinity Rep, ATL and Williamstown, among others. TV/Film: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Made in Jersey, Futurestates. As a director/co-director: Fiasco's The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Helen Hayes nominee for Best Direction) at The Folger Theater and Theatre For A New Audience, Fiasco's The Imaginary Invalid at The Old Globe, Ken Ludwig's Sherwood at Playmakers Rep. Adjunct faculty at NYU's Gallatin School. Proud graduate of Brown and the Brown/Trinity MFA Acting Program. Proudest roles: mom to Asher and wife to Noah. Jessieaustrian.com.
