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Viewers of NBC's new reality show "Grease: You're the One That I Want" will be able to decide this for themselves at 8 p.m. Sundays, as Fortuna seeks the role of Danny on Broadway.

The television show will allow America to choose actors for the roles of Danny Zuko and Sandra Dee for a Broadway production of the musical "Grease" set to open in June.

The show pits contestants from across the country against each other as they vie for the roles. Finalists from the Jan. 7 debut of the show included Fortuna. After more contestants are chosen in New York, viewers will watch as finalists attend "Grease Academy" then perform live for audience votes.

At this stage in the game, Fortuna has been instructed to reveal very little about the show, and he signed a "huge" stack of papers and contracts regarding the show.

Friends and family members were surprised to see him on national television on Jan. 7 because he didn't make a big deal of announcing it, he said.

"I did it without informing them, and I've heard from a lot of friends since the show," Fortuna said. "I don't think they were surprised that I'd audition. I think they were surprised to see me on TV though."

A resident of Antrim County, Fortuna grew up near Clam River and has always had music in his life.

Fortuna's parents owned the Italian restaurant Mico's, and he grew up performing. At 13 years old, he was already performing professionally. He was a member of the Young Americans Song and Dance Company, in which he also played Danny Zuko.

"I'm pretty much a Danny Zuko character," he said.

With his dark hair and charismatic performance on the show, it isn't hard to envision him in the role of the "slickeningly" sweet Danny Zuko.

Working as an entertainer, Fortuna said as a rule stage fright doesn't get the best of him.

"There are always ways you can survive it," he said.

He has a lot of experience in front of a crowd, touring both nationally and internationally in an original ballet of "West Side Story," also with the Young Americans.

Locally, Fortuna has been seen performing at events ranging from The National Cherry Festival to area casinos. More recently however, Fortuna has been seen both performing and serving as general manager of The Williamsburg Showcase Dinner Theater in Williamsburg.

Fortuna created the dinner theater and serves as entertainment director. Working with owner and friend Dan Kelly, Fortuna has contributed to the successes of the establishment, formulating a plan for regular shows while directing a dinner theater cast of 11.

As the business marks its third year, Fortuna is eager to share his talents and also serves as a performance teacher at The Williamsburg from time to time. An ever-growing cast makes it possible to produce about five to six shows a year, which Fortuna creates, markets and directs.

Friends and co-workers at The Williamsburg don't only consider Fortuna as their leader, they consider him part of their family. Ashley Moeggenberg has served as the assistant producer at The Williamsburg for four years. She said Fortuna continues to amaze those around him with his intuition and personality.

"It's unbelievable how his brain works when it comes to putting shows together," she said. "He always seems to know what pieces will work for which performers."

She has a great time working with Fortuna, she added.

"He's really fun. Dominic is just a really good leader and performer," she said.

The cast was privy to some inside knowledge about Fortuna's recent television appearance because he left in the wee hours of the morning to drive to Chicago for his audition with "Grease: You're the One That I Want." After his audition, he drove all the way back to Williamsburg to perform that same night.

"It was amazing," Moeggenberg said. "We knew he hadn't slept. The people who watched the show had no clue. He's amazing."

She added that Fortuna had apparently driven back and forth from Illinois to Michigan for three days at that point.

Andy Trego, Fortuna's friend and The Williamsburg's technical director used the word "dedicated" to describe the performer.

"Dominic is reliable and dependable," he said. "He's the kind of guy you want in your corner when you've got stuff going on in your life. He is there for you in the clutch. He's been my friend and my prayer partner."

Trego, who has known Fortuna for 24 years, said his friend likes to make his co-workers at The Williamsburg feel like they are family.

"He promotes a family atmosphere. and I know a lot of us bring our kids in," he said.

No doubt his dinner theater family, friends and fans will be watching on national television to see what the world has in store for Fortuna.

And people across the country will have the chance to say, "Dominic Fortuna, you're the one that we want."