Brady’s business

Comedian Wayne Brady, in Waikiki for two shows, knew he was born for the stage

Wayne Brady's résumé continues to grow these days. The all-around entertainer and nice guy has moved far beyond his earlier days in show biz, when he gained recognition as a talented comic improviser on the TV show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" and, for a brief stint, as the host of his own talk show. Now, in addition to voice-over work on the upcoming Disney Channel animated series, "The Lumberjacksons," set to air this summer, Brady has two CDs due out next year: one for children, available through Disney in February, and another of R&B music to be released by the end of summer.

Wayne Brady On stage: 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday at the Hawaii Ballroom, Sheraton Waikiki Tickets: $55 Call: (877) 750-4400 or visit ticketmaster.com

Brady, as he says, continues to "guest-star all over the place," appearing recently on episodes of "How I Met Your Mother" and the upcoming Courtney Cox FX series "Dirt." (And who could forget his hilarious turn as a foul-mouthed street thug on "Chapelle's Show"?)

Question: These days, you're doing a lot of producing, in addition to all the projects you're working on. Do you still consider yourself a performer first?

Answer: It all depends on what you've got going on. I've always wanted to get on the producing end, but I will always be a performer.

Q: What are your plans for the rest of the holidays?

A: I'll be spending it in Honolulu as usual. I'll be spending it with friends and family.

Q: You have this reputation for being a nice guy in the entertainment business. Tell us something we don't know about you.

A: People have this preconceived notion about me, that I'm just some nice guy, like a Barbie doll or G.I. Joe. There are days when I'm irritated or tired. I'm a guy who loves to do comedy and music. But I'm just a normal guy. I'm a lot more introverted off stage. I don't feel the need to act that way off stage.

Q: If you weren't in show business, what would be an alternative career for you?

A: I've never had another plan. I've been doing this since I was a teenager. This is exactly who I am and what I feel I was meant to do. Anyone who thinks about their career choice is not doing what they're truly meant to be doing.

Q: Your plans for after the holidays?

A: I will be doing tour dates all over the country, West Palm Beach, Las Vegas, Texas. It's not quite a full tour but I'll be doing quite a bit of traveling. I'm a traveling showman. I show up and then I leave. My wife, Mandie, and daughter, Maile, are staying home. They have full lives of their own.