Hello Visitor Register Sign-In My LATimes ... Charts The Movable Buffet : Dispatches from Las Vegas by Richard Abowitz Main Becoming a headliner: Wayne Brady 10:11 AM PT, Jul 2 2007 The Las Vegas Strip has a new headliner, Wayne Brady. This is hardly a surprise, because Brady's trial run earlier this year at the Venetian was extended through the end of June. An extension being a sure sign of success. Still, it is now official, Brady has just inked a deal to perform 26 weeks over the course of the next year starting August 4 at the Venetian. These days a regular gig in Vegas is the sort of opportunity far more famous performers would kill for. But leaving aside fame and talent, few displayed the Vegas savvy of Wayne Brady in creating this Vegas show. Brady came here armed with a perfect understanding of how to entertain in Vegas. Watching Brady's show I was totally surprised by how these so very, very, familiar elements can still be put to a use that feels original. The difference, of course, is all Wayne Brady; this particular hybrid show really requires this special sort of star to pull it off. So, no surprise to discover when I met Brady for the first time at a restaurant at the Venetian recently for an interview (just before his contract was signed and announced) that his ascent in Vegas turns out to be no accident. In fact, he was here before anyone ever heard of Wayne Brady. A lot of what you need to understand about Wayne Brady comes from his motivation. Brady started his career in entertainment at age 16 with a basic philosophy: "No matter what it is, I am going to work in this field," he recalls. "There is nothing against waiting tables which is a noble profession that many actors are drawn to do. But that was not what I wanted to do. If I could earn a living doing a cruise ship show, or doing dinner theatre or being in a chorus line in some part of Florida for old ladies that's better than waiting tables." | |
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