Jude Hickey is a transplant from Lincoln, Nebraska, where he majored in theatre performance at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. After leaving Nebraska, he traveled for 2 years performing with a variety of companies; while in Raleigh, he read a story in the New York Times about Austin theatre and decided to give it a try. Nearly a decade later...he's still here!

Since moving to Austin, Jude has acted with several different theatre companies, including Salvage Vanguard Theatre (company member), Shrewd Productions, Pro-Arts Collective, Ariel Dance Theatre, and Hyde Park Theatre, where he has performed several times and where he is a company member; for his role as Katurian in HPT's The Pillowman, Jude received the Austin Critics Table award and a B. Iden Payne nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role, and for HPT's Lonesome West, he was nominated for a Payne (along with his "brother") for Best Ensemble Performance. Other favorite experiences include Iphigenia, Thrush, and Hamilton Township (Payne nomination) for SVT, The Method Gun and Dionysus in '69 for the Rude Mechs, Still Fountains directed by Katie Pearl, Dug Up by Cyndi Williams for Austin Playhouse, I Google Myself for Capital T, Gyre, Flush, and Shift Switch Go for Ariel Dance Theatre, Connect by Allan Baker, Ruhl's Melancholy Play and Albee's At Home at the Zoo (Austin Premiere) for Palindrome, The Last Night Of Ballyhoo for Nebraska Repertory Theatre, and Mound Builders for Burning Coal Theatre.

Mr. Hickey plays many roles as part of DA! Theatre Collective. Not only is he a founding member, a board member, and the man who magically makes coffee, treats, and rehearsal spaces appear, but he has performed in Relative Space, Direct Object, Heron & Crane (for which he originated the fun-loving and Payne-nominated role of Crane), and Leave it to Beverly as Pandora (Critics' Table nomination and B. Iden Payne WINNER). He made his directorial debut in February 2010 with Kirk German's Splash Zone at Mi Casa Su Teatro.

In August of 2010, Jude made his New York debut with Heron & Crane at the New York International Fringe Festival. Jude is entering into his fourth calendar year of playing the role of Crane, a character that has entertained over 10,000 children in Texas and beyond!

Jude loves spending time with his family, especially his nephew Phoenix and his niece Lola, who are always reminding him how foolish it is to sweat the small stuff. He hopes someday to move his entire family onto a sustainable life commune where they would grow and make everything they need, including hope.