Published on: September 24, 2025, 10:58 AM.
Updated on: September 24, 2025, 11:04 AM.
Terry Fator’s remarkable 16 ½-year performance streak on the Las Vegas Strip came to an unexpected end on Tuesday night. The ventriloquist, who became famous after winning “America’s Got Talent,” announced that his latest show at the Strat Theater would be concluding, a change that was revealed just hours earlier.
“Las Vegas will always hold a special place in my heart, and I’ve cherished every moment performing at The Strat for my fans globally,” stated Fator in an early morning press release. “I am eagerly anticipating bringing my characters, music, and comedy to symphony stages, along with launching new television projects and enhancing my touring schedule with an all-new road show.”
The transition appears to stem from a lack of sufficient public interest. In Las Vegas, it’s not uncommon for shows or restaurants to close due to issues like low attendance or scandal, a sentiment often expressed by our colleague Vital Vegas.
Adam Steck, the producer behind “Terry Fator: One Man, a Hundred Voices, a Thousand Laughs,” mentioned to the Las Vegas Review-Journal last month that ticket sales had dropped by 15-20% across most of his productions in 2025, which include acts like psychic Matt Fraser and “Rouge” at the Strat, in addition to “The Australian Bee Gees Show” and Mac King at the Excalibur. Interestingly, Steck remarked that “Thunder Down Under,” another long-running show at the Excalibur, was performing adequately.
“The Strat Theater has always posed challenges for performers,” noted Mike Weatherford, a former entertainment columnist for the R-J, in a conversation with Casino.org, “and Fator’s trajectory, in terms of venue size, has shown a downward trend.”
“Still, I was surprised by the news since Fator undeniably appeals to a large audience in the red states,” he added.
Fator kicked off his impressive 3,500-performance residency in Las Vegas at the Mirage back in February 2009. Fresh off his “AGT” victory two years prior, he signed a five-year contract to showcase his talents in the space previously occupied by the late Danny Gans. (Gans had shifted to the Encore Theater at the Wynn shortly before his tragic passing due to an accidental overdose.)
In 2022, “AGT” creator Simon Cowell shared with People magazine that there was “no doubt” Terry Fator was “the most successful contestant we’ve ever had.”
“He’s secured three lucrative Vegas deals… worth around a hundred million,” Cowell added, noting the significance of Fator’s achievements.
Not Quite Fator Away
However, the adage “what goes up must come down” rings true, and after 11 years, the Mirage was dealing with the repercussions of the pandemic shutdown and aimed to diversify its entertainment offerings. When Fator’s contract expired in December 2020, it was not renewed.
Following a temporary stint at the former Zumanity Theater, Fator took to the smaller Liberty Loft at New York-New York, a venue seating approximately 300 guests—less than a quarter of what he had at the Mirage—from 2021 to 2023.
In May 2024, he transitioned to perform at the Strat Theater, significantly increasing his capacity and hosting a final 200 shows featuring his signature ensemble of characters such as Vikki the Cougar, Winston the Impersonating Turtle, and country singer Walter T. Airdale.
Despite this effort, the show struggled to sustain itself amid the current economic climate.
“Regardless of the circumstances, it’s remarkable that he maintained a consistent presence on the Strip since early 2009,” Weatherford opined. “That kind of longevity is commonly associated with shows having an interchangeable cast, rather than one relying on the skills of a sole performer.”
“Nonetheless, everything has its limits. Beyond the challenges posed by the venue size, and the expenses related to marketing, it’s possible to reach a point where everyone has already experienced the show… twice.”