Austin Perkowski is a New York City–based actor and writer who lives for bold storytelling, emotional risk, and a well-earned 11 o’clock number. He is drawn to work that is intimate, unapologetically queer, and just uncomfortable enough to stick with you on the walk home. Whether he’s onstage or behind the page, Austin is most interested in people at their most honest, messy, yearning, and trying (sometimes failing) to connect.

His artistic foundation was shaped at the Professional Performing Arts School in Midtown Manhattan, where he trained in acting, singing, and dance. During his time there, Austin appeared as Henry Etches in Titanic, a performance that helped the production earn a spot at the Shubert Awards at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre, and performed in the ensemble of Rent, a show that continues to deeply inform his love for theatre that is urgent, political, and human.

Off-Broadway, Austin has been praised for his emotional depth and authenticity, including his work in Fun Home. He also starred in Violet, a fully teen-led production that reaffirmed his passion for collaborative, artist-driven spaces and fearless storytelling.

Austin’s love of storytelling extends beyond performance. As a writer and director, he is interested in exploring identity, intimacy, and the things people avoid saying out loud. His short film Strangers, which he wrote and directed, premiered at Lincoln Center and was later screened at the All American Film Festival, earning two award nominations.

Currently pursuing his BFA in Musical Theatre at Marymount Manhattan College, Austin is always searching for stories that feel urgent, personal, and impossible to ignore. He believes theatre should crack people open a little, and if it does, he’s doing his job.