2008 Woodie Awards
Wayne Brady comes to town
Emily Williams
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: Expressions
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The Las Vegas Community Online named Brady’s show at The Venetian the “Best Star Show of 2007,” and critics herald his performance as “hysterically funny,” “amazing,” and “pure genius.” If Brady’s Birmingham show resembles his performance at The Venetian, Saturday night’s production is a guaranteed hit.
The show is one installment of the Alys Stephens Center’s nine-part series, “Beyond Comedy.”
“This series is designed to deliver laughs. Nothing soothes the soul like good comedy,” Jessica Simpson, director of marketing at the Alys Stephens Center, said.
Past comedians featured in the series include Lewis Black, Mo Rocca, Lily Tomlin, George Carlin and Paula Poundstone. Although individual tickets can be purchased, Simpson noted that tickets may also be purchased in packages.
“People can purchase a ticket package to all four shows in the ‘Beyond Comedy’ series, or they can purchase a package that mixes and matches with other shows in other series,” Simpson said.
Either way, purchasing a ticket for Brady’s Saturday night show is worth the investment.
Well-known for his hilarious, improvised antics, unique musical talents and limitless impersonation skills, Brady first captured America’s laughs on ABC’s hit show “Whose Line is it Anyway?” for which he won an Emmy and earned four Emmy nominations.
Junior journalism and mass communications major Patrick McLendon commented on Brady’s versatility as an entertainer.
“He is brilliant,” McLendon said. “He always makes me laugh.”
In 2002 Brady hosted his own syndicated talk/variety show, “The Wayne Brady Show.” Lasting only two years, the show won an Emmy for “Outstanding Talk Show,” and Brady won two Emmys for “Outstanding Talk Show Host.” He has also recently guest-starred on “30 Rock,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Dirt” and “The Dave Chappelle Show.”
In film, Brady recently provided a voice for the upcoming Lions Gate animated feature “Foodfight!” He starred in the Screen Gems feature “Crossover” and the independent feature “The List,” a romantic comedy with Sydney Tamiia Poitier and Illeana Douglas. Brady was also featured in Fox Searchlight’s “Roll Bounce.”
In addition to television and film, Brady has taken his talents to the stage. In 2005, he completed a run playing Billy Flynn in the Broadway Production of “Chicago.”
Brady currently hosts the game show “Don’t Forget the Lyrics,” which airs on the Fox network.
Brady is scheduled to perform Saturday, Feb. 9, at 8 p.m. at the Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Avenue South.
Tickets for the show are $52, $42, $28, and $10 (for students) and can be purchased online at www.AlysStephens.org or by calling 205-975-2787.