The talented Mr Brady does it all

Image by Schalk Groenewald, Pawz

Ilva Pieterse: What is unique about 'Making it Up'?

Wayne Brady: As the name implies, the show is improvisational and no two shows are ever the same. Audience involvement plays an important role because the more the audience is used, the clearer it becomes that the entertainment is being made up on the spot; that the show is being created right with their help. It will never be duplicated anywhere else ever, because it's simply not possible. I've been doing this show in various incarnations for about 12 years now, and have been involved with improv for nearly 20 years.

IP: What do you think of South Africa?

Brady: Well, it's good enough to have come back twice! Trust me, if I didn't like it, there would be no reason for me to endure a 20-odd hour flight. I fell in love with the country when I first did my show here last year. The people are so nice - everyone that I have run into has been showing me warm camaraderie. Plus, the audiences here are great. I also love the food - I actually had to promise myself that this time I wouldn't go quite so overboard in the sampling. Honestly, between the people and the food, you've got it made. I think I'll come back as long as folks will have me.

IP: Have you got advice for aspiring entertainers?

Brady: Only advice I can give - and this will sound pretty vague - is just do what you do. By that I mean, if you know your strengths, do things that appeal to those strengths. There is nothing worse than watching a contestant on something like Idols that sounds like a donkey being kicked by a donkey. They know they can't sing, their mom knows they can't sing, their neighbours know they can't sing, yet they'll still fight with the judges. Don't try to be famous. Anyone can be famous by doing something stupid and sadly, these days infamy often passes as fame. Know your strengths and become really good at them, even if it means going to a school of arts to learn more about it.

Image by Schalk Groenewald, Pawz

IP: What are your inspirations, both in life and professionally?

Brady: My daughter inspires me because she is the thing that I work for. My work also inspires me - I love doing what I do. I love being on stage; it's the only thing I've ever done. It's been my job since I was 16. The fact that I am pursuing my dream inspires me and keeps me pressing on. As for what inspires me career-wise, I started off as a kid loving Sammy Davis Jr and all of the old comics and black and white movie actors. Later, as I got older, I started looking up to guys like Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robin Williams. They are all incredible actors, incredible stand-ups, incredible improvisationalists - folks that did it all. That has pretty much been my mantra my whole career - I want to be able to do it all. I don't do just one thing; I sing, dance, improvise, act. And folks always look for the magic trick, but there is no magic trick - it is hard work like any other job. Being an actor-singer-dancer-improvisationalist-writer - well, those all go hand-in-hand.

IP: Where to from here?

Brady: Well, I am stoked about my South African tour and can't wait to interact with the people. I look forward to some of last year's audience members returning to see a 'different' show, and to welcome the ones that missed it last time. I also look forward to having sceptics at the show - those that think shows like 'Who's Line is it Anyway?' are not quite above board and possibly not improvised. Well, come on down, I will show you.

After this tour, I'm doing a bigger version of this show in Vegas at The Vencian. I'll be starting on the second season of a game show that I host called 'Let's Make a Deal', and finishing off my second musical album. I've also been writing a series of shorts to go with a kid's album I made, which will be released by Disney on The Disney Channel.

'Making it Up' South African show dates:

Carnival City, Johannesburg - 13-15 May
Grand West Casino, Cape Town - 19-20 May
Durban ICC, Durban - 22 May

Tickets are available at www.computicket.com.