The Williamsburg Theater

Aug. 16, 2006

Food, wine, and poodle skirts are the scene at The Williamsburg Theater in Acme every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.
Impresario Dominic Fortuna spans decades of music as he writes, directs, produces and performs several different music reviews at the former movie theater. Fortuna features a cast of multi-talented performers from all over the United States.
“This music, no matter what generation you’re from, reminds you why you love music,” Fortuna said. “It’s all fun music.”
Fortuna draws from musical influences in the early 1940s with bands like The Mills Brothers, to the 1970s with Sonny and Cher. The classic hits that Fortuna uses in his revues have been influenced by many musical genres. This is why his shows are events that everyone can enjoy, Fortuna says.
“It’s how I’ve found my roots. I have a way of taking that kind of music and reminding people why they love listening to it,” Fortuna said. “There is so much you can do with it. You might have something from the same decade, but you can still move a storyline and entertain.”

Starting at Home
Fortuna started performing when he was 13. “I learned that if my band kept my dad’s customers happy and buying drinks, it kept me out of the kitchen,” he said.
His family owned a restaurant and bar on Torch Lake called Mico’s when he was a kid.
“I realized this later -- that I was establishing an instinct and a stage presence (at his family’s restaurant). I got to understand what people wanted and learned my instrument (his voice),” Fortuna said.
Fortuna learned a lot about his voice and its capabilities. He features a solo Temptations act that nearly landed him a part on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” show. He can imitate each member of the Motown soul group, by elevating and lowering his voice several octaves.
From his parents’ restaurant on Torch Lake, Fortuna joined the Young Americans School For The Performing Arts. He has worked with Dean Martin, Joe Piscopo and Drew Abbot from Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band. He also did a show with Barry Manilow in Chicago.

OLDIES CONNECTION
Most of the actors at The Williamsburg are performing songs that are before their time, but because these hits have survived for so long it’s not difficult to love performing them, Fortuna said.
“I am a music addict and the only thing I hadn’t been exposed to was the oldies, so it’s been really great learning and performing this stuff,” said Tony Rinehart,19, from Traverse City.
Rinehart sings and dances in the revue. He also does an impression of Kermit the Frog’s “Rainbow Connection” in Fortuna’s “Tribute to Famous Couples.” Rinehart has only been performing for about two years. He is a graduate of Traverse City West High School where he participated in choral and was the Beast in “Beauty and the Beast” during his senior year.
“Music can be very powerful, it can change the way you view your entire life,” Rinehart said. “If you listen hard enough it can invoke emotions that you didn’t know were there.”
Rinehart went to the University of Michigan last year for engineering and is now testing out a career in performing.
“For me, I wasn’t really allowed to listen to anything but oldies when I was a kid,” said Ashley Moeggenberg, 21, from Traverse City, who is also an assistant producer for Fortuna’s company.
Moeggenberg slaps on her skin-tight black pants and bright red lipstick as she depicts Olivia Newton John’s character Sandy from the musical “Grease.”
“He puts you in parts where you are going to shine - Dominic is amazing,” Moeggenberg said. “I never thought I would be singing and performing like this; in my family singing was always something I was doing for fun.”

THE FOOD
The Williamsburg Theater isn’t just all about the show; although they do have a short menu, it isn’t hard to find something tasty. They feature four entrees: herb-crusted beef tenderloin with a wild-mushroom demi-glace, salmon packed with scallops and shrimp, roasted duck with a dried cherry glaze, and bow-tie pasta with wild-mushroom ragout. All entries are prepared by Catering by Kelly’s.
“My favorite is the duck. We rarely have leftovers, but when we do, we (the performers) all fight over it,” Moeggenberg said.
Fortuna has been splitting his time between the stage and the studio. He is writing another revue for the Williamsburg Theater that will be performed later this month. Fortuna says he will be focusing mostly on the 1950s and 60s in “It’s Yesterday Once More.” The show will include melodies by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

For ticket info. or reservations call 231-938-2181 or go to www.conventiondinnertheater.com