Wayne Brady Named Second Annual Immediate Gratification Player of the Year By Harvard Improv Troupe

March 6, 2011 - PRLog -- The Immediate Gratification Players of Harvard College have named comedian Wayne Brady as their second annual Immediate Gratification Player of the Year. Wayne will accept the award at Harvard on Friday, March 25, 2011 at 8:30 p.m. Wayne is the second recipient of this award; comedian Jeff Garlin received the award one year ago.

The Immediate Gratification Players (IGP) are Harvard College's premier improvisational comedy troupe, bringing comedy to audiences since 1986. Their annual Laugh Riot Festival attracts collegiate troupes from across the nation, and they have performed at both the ImprovOlympic Theater and Annoyance Theatre in Chicago, as well as venues in Los Angeles, New York, and London. Their first book, an improv how-to manual entitled So You Think You’re Funny: A Students’ Guide to Improv Comedy, was published in December 2010.

On March 25 at 8:30 p.m., Wayne will appear in Harvard University’s Science Center for an Immediate Gratification Player of the Year award ceremony. Wayne will be made an honorary member of IGP, receiving his very own signature red-and-yellow necktie, for which the group is known. IGP will also perform an improvised comedy show in Wayne’s honor.

The Immediate Gratification Player of the Year award is given as often as The Immediate Gratification Players wish to give it. Wayne Brady is IGP's second honoree; last year comedian Jeff Garlin received the award. The award recognizes comedians who have a background in improvisational theater and achievements that The Immediate Gratification Players wish to applaud. It is a recognition both of the recipient’s comedic ability and appeal to college students like those at Harvard University.

Wayne Brady is the current host of CBS's Let's Make a Deal and won an Emmy for the hit television show Whose Line Is It Anyway? He will be performing at the Wilbur Theatre in downtown Boston on March 26.

Learn more about IGP at immediategratification.org and also at the group's Wikipedia page — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Immediate_Gratification_Players. Press can contact IGP Czar Ben Smith, '12, for more information at bwksmith@fas.harvard.edu.