Wayne Brady: Still Making It Up & Better Than Ever

I've always believed that recommending a show, like a restaurant, can be risky. If the person to whom I'm recommending it doesn't have the same (literal or figurative) taste as I do, there's a chance they wil not like it as much as I. But I can say with no reservations that Wayne Brady: Making It Up is a must-see in Las Vegas.

Brady's one of those people who can do it all. He can sing, he can do comedy and improv and, probably, is a very good actor. His show really lives up to its title. Just about everything is made up. On the spot. With audience participation. Last year I noted his audience here can see Brady's intelligence at work and it's fascinating.

On a given evening, the content of Making It Up is totally based on audience requests. The Venetian Showroom is a wonderful place — comfortable with terrific sightlines. Brady's onstage sidekick is Jonathan Mangum also a very talented performer who can meet and match Brady every step of the way. His two musicians — Trent Fancher (drums) and Cat Gray (keyboards) — also contribute mightily to the show.

The night I went was a press night and the show followed the unveiling of a Wayne Brady figure in Madame TUssaud's Wax Museum at the Venetian. (That's the real Brady on the right in the photo above.) The audience was asked to contribute a variety of words, ideas, music, etc. to the show, Brady and Mangum picked up the suggestions and went to town. At two points during the evening, audience members are invited up on the stage. But, as the evening's purpose is to work with the audience, not to embarrass anyone, it's all very benign and very funny.

I do Miss Brady's ecore tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr. when he sang Birth of the Blues. (Earlier in the evening he noted that his one request of Madame Tussaud's was that he be placed near Davis. He is directly opposite.) But other than that, the evening is loads of fun, always interesting. You should see it.

Tickets for Wayne Brady Making It Up, including taxes and fees, range from $62.50 to $106.50 (Without taxes and fees there are also VIP tickets priced at $164 tickets which entitle the ticket holder to a meet-and-greet) You can see show dates and order tickets tickets https://tickets.venetian.com/Online/seatSelect.asp?WSadmissions::admission::performance_id=C6A1254B-4BFD-47D8-8F3E-34D051F81499 here.