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WELCOME TO THE HOME OF J. AUSTIN EYER
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BROADWAY ACTOR
THEATRE ARTS PROFESSOR DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER AUTHOR |
J. AUSTIN EYER performed on Broadway in EVITA, HOW TO SUCCEED, BILLY ELLIOT, THE LITTLE MERMAID, CURTAINS, and THE SECRET GARDEN. He is most known for his work as a teacher, choreographer, and director. He currently holds the title of Co-Area Head of the Musical Theatre BFA and Assistant Professor at The University of Texas at Arlington. His book, Broadway Swings: Covering the Ensemble in Musical Theatre, was released in October 2015 by Bloomsbury Publishing. His education includes a BFA from NYU and an MFA from Penn State.
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J. Austin Eyer grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and began working professionally in television, film, commercials and theatre at the age of seven. After early success in his hometown, he traveled to New York City where, at the age of 10, he landed his first Broadway show playing Colin in The Secret Garden. After the show closed, he continued training in Atlanta and appeared in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games.
At fourteen he moved to Orlando, Florida to attend the prestigious Dr. Phillips Performing Arts High School. During his time in Florida he discovered a passion for choreography, working on events with Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. Austin moved to New York City where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre at NYU/Tisch School of the Arts, graduating with honors. While in school at NYU he continued work as an assistant choreographer and director. In his senior year of college Austin discovered his love of teaching and began teaching for CAP21 studios (which became his home as a teacher and choreographer for the next ten years).
Shortly after his graduation from NYU, Austin was cast in the National Tour of Evita (directed by Hal Prince and Larry Fuller), as well as the Original Companies of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas in Boston and St. Paul. In 2006, Austin made his adult Broadway debut as a swing in the original cast of Curtains. He then appeared as a swing and Prince Eric Understudy in The Little Mermaid. During the run of those two shows, he made his Off-Broadway debut as the choreographer of Boys Just Want to Have Fun and My Big Gay Italian Wedding (which ran Off Broadway for more than 5 years). In 2010, Austin spent a year with the show Billy Elliot appearing in both the touring and Broadway companies. Next he was a swing after which he was a swing and dance captain in the Broadway production of How to Succeed, where he worked with Daniel Radcliffe, Nick Jonas, and Darren Criss. He was last seen on Broadway in a production of Evita starring Ricky Martin.
Austin has worked alongside numerous stars like Sutton Foster, Daniel Radcliffe, Audra McDonald, Rebecca Luker, Faith Prince, Michael Cerveris, Bebe Neuwirth, Will Chase, Sherie Renee Scott, David Hyde Pierce, Debra Monk, Karen Ziemba, Raul Esparza, Donna Murphy, Nick Jonas and Emily Skinner. As well as working for Choreographers like Rob Ashford, Casey Nicholaw, JoAnn Hunter, Lorin Latarro, Jerry Mitchell, Tony Stevens, Peter Darling, Kenny Ortega, Randy Skinner and AC Ciulla.
He has choreographed for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Vital Theatre Company, and the New York Musical Theatre Festival. He also worked as a Creative Consultant for the production company Unique New York Productions. In 2013 Austin co-founded Broadway Donation, a company that provides Donation-Based classes in NYC to the working musical theatre professional, and he maintains the title of Artistic Director. His book titled Broadway Swings, which examines the role of a Swing in musicals from every angle, was published by Bloomsbury Publishing in the fall of 2015.
In 2014 Austin moved to State College, PA to pursue a career in academia at Penn State University while earning an MFA in directing. In 2020 he moved to Dallas/Fort Worth to Head the Musical Theatre BFA Program at The University of Texas at Arlington. He continues to teach across the country with programs like Broadway Dance Center, Theatre Arts Center, Broadway Connection, The Broadway Experience, and NYU. Austin guest teaches in Japan at the Showa University of Music, in Hamburg, Germany with the Joop van den Ende Academy, and outside of Munich with Musiktheater Bavaria where he held the title of Head of Musical Theatre and taught for over five years.
As an academic, his areas of research include the examination masculinity and heteronormativity in musical theatre, as well as how to create space for queer, trans*, and questioning students in the arts classroom.
At fourteen he moved to Orlando, Florida to attend the prestigious Dr. Phillips Performing Arts High School. During his time in Florida he discovered a passion for choreography, working on events with Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. Austin moved to New York City where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre at NYU/Tisch School of the Arts, graduating with honors. While in school at NYU he continued work as an assistant choreographer and director. In his senior year of college Austin discovered his love of teaching and began teaching for CAP21 studios (which became his home as a teacher and choreographer for the next ten years).
Shortly after his graduation from NYU, Austin was cast in the National Tour of Evita (directed by Hal Prince and Larry Fuller), as well as the Original Companies of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas in Boston and St. Paul. In 2006, Austin made his adult Broadway debut as a swing in the original cast of Curtains. He then appeared as a swing and Prince Eric Understudy in The Little Mermaid. During the run of those two shows, he made his Off-Broadway debut as the choreographer of Boys Just Want to Have Fun and My Big Gay Italian Wedding (which ran Off Broadway for more than 5 years). In 2010, Austin spent a year with the show Billy Elliot appearing in both the touring and Broadway companies. Next he was a swing after which he was a swing and dance captain in the Broadway production of How to Succeed, where he worked with Daniel Radcliffe, Nick Jonas, and Darren Criss. He was last seen on Broadway in a production of Evita starring Ricky Martin.
Austin has worked alongside numerous stars like Sutton Foster, Daniel Radcliffe, Audra McDonald, Rebecca Luker, Faith Prince, Michael Cerveris, Bebe Neuwirth, Will Chase, Sherie Renee Scott, David Hyde Pierce, Debra Monk, Karen Ziemba, Raul Esparza, Donna Murphy, Nick Jonas and Emily Skinner. As well as working for Choreographers like Rob Ashford, Casey Nicholaw, JoAnn Hunter, Lorin Latarro, Jerry Mitchell, Tony Stevens, Peter Darling, Kenny Ortega, Randy Skinner and AC Ciulla.
He has choreographed for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Vital Theatre Company, and the New York Musical Theatre Festival. He also worked as a Creative Consultant for the production company Unique New York Productions. In 2013 Austin co-founded Broadway Donation, a company that provides Donation-Based classes in NYC to the working musical theatre professional, and he maintains the title of Artistic Director. His book titled Broadway Swings, which examines the role of a Swing in musicals from every angle, was published by Bloomsbury Publishing in the fall of 2015.
In 2014 Austin moved to State College, PA to pursue a career in academia at Penn State University while earning an MFA in directing. In 2020 he moved to Dallas/Fort Worth to Head the Musical Theatre BFA Program at The University of Texas at Arlington. He continues to teach across the country with programs like Broadway Dance Center, Theatre Arts Center, Broadway Connection, The Broadway Experience, and NYU. Austin guest teaches in Japan at the Showa University of Music, in Hamburg, Germany with the Joop van den Ende Academy, and outside of Munich with Musiktheater Bavaria where he held the title of Head of Musical Theatre and taught for over five years.
As an academic, his areas of research include the examination masculinity and heteronormativity in musical theatre, as well as how to create space for queer, trans*, and questioning students in the arts classroom.
