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Michael Barrett Austin

Birth Place: Santa Barbara, CA

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Michael Barrett Austin is a San Francisco Bay Area native who returned to stay after earning a BA from Whitman College and spending several years traversing the country, acting, writing and directing. In addition to being a member of (and frequent performer with) local companies Just Theater and PlayGround, Michael has worked with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, SF Playhouse, Center Repertory Theatre, San Jose Stage, 42nd Street Moon, Central Works, TheatreFIRST, TheatreWorks and many others. Michael has also starred in several independent films, appeared on television series and been featured in many commercials and industrials. He also maintains an alter ego as the Office Manager for the non-profit news site Antiwar.com. In his rare moments of spare time, Michael sings songs with his guitar and appreciates single malts and experimenting with cocktails. He is married to a fantastic woman named Emily, and (as of September 3, 2015) is the father of a beautiful daughter named Lucille.

You can follow him in Instagram @michaelbarrettaustin.

Michael Barrett Austin News


Cast Announced for PlayGround's 28th Festival of New Works Premieres From Anne Yumi Kobori and Jacob Marx Rice


Meet the cast for PlayGround's 28th Festival of New Works Premieres featuring APERTURES OF LOVE IN TIMES OF WAR and A THOUSAND NATURAL SHOCKS.

PlayGround Reveals Casting For 2024 Festival Premieres


Casting has been announced for PlayGround’s 28th annual Festival of New Works Premieres: Anne Yumi Kobori’s Apertures of Love in Times of War (May 11-12, 2024) and Jacob Marx Rice’s A Thousand Natural Shocks (May 18-19, 2024). 

PlayGround to Present THE LEGACY OF THE LAND WE INHABIT in November


Join PlayGround on November 20th at 7PM PT for an evening of original short plays inspired by 'The Legacy of the Land We Inhabit.' Don't miss this opportunity to experience thought-provoking performances that bring awareness to land acknowledgment. Reserve your tickets now!

PlayGround to Kick Off 30th Season With MONDAY NIGHT PLAYGROUND “ORIGIN STORY” in October


PlayGround blasts into its 30th season of innovative new plays by taking you back to before the beginning! Join us for a new round of Monday Night PlayGround, featuring original short plays all inspired by the prompt 'Origin Story', Monday, October 16.

Review: CHINGLISH at SF Playhouse


What did our critic think of CHINGLISH at SF Playhouse? SF Playhouse is all in with their take on Tony Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist David Henry Hwang's Chinglish: stylish set and lighting, excellent direction, and a strong ensemble cast. While there's plenty of comic moments in Hwang's sardonic commentary on language barriers and the effects of those miscommunications, there's also thoughtful observations on fidelity, corporate and judicial corruption, and even nationalism.

David Henry Hwang's CHINGLISH to be Presented at San Francisco Playhouse in May


San Francisco Playhouse will present the comedy Chinglish by Tony Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist David Henry Hwang.

PlayGround Announces 29th Season Of New Plays & Playwrights


PlayGround, California's leading playwright incubator and theatre community hub, has announced its 29th season, including the return of the celebrated Monday Night PlayGround staged reading series on third Mondays,* October - March, in-person this year at Berkeley's Freight & Salvage and live simulcast.

BORDERS, ISLANDS & WALLS Announced At Berkeley Repertory Theatre


PlayGround concludes the 25th season of its celebrated Monday Night PlayGround staged reading series with a special evening of environmental-inspired plays as part of the 5th annual PLANET EARTH ARTS NEW PLAY FESTIVAL on Monday, April 1, 8 PM at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. The topic for the April 1 program (rescheduled from the previously announced March 18 date) is "BORDERS, ISLANDS & WALLS". Members of the 2018-19 PlayGround Writers Company have just five days to generate their original ten-minute plays inspired by the topic. The top six scripts will each receive an hour-and-a-half rehearsal and a professional script-in-hand staged reading at Berkeley Rep on April 1.

Monday Night PlayGround 25th Season Continues With Six 10-Minute Plays Inspired by 'ADAPT A FAIRY TALE'


PlayGround continues its 25th season of its celebrated Monday Night PlayGround staged reading series with the first 2019 Monday readings on Monday, January 21, 8 PM at Berkeley Repertory Theatre's Roda Theatre. The topic for January's round, announced last Friday, is "ADAPT A FAIRY TALE". Members of the 2018-19 PlayGround Writers Company have just four-and-a-half days to generate their original ten-minute plays inspired by the topic. The top six scripts will each receive an hour-and-a-half rehearsal and a professional script-in-hand staged reading at Berkeley Rep on January 21. PlayGround writers in Los Angeles are working simultaneously on the same prompt and their finalists will be presented at Hollywood's Broadwater Mainstage (home of Sacred Fools Theatre Company) on January 14. Tickets are $15-$30 and 3-admission flex subscriptions are just $60 ($45 for 25-and-Unders). For tickets or more information, visit http://playground-sf.org/monday.

47 Playwrights in Four-and-a-Half Days Write Original Plays Inspired by The Topic FALL DOWN, GET UP


PlayGround continues its 25th season of its celebrated Monday Night PlayGround staged reading series on Monday, November 26, 8 PM at Berkeley Repertory Theatre's Roda Theatre. The topic for November's round, announced this morning, is "FALL DOWN, GET UP". Members of the 2018-19 PlayGround Writers Company have just four-and-a-half days to generate their original ten-minute plays inspired by the topic. The top six scripts will each receive an hour-and-a-half rehearsal and a professional script-in-hand staged reading at Berkeley Rep on November 26. PlayGround writers in Los Angeles are working simultaneously on the same prompt and their finalists will be presented at Hollywood's Broadwater Mainstage (home of Sacred Fools Theatre Company) on November 12.  Tickets are $15-$30 and 5-admission series subscriptions are just $75 ($50 for 25-and-Unders). For tickets or more information, visit http://playground-sf.org/monday.

Photo Flash: San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon Presents THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS


San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon (Daren A.C. Carollo and Daniel Thomas, Co-Executive Directors) has announced the full cast and creative team for the opening production of its 2018-2019 season, THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS (nominated for seven Tony Awards). THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS features a book by Larry L. King and Peter Masterson, and music and lyrics by Carol Hall. 42nd Street Moon's production runs from October 3 - 21, 2018 and will perform at San Francisco's Gateway Theatre (formerly the Eureka Theatre). The press opening will take place on Saturday, October 6 at 6:00 p.m. Tickets range from $30 - $75 and can be purchased through the Box Office at (415) 255-8207 or online at www.42ndstmoon.org.

PlayGround Kicks Off 25th Season at Berkeley Rep Theatre with JUSTICE


"A man may see how this world goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears see how yond justice rails upon yon simple thief. Hark, in thine ear change places and, handy-dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief." - William Shakespeare

42nd Street Moon Announces Cast of THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS


San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon (Daren A.C. Carollo and Daniel Thomas, Co-Executive Directors) has announced the full cast and creative team for the opening production of its 2018-2019 season, THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS (nominated for seven Tony Awards). 

Photo Flash: TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Presents FINKS


TheatreWorks Silicon Valley presents Bay Area audiences with the California Premiere of FINKS, a comic drama based on the true story of comedian/actor Jack Gilford directed by TheatreWorks Director of New Works Giovanna Sardelli. With the 1950s Red Scare in full swing, the House Un-American Activities Committee attacks 'subversion' in the arts. When a romance blossoms between rising comic Mickey and firebrand actress Natalie, they face being blacklisted along with their friends and fellow artists. Written by Jack's son, playwright/screenwriter Joe Gilford, this engaging play shares the story of targeted individuals in the entertainment industry suddenly faced with losing their careers, or being branded forever as 'finks.' For tickets ($40-$100) and more information the public may visit TheatreWorks.org or call (650) 463-1960.

California Premiere Of Red Scare Drama FINKS Opens At TheatreWorks This June


TheatreWorks Silicon Valley presents Bay Area audiences with the California Premiere of FINKS, a comic drama based on the true story of comedian/actor Jack Gilford directed by TheatreWorks Director of New Works Giovanna Sardelli. With the 1950s Red Scare in full swing, the House Un-American Activities Committee attacks 'subversion' in the arts. When a romance blossoms between rising comic Mickey and firebrand actress Natalie, they face being blacklisted along with their friends and fellow artists. Written by Jack's son, playwright/screenwriter Joe Gilford, this engaging play shares the story of targeted individuals in the entertainment industry suddenly faced with losing their careers, or being branded forever as 'finks.' For tickets ($40-$100) and more information the public may visit TheatreWorks.org or call (650) 463-1960.

Photo Flash: 42nd Street Moon Presents ME AND MY GIRL


San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon (Daren A.C. Carollo and Daniel Thomas, Co-Executive Directors), currently celebrating its 25th Anniversary in continuous operation, has announced the full cast and creative team for the final production of the 2017-2018 season: ME AND MY GIRL, a hilarious and delightful 1930s West End smash hit (winner of three Tony Awards for the critically-acclaimed 1986 Broadway revival). ME AND MY GIRL features book and lyrics by L. Arthur Rose & Douglas Furber, revised by Stephen Fry with contributions by Mike Ockrent, and music by Noel Gay. ME AND MY GIRL runs from May 2 - 20, 2018 and will perform at San Francisco's Gateway Theatre (formerly the Eureka Theatre). The press opening will take place on Saturday, May 5 at 6:00 p.m. Tickets range from $25 - $75 and can be purchased through the Box Office at (415) 255-8207 or online at www.42ndstmoon.org.

42nd Street Moon Announces Cast And Creative Team For ME AND MY GIRL


San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon (Daren A.C. Carollo and Daniel Thomas, Co-Executive Directors), currently celebrating its 25th Anniversary in continuous operation, has announced the full cast and creative team for the final production of the 2017-2018 season.

42nd Street Moon Announces Cast And Creative Team For ME AND MY GIRL


San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon (Daren A.C. Carollo and Daniel Thomas, Co-Executive Directors), currently celebrating its 25th Anniversary in continuous operation, has announced the full cast and creative team for the final production of the 2017-2018 season: ME AND MY GIRL, a hilarious and delightful 1930s West End smash hit (winner of three Tony Awards for the critically-acclaimed 1986 Broadway revival). 

Red Scare Drama FINKS Makes CA Premiere At TheatreWorks


TheatreWorks Silicon Valley presents Bay Area audiences with the California Premiere of FINKS, a comic drama based on the true story of comedian/actor Jack Gilford directed by TheatreWorks Director of New Works Giovanna Sardelli.

Symmetry Theatre Stages THE OTHER PLACE at Live Oak in Berkeley


Imagine this. You're a brilliant scientist, a biophysicist studying the causes of dementia. And one day, mid-Power Point, you can't recall what you're supposed to say when the next slide comes up. Eventually you learn that the disease you're studying is now the disease you have.

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