Austin P. McKenzie (born August 24, 1993) is an American stage and screen actor best known for his performance as Melchior Gabor in the 2015 Broadway Revival by Deaf West Theatre of Spring Awakening; and for his role as Howie in Dan Harris' Speech & Debate.McKenzie was born in Mesa, Arizona. After working for six years at a Summer Camp for children and adults with mental & physical challenges, Lions Camp Tatiyee, McKenzie enrolled at Columbia College Chicago to study American Sign Language and Childhood Education to become a special needs teacher.McKenzie made his theatrical debut on September 14, 2014, playing the charismatic and rebel Melchoir Gabor in the Deaf West Theatre immerse production of Spring Awakening at the Rosenthal Theater at Inner City Arts in downtown L.A The production which was simultaneously performed in American Sign Language and spoken English consisted on hearing and deaf actors was directed by Michael Arden. After a successful reprise at the Wallis, on June 2015, it was announced that the rebellious students from the acclaimed Deaf West production of Spring Awakening, were transferring with the musical to Broadway. McKenzie who in September 2014 made his theatrical debut in a 99-seats theatre in downtown L.A., officially made his Broadway debut on September 27, 2015 as Melchior Gabor in the Deaf West Theatre Broadway revival of Spring Awakening at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.Directed by Dan Harris, written by Stephen Karam, and shot in July 2015, Speech & Debate is McKenzie's first feature-film lead. Speech & Debate is an dark comedy about a trio of misfit teenagers: Salomon, portrayed by Liam James; Diwata, portrayed by Sarah Steele; and Howie, Potrayed by McKenzie. The film is scheduled to premiere in 2016McKenzie continues to purse film, vocal performance, theater, and song-writing. He gives Camp Tatiyee, his mother and sister gratitude for awaking him. Show less «