'AGT' winner, ventriloquist Terry Fator coming to The Palace

As a fifth grader working on a Valentine’s Day report, Terry Fator overshot the “Va” books in the school library and ended up at “Ve.”

He pulled out a book on ventriloquism and forgot about his assignment. The rest, as they say, is history.

An “America’s Got Talent” winner and Las Vegas headliner, Fator will bring his act to The Palace Theatre in Greensburg at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8.

Showgoers will be treated to an evening of ventriloquism, comedy and music, thanks to Fator and his stable of puppet personalities.

“There’s a lot of comedy, there will be a holiday element — lots of fun, lots of great characters,” he said.

Contrary to the sometimes popular perception of ventriloquism as quaint and corny, Fator said, “My humor is intelligent. My show is clean, like a Pixar movie — there are elements that both kids and adults can enjoy.

“It’s great for a romantic date and for a family night out with the kids,” he said.

Etta and Elvis

Among Fator’s animated alter egos are country singer Walter T. Airdale, Johnny Vegas, Winston the Impersonating Turtle, the World’s Greatest Elvis Impersonator, Elton John, Vicki the Cougar and an annoying neighbor called Duggie.

His musical impersonations cover everyone from Etta James to Justin Timberlake.

“I go from modern to classic. No matter what era of music you like, you’ll hear some of it in my show,” he said.

A few weeks after reading that ventriloquism book, Fator purchased his first dummy for $10 from Sears. His first professional success came soon after in the form of a $25 prize at a church picnic.

Fator said his family saved up to buy him his first professional dummy as an 18th birthday present.

In his early 20s, the Texas native — now 56 — toured as lead singer of the band Freedom Jam. He introduced Walter T. Airdale to audiences in the late 1980s while singing with a show band called Texas the Band.

After leaving that band, he honed a single act combining comedy and ventriloquism, eventually adding singing and impersonations. Success followed in the form of appearances at corporate events and opening for acts including Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Neal McCoy and Styx.

Big break

Fator hit the “America’s Got Talent” stage in 2007 when he was 42. Not only did he win Season 2, he earned high praise from notoriously strict judge Simon Cowell, who called him “one of the top two entertainers on the planet.”

Winning “AGT” was “the big break I had worked for my entire life,” Fator said. By the following year, he had signed a deal to headline his own show, “Terry Fator: The VOICE of Entertainment,” at The Mirage Hotel & Casino.

He doesn’t let high praise and success go to his head, he said.

“I don’t do this for my ego; I do it for my fans,” he said. “I like to make people happy; I like to make them laugh. I think of myself as an evangelist of joy — I want to spread joy everywhere I go.”

Fator said he also is a big believer in spreading the wealth.

“I only need so much money,” he said. “I want to make sure my wife and family are taken care of, and after that, I want to find the need and try to fill it. There’s so much need out there, and I don’t need to die sitting on a pile of money.”

Among his causes are helping disabled veterans, children of deceased military members and children’s charities such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Though he is used to big stages and bright lights, Fator said he enjoys smaller venues like Las Vegas showrooms and theaters like The Palace.

“I like to think that it’s like entertaining people in their living room,” he said. “Making a connection is harder if you’re too far away. And they like to see the puppets and see that your lips aren’t moving.”

Tickets for Fator’s Greensburg show are $54-$74, available by calling 724-836-8000 or online at thepalacetheatre.org.