Austin Ryan Hunt (Assistant Director) is a Chicago theatre artist and proud member of the Osage Nation. He was a Trustee Scholar at Lipscomb University where he earned degrees in Acting, Directing, Theatrical Design, and Dance, and in 2018 he graduated from the School at Steppenwolf. Favorite performance credits include King James (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), Fiddler on the Roof (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Newsies (Skylight Music Theatre), and Mother Goose’s Garden (Emerald City Theatre). He has performed across the country with Actors’ Playhouse, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Nashville Shakespeare Festival, and many others. In addition to theatre, Austin founded Uncommon Plant Guy in 2022 where he teaches knowledge-based plant care across the city and suburbs of Chicago. He’s thrilled to be making his TUTA debut as a member of the directing team for The Long Christmas Dinner.