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 Pericles, Knight of the Burning Pestle, 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 Tabitha and wife to Noah. Jessieaustrian.com.
