4 questions with comedian Wayne Brady, in Tempe 7/30
Wayne Brady is a true all-around entertainer. Look at the facts: He can do improv, sing, act, dance, tell jokes and host a game show. Heck, naming the things he's bad at would probably make a shorter list.
Brady, 44, will stop by the Tempe Improv on Saturday, July 30, for a couple of shows that feature his unique mix of improvisation, comedy and song. Somehow, he manages to squeeze in such performances during a career that sounds incredibly busy. He's hosted the revival of "Let's Make a Deal" since 2009; starred on Broadway in "Kinky Boots" this year; and lends his voice to "The Loud House," an animated series on Nickelodeon that has been stirring up some controversy.
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Here are his takes on some subjects:
If he gets pre-show jitters
You get a sensation whether you’re doing something scripted or without a script. You should have that rush, that “Oh, here it goes.” In terms of if I’m worried before a show, if I were worried, I wouldn’t do the show. If anything, I do it because I love the live thing.
On 'Kinky Boots'
There’s a freedom, even in the confines of a really cool character, and I don’t have to exert my energy making something up. My energies are spent making this script come to life and getting to be someone completely different than Wayne Brady. Anybody who loves to do theater loves to vanish inside of a character. That’s the goal. I’m spoiled, because I get to enjoy both parts of it. I make things up and pull out songs and then turn around and do a show like “Kinky Boots.”
On why we see funny men hosting game shows
We’ve changed the template of what the job was. I’m not saying this to (insult) anybody, but there was a time when being a game-show host was just about as bad as being a bad local TV anchorman or weatherman or radio jock. They all have those annoying vocal cadences: “Welcome to the show!” I think we’ve outgrown that. Instead of having just a one-trick pony who is somewhat stiff, you’re hired as a traffic cop to move the game show along and be entertaining. I can't speak for any of the guys (who host game shows), but I look at the show as a daytime music-variety-game show. That's what we've turned "Let's Make a Deal" into. We've built a house where if you like game shows, you come for the games, but you end up coming back because it's fun and we make you laugh.
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On 'The Loud House'
It’s an animated sitcom on Nickelodeon I’m proud to be on. I play one-half of a gay, married interracial couple. In fact, we were just in the news for some flack. One of these mothers' groups and a bunch of other people were expressing outrage that there was a same-sex couple in animation. Gasp! I think it’s just ridiculous/awesome. It’s awesome that the conversation can continue, and it’s ridiculous in 2016 an animated series would rankle so many people because it happens to depict something that actually exists in real life.
Reach the reporter at randy.cordova@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8849. Twitter.com/randy_cordova.
Wayne Brady
When: 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 30.
Where: Tempe Improv, 930 E. University Drive.
Admission: $30.
Details: 480-921-9877, tempeimprov.com.