Wayne Brady will flex his improv muscles at the Sheraton-Waikiki this Sunday. When music If Wayne Brady ever wanted to take a break from his current career as a multitalented entertainer, he'd be perfect as a guidance counselor.
meets improv
A daytime-TV comic flexes his repertoire
By John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.comNot only does his success to date show that he's been making the right decisions careerwise, but he is also open and articulate in explaining the logic behind them. Any youthful, would-be entertainer would certainly benefit from hearing how and why Brady got into improvisational comedy and why he turned down a development deal that could have showcased him in a situation comedy well before mainstream America discovered him on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"
"Improv is such an incredibly valuable tool -- not just in work, but just in life, learning to keep yourself open," Brady said, interrupting his Hawaii vacation for a quick telephone conversation last week. He'd already been here for several days, enjoying the islands with his wife, Mandie, who has a large family here ("I was the only tall black man amongst a swarm of Japanese. It was really cool," he said of their wedding). The couple returns each year for the holidays; Brady's grandmother, his only immediate family, will be joining them here for New Year's.
But there is also an element of work involved, since Brady will be performing tomorrow at the Sheraton-Waikiki and at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center next Monday.
"It's a concert, not a show," he said. "I'll be doing about a half-hour's worth of improvisational music, taking song titles from the audience and using a bunch of different styles. I'll be doing a lot of impressions while I'm doing that ... and in another part of the show, I have my two backup dancers and my band with me, and we'll do a couple of straight numbers that I enjoy performing as tributes to various artists and telling a couple of stories."
BRADY got into improv more than 10 years ago, initially as a way of covering himself when he blew a line or something wasn't working onstage. He soon fell in love with it and has been so popular doing improv that he now takes pains to emphasize that it's only one facet of his repertoire.
Where: Hawaii Ballroom, Sheraton-Waikiki
Wayne Brady
When: 7 p.m., Sunday
Tickets: $35 (reserved seating only)
Call: 526-4400
Also: 7 p.m. Monday at the Castle Theatre of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Tickets are $35, $40 and $45. Call 242-7469.That said, he finds his comedic skills come in handy when interviewing guests on his daytime television show, duly titled "The Wayne Brady Show," and in overcoming writer's block when working on other material.
And as for turning down that sitcom development offer:
"I already had a great job on one show, (and) to accept a development deal for something that wouldn't serve me would in the end not serve me well at all. Sure, I'd get some up-front money, but if it was bad, the name that I would have hoped to establish at that point would have been sullied, and no one else would want me. ... I worked way too many years to blow that shot.
"And it ended up coming back to me anyway, three times what it would have been (financially), and the end result was better. I waited a couple of years and got my prime-time variety show, which is exactly what I wanted to put my name into the public consciousness, and it got me my daytime variety show now. I'd like to think I played everything pretty well, and this is just the beginning. Knock on wood -- and by the blessings of God -- I've got really good reputation in town, and people respect what I do. ... I love the fact that I'm giving the people what they want and I didn't have to compromise."
He gave the offer to host the Miss America Pageant equal scrutiny.
"There was a phone call one afternoon (from the pageant's people), and I said no at first because I just could not wrap my mind around why would I want to be the host of the Miss America Pageant. I could not think of a more lily-white, safe, kind of corny affair, but then I called them back and said I would do it because of those exact same things," Brady said, explaining that he saw it as a test to see if he could interject anything new into the proceedings.
"I think that's why they called. The fact that I was the first African American to host it wasn't even part of the deal. It wasn't until later on that I thought about it, and then the press started making a big deal about it, (but) it was simply because I wanted to test myself -- 'OK, so if you're so good, make this fun' -- and I had a wonderful time. The people that run the Miss America organization were so great and let me do what I wanted to within the confines of the pageant."
PEOPLE may also be surprised to learn that he plans to record a solo R&B album, but he says that music has always been part of his long-term career plan.
"I think at the beginning I was seen just as a comedian ... but the longer that 'Who's Line' was around, they all saw that we really are actors, and then (I was seen) as a singer and then as a musical theater performer. Now I'm being afforded the chances to do the other things I was going to do anyway.
"I've already been talking with various people about movie projects, but once again, I can't go out just to earn the quick buck (because) you only get a certain level of expectation. Now everyone wants to hear what my first CD is going to sound like, and everybody wants to see what my first movie is going to be like, so the worst thing I could possibly do is put out a crappy CD and to be in a horrible B-movie playing a pimp."
So has he ever considered adding "educator" to his resumé and sharing his knowledge and experiences with aspiring entertainers in a school setting?
"I really don't have that time right now. I wish I did, but I try to speak to kids one on one. Sometimes when I do college shows, I make myself available for the drama classes," he said, adding that as soon as his schedule permits, he'll be visiting several schools in South Central Los Angeles and also become a Big Brother to a couple of kids.
"I had the same experience in Orlando, Fla., years ago, and it was really rewarding. I had a lot of people help me with advice when I was coming up."
And, not that he's putting down acting classes, but there's more to becoming a successful performer than learning technique or getting in touch with your inner self.
"Acting is not tangible, so going to school and having someone teach you for four years and then expecting you to go into the work force and apply all of that, that doesn't work all the time.
"No one teaches the business of show business. No one teaches you that when you go on an audition that this is how you should dress and this is how you should be. Maybe they have taught you how to get in touch with your inner self as an actor ... but when you're going up against 50 other people for the same role, 48 of them have the exact same look as you, 25 of those people are just as trained -- if not better -- than you, 10 of them know the casting director and one of them is the director's son! No one teaches you that.
"All you have is your business sense and a sense that you can go in and get the job done."
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