Marlon Wayans will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater. The actor-comedian loves coming to Maui. “For a comedian, our mind goes so fast and when you come to Maui everything slows down,” he said. “It’s breathtaking. It’s the closest thing to what God made that still exists.” AARON CARICO photo

In his early days as a stand-up comedian, Marlon Wayans remembered it being kind of challenging to get up on stage facing audiences expecting him to make them laugh.

“I equate it to being buck-naked,” Wayans revealed. “All you have is a microphone. It used to be scary, now it’s exciting. Scary is when you are unprepared, and you don’t know what you’re going to do next. You’re just excited to go and express, and even though you know your set, it’s still fun to explore and find new things. If you just speak truthfully and find a humorous take on truth and life, I find that to be the best kind of comedy.”

The actor and comedian will return to Maui for a show at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center’s Castle Theater.

Wayans said he especially enjoys “the excitement of the crowd. The crowd is the X-factor. With stand-up, there’s always an improv element and it keeps you on your toes and makes me a better performer. I go from talking to animation in a blink of an eye, and I just turn it on. It’s always a high. I used to pump myself up before I got on stage like shadow-boxing the room. Now I just walk around, have a green tea, clear my head and go on stage.”

Known for his TV and movie work, including the NBC sitcom “Marlon,” and the hit features “Scary Movie” and “White Chicks,” the 2020 pandemic gave him a needed break to regroup and develop some new projects.

“I was working so hard that I felt like God stopped the world just so I could get to sleep,” he said. “It was just good to have a break and see my kids and have great conversations and wake up late. As bad as it was, I learned there’s always a smile to be had in how you look at life. I had more time to strategize, and I know my next three specials, and I know my next four movies I’m developing, and three or four television shows, and I’ve written three scripts.”

The new projects include a forthcoming Netflix Halloween movie “Boo!” and an HBO Max semi-autobiographical sitcom “Book of Marlon.”

Moving into dramatic acting roles in recent years, Wayans starred in the acclaimed 2021 Aretha Franklin biopic, “Respect,” as the Queen of Soul’s infamous ex-husband.

“It was a departure from what I normally do,” he noted. “I’m normally the comic relief. I was the romantic lead and the villain, so I had to dig deep to find the character. He was abusive to women and that’s not who I am. I thought he was a very damaged man because damaged people damage people. Instead of playing him like a monster, I found that most people who are monsters are trying to disguise something, so there’s a hurt little boy in the monster. It allowed me to give the character some complexity.”

A year earlier he played a leading role Sofia Coppola’s critically praised comedy-drama “On the Rocks,” starring Bill Murray.

“I love Bill Murray,” he enthused. “When I get old I want to grow into Bill Murray. I love working with people I admire and respect.”

Audiences were first introduced to Wayans in the early 1990s on the innovative hit comedy sketch show “In Living Color,” which also featured three of his talented brothers — Keenen, Damon and Shawn — and sister Kim Wayans.

Growing up in New York City as kids, the siblings used to play a game called “Make Me Laugh or Die.”

“We always had fun as kids,” he remembered. “All we did was laugh. To this day it’s what we do. You want to hear laughter, it’s when me and my brothers hang out. We make each other laugh.”

“My parents didn’t force us into comedy,” he added. “I don’t know how we got here. My mother used to get really annoyed at my dad and when she was mad she was so funny. He would piss her off, and she would curse him out, and then they would have makeup sex.”

Wayans loves coming to Maui.

“For a comedian, our mind goes so fast and when you come to Maui everything slows down,” he said. “It’s breathtaking. It’s the closest thing to what God made that still exists. I’m always at peace when I go there. I love looking at the ocean or looking at the greenery when driving. I love the island and the people, and I love that they love to laugh.”

Tickets to Wayans’ show are $15, $45, $55, $65 and a limited number of $125 Gold Circle seating plus applicable fees. MACC members receive a 10 percent discount except for the $15 tickets. Tickets are only available online at MauiArts .org. Attendees must be fully vaccinated and show proof with photo ID and must wear a mask at all times. The show will include adult themes, and mature audiences are recommended.