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Terry Fator has enjoyed a great deal of success since he won the second season of \u201cAmerica\u2019s Got Talent\u201d in 2007. Not long after his big win, Simon Cowell told Oprah Winfrey that Fator was one of the \u201ctwo most talented people on the planet,\u201d reported The Los Angeles Times<\/a>. Now he is starring in \u201cTerry Fator: One Man, a Hundred Voices, a Thousand Laughs!\u201d at the STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower<\/a> in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n Terry Fator performs on stage with multiple puppets.<\/p>\n Tom Donoghue <\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u201cTerry is undoubtedly one of the most talented performers to headline in Las Vegas and we are thrilled to be partnering with him and his hundreds of voices at The STRAT,\u201d Adam Steck, founder & CEO of SPI Entertainment, shared with me. \u201cThis all-new show not only showcases the talent, music and humor that has become synonymous with Fator but also features state-of-the-art production and multi-media elements created specifically for this new show.\u201d<\/p>\n Terry Fator revels in performing.<\/p>\n Tory Kooyman<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n I reached out to Terry Fator<\/a> to find out more about his popular Las Vegas show and his accomplished career as a singer, ventriloquist and comedian.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what he had to say:<\/p>\n Can you tell us about your latest Las Vegas show? <\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ve been a headliner in Las Vegas for over 15 years and by far this is the show I am most excited about. It\u2019s at the Strat, and it\u2019s called \u201cTerry Fator: One Man, a Hundred Voices, a Thousand Laughs!\u201d…and that pretty much describes it. It\u2019s a combination of comedy, music, impersonations, and just a great time for fans of every age.<\/p>\n Terry Fator poses with puppet Winston.<\/p>\n Tory Kooyman<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n What inspired it? <\/strong><\/p>\n To me it was the chance to create a new show in a new venue with great production value, yet in an intimate room.<\/p>\n How has the process of creating your show surprised you?<\/strong><\/p>\n To be honest, just the fact that I\u2019m always coming up with new ideas surprises me. So many entertainers want to stick with the same show and same formula, but I\u2019m fascinated by always experimenting with something audiences have never seen before.<\/p>\n How do you think the show will surprise audiences? <\/strong><\/p>\n The fact that, despite popular demand, not once do I remove my clothes; okay, maybe not that. The incredible visuals on the screens and the fact I can do all those voices without moving my lips.<\/p>\n You wear many artistic hats, including being a ventriloquist, impressionist, stand-up comedian, and singer. Are there any additional hats you’d like to add as an artist? <\/strong><\/p>\n When I was 8, I was fascinated by magic. One day I\u2019d like to do some magic onstage. In fact, I do a bit of illusion onstage when one of my puppets levitates during the song \u201cDefying Gravity\u201d.<\/p>\n When did you first know you were funny? <\/strong><\/p>\n Really, just with friends saying things. They commented on things the way teenagers do. Then I found out I could do funny songs\u2014think of a Texas Weird Al\u2014and then learned how to do it all with puppets.<\/p>\n What about being a ventriloquist? How did that start? <\/strong><\/p>\n I went to the library and discovered a book on ventriloquism by Paul Winchell and decided that\u2019s what I wanted to be. After that, I was dedicated; after all, a teenage boy who is a ventriloquist, is not exactly a chick magnet.<\/p>\n Who were your favorite artists and what were your favorite shows growing up?<\/strong><\/p>\n I absolutely adored any slapstick comedian from Harpo Marx to Dick van Dyke. I spent countless hours watching and studying Jerry Lewis and Carol Burnett. Once I became a ventriloquist, of course I became obsessed with The Muppets. Their influence on me as a puppeteer cannot be measured. The shows I watched were always comedies like \u201cThe Muppet Show\u201d and \u201cThe Carol Burnett Show\u201d. Tim Conway was a mentor to me even though he never knew it. Any show that was about making people laugh was what I immersed myself in.<\/p>\n Who were your heroes or mentors who inspired you?<\/strong><\/p>\n Paul Winchell, Edgar Bergen, and my friends Darrel and Sissy Johnson who in many ways helped raise me.<\/p>\n What made you decide to audition for America’s Got Talent<\/em>? <\/strong><\/p>\n Desperation. I was struggling, working at state fairs and school shows and thought, \u201cWell, if I get on and people see me, even if I get eliminated right away, it could raise my price from $25 a show to $50!\u201d Obviously, things went much better than I\u2019d hoped.<\/p>\n What lessons do you feel you learned from the show?<\/strong><\/p>\n That even in these challenging times, we can all find unity when we laugh together, and that even if it seems your dreams are finished, never stop working toward making them come true. There is a real comfort in knowing you are always working toward something you desire.<\/p>\n Do you think it changed your art in any way, and does it impact it now? <\/strong><\/p>\n The main way it changed my art is that I could afford to have my imagined characters brought to actual creation. For decades I would have these ideas but had no money to make them become reality. America\u2019s Got Talent and my Las Vegas residencies made that happen.<\/p>\n What was it like to start performing in Las Vegas? Was that something you had dreamed of doing? <\/strong><\/p>\n For a guy who had been working small fairs, it was suddenly like a high school football player being told he\u2019s playing in the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n What are your impressions of Las Vegas? What do you think of the city as a whole?<\/strong><\/p>\n What I love about Las Vegas is it has something for everybody, for people of every age. If you want to party, you can party. If you want to see a great show, we\u2019ve got shows. If you like great dining, it\u2019s here. Something for absolutely everyone. And we have an amazing sense of community. I have seen countless times the community has come together for love and support in all kinds of situations. It\u2019s an amazing city.<\/p>\n What are your favorite things to do in Las Vegas when you’re not performing? <\/strong><\/p>\n Spending time at home with my wife, going to dinner with her, and watching some great movies at home. Oh, and watching Hallmark movies with my Angie cuddling next to me.<\/p>\n Why do you think your art is a great fit for Las Vegas? <\/strong><\/p>\n Because it purports to be nothing but pure entertainment. There is no message, no lecturing, no agenda other than giving you a good time, and that\u2019s why people come here.<\/p>\n What is the kindest thing a fan has done for you? <\/strong><\/p>\n I have a strong heart for military and first responders, so I have done a lot of work to make sure they feel appreciated. Once I was eating dinner with my sister and the server told me that someone had paid for our meals, tip included, to thank me for it. It actually brought tears to my eyes. They did it anonymously, so I never found out who it was, but it was so sweet. Of course, I still tipped the server, but it was so sweet.<\/p>\n You can now see \u201cTerry Fator: One Man, a Hundred Voices, a Thousand Laughs!\u201d at <\/strong>The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower<\/strong><\/a> in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/strong><\/p>\n Terry Fator performs in his latest show.<\/p>\n Jimmy Smith\/TheActivity <\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n