Bluebird Improv to perform ‘never before,’ ‘never again’ show you don’t want to miss

Matt Walsh has no problem working with a script. The veteran character actor has appeared in such films as "Starsky & Hutch," "Be Kind Rewind" and "Ted." Walsh was also part of the cast of the amusing and acclaimed HBO series "Veep."

Walsh, 60, was nominated for a pair of Primetime Emmy Awards for "Veep." However, Walsh's acting career began in improv.

After college and a brief period working in mental health care, Walsh took improvisational comedy classes in his native Chicago, where he became a regular performer at the Annoyance Theater and Improv Olympic.

Shortly after learning the basics of improv, Walsh founded the Upright Citizens Brigade a generation ago, along with Amy Poehler, Matt Besser and Ian Roberts.

"I discovered improv through a friend when we saw a show at Second City," Walsh said while calling from his Los Angeles home. "We found out there were classes there, and my friend said, 'You would be so good at improv.' I had some success at improv in a high school variety show. I took some courses and worked my way into real theater from there. It's an easy transition going from improv to theater. I really enjoy improv and do it whenever I have the opportunity."

Walsh, Brad Morris and Joe Canale, both of whom are Second City alums, are performing as members of Bluebird Improv Saturday, May 31 at the James Theater.

"We're going to get in there and pull information while talking with the audience and weave what we get into something interesting and funny," Walsh said. "We'll go to a lot of different places. We'll be inappropriate at times, but we won't linger anywhere. There will be moments of tension and beauty in the room. It's fun doing this since it's a shared piece that will be performed in front of an audience, and that performance will never happen again."

Walsh loves rendering improv, but he also enjoys how eclectic his career has been since committing to entertainment in 1991. "It's been fun since I've done so many cool and varied things," Walsh said.

Walsh was a correspondent on "The Daily Show" from 2001 to 2002. "It was an honor to be part of that show," Walsh said. "(Host) Jon (Stewart) was the voice of a generation. To have been part of the coolest show on television is something I'm very proud of."

Walsh is best known for his role as Mike McLintock in the hilarious HBO political satire "Veep." Walsh was part of the critically acclaimed show for seven seasons.

"We were all encouraged to bring our own lives and Americanisms to 'Veep,’" Walsh said. "’Veep' was an inspired show about American politics, and what I loved about it was that (creator/showrunner) Armando (Iannucci) gave us all of the freedom to do what we needed to do. Getting to work with Julia Louis Dreyfus, who is an American treasure, was amazing."

Another highlight for Walsh was working with Seth McFarlane, who directed "Ted."

"I absolutely loved being part of 'Ted,’" Walsh said. "Seth McFarlane would encourage playfulness. He would just let you be yourself and have fun."

Walsh almost followed a different career path. Walsh studied psychology at Northern Illinois University. After spending a year abroad at Salzburg College in Austria, Walsh returned to Chicago to work at Northwestern Hospital.

"I worked at the hospital for a couple of years, and it taught me that the people who work in the mental health profession are made of steel, and they're also angels," Walsh said. "I didn't want that responsibility. I ended up where I should be. It all worked out for me."

Next up for Walsh is the film "Relationship Goals."

"It's the second movie I'm in with a member of the Wu-Tang Clan," Walsh said. "Method Man is in the film. I was in a movie with RZA. Who would guess that would happen? My career has been unpredictable."

That's consistent with Walsh's love of improv, which is always unpredictable.