Terry Fator, the 2007 winner of America’s Got Talent, continues to perform to sell-out audiences as the headliner at the Mirage in Las Vegas. Summer being what it is, with Cher and Bette Midler on summer hiatus, Terry Fator scores as one of the hottest tickets in town.
Pure Las Vegas Entertainment
As a singer, comedian, ventriloquist and celebrity impressionist, he has created a fast-paced, funny, heartwarming show that is pure Vegas entertainment. He brings his “co-stars” to life with such clarity and compassion that the audience can't help but develop a kinship with every one of them. In fact, it’s hard to believe they are not living, breathing creatures.
Consider for just a moment what Fator is doing on stage. He’s standing in front of a microphone with his right hand inside the dummy; his left hand is either in his pocket or manipulating a stick that moves the dummy’s left arm, and he’s laughing, joking, singing in character and throwing his voice! It is a truly incredible performance featuring entertainment at its finest.
Fator's Characters are Diverse
Given the diversity of his creations, there is something for everyone in Fator’s show. The Country Man, Walter T. Airedale executes a hearty rendition of "(I’ve Got) Friends in Low Places". The Soul Singer Julius belts out a soulful "Only You". The Lovely Emma, a cougar extraordinaire, sings Tracy Chapman’s "Gimme One Reason". The Rocker (and annoying neighbor) Dougie is all about rock and roll, and he belts out classic rock and roll songs while Fator sings "Come Sail Away" by Styx. Along with The Fifth Beatle, Fator and his little friend sing "(I Get By) With a Little Help from my Friends", and the accompanying video inserting The Fifth Beatle into famous Beatles photos is hilarious.
And lest we forget, it’s Vegas baby, so the audience gets to hear from The Elvis Impersonator, Maynard, who starts out singing Aaron Neville’s "I Don’t Know Much", but comes back later with a rousing rendition of "Heartbreak Hotel".
The Michael Jackson impersonation that Fator does takes the audience by surprise. They’re not sure they should be laughing. Fator later points out that he’s been doing that impersonation for years and when Michael was in Las Vegas a few years ago, he expressed an interest in coming to see the show, but never made it. Fator decided to keep the skit in as a tribute following Jackson’s death on June 25.
The Magic of Terry Fator
Ending the show as it began with Winston, the Impersonating Turtle, borders on perfection. The closing song is Louie Armstrong’s "What a Wonderful World". Winston performs it as Kermit the Frog and Fator as Armstrong.
The magic of the show is the sheer talent and creativity of Terry Fator. The theater at the Mirage is equipped with two huge screens on either side of the stage, giving the audience a larger-than-lifesized view of Fator’s performance. Even on the big screens, his mouth never seems to move! It’s amazing, it’s magic and it’s not to be missed.
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