Knowing Your Neighbor: Brian Matuszak

DULUTH,MINN- Brian Matuszak wears many hats — a college professor, a mentor, and an actor. But at his core, his greatest passion has always been comedy and the stage.

Matuszak’s acting journey began in 1984 when he performed in Fools by Neil Simon at the Duluth Playhouse. “I auditioned for a few other shows but hadn’t been cast in anything, so it was the first time I was cast in something and it was tremendously fun,” he recalled.

That first role opened the door to a lifelong dedication to theater. Along the way, Matuszak met a mentor who encouraged him to look inward as a performer. “You start with yourself — your wants, your desires, your likes and dislikes, the things you hate, the things you won’t do, the things you think about doing,” he explained.

Now, with 41 years of acting experience, Matuszak passes those lessons on to his students. His advice is straightforward: “Don’t tell yourself no. Let somebody else tell you no.”

In addition to teaching, Matuszak founded Rubber Chicken Theater, his own comedy troupe. The group continues to bring performances to the Duluth Depot, adding laughter and creativity to the city’s arts scene. For Matuszak, the most rewarding part of his career has been seeing his students thrive.

To aspiring actors, he shares this reminder: “You fail spectacularly, you figure out what went wrong, and you learn from that.”

And for everyone in the community, Matuszak encourages supporting local theater. “Go out and see theater in Duluth,” he said. “That’s what keeps it alive.”