Heart Theatre presents a complimentary concert featuring tenor Jesús Daniel Hernández at North Valley Music School on September 26, with Mitchell Zeidwig and Mike Eldred joining him.
“We are incredibly thankful for the warm reception Whitefish has given us. Local legend and musician Bill Montgomery had faith in this project from the start. Countless people here have stepped up to make it happen.”— Stacy Whittle
Heart Theatre, collaborating with the environmental group Corazón Latino, will present Jesús Daniel Hernández—known as The Walking Tenor—at North Valley Music School on Saturday, September 26, 2006, at 7 p.m. The free concert will feature opera, his beloved Neapolitan songs, boleros, and a few unexpected pieces.
Hernández was born in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and moved to the United States as a teen. He later enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Iraq. In 2007, after attending a Plácido Domingo concert in San Antonio, Hernández found a way to perform for the famous tenor. Domingo listened and then asked him to join the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program at Washington National Opera.
Hernández subsequently performed major operatic roles across the United States and Europe. In his role as The Walking Tenor, he also brings his music beyond the opera house, singing for audiences wherever he encounters them.
The concert coincides with National Public Lands Day, the country’s largest single-day volunteer initiative for public lands, observed on Saturday, September 26. This date carries special significance due to Heart Theatre’s connection with its sister organization, Corazón Latino, which has a long-standing conservation partnership with the USDA Forest Service.
“Once you hear the power of Jesús’s voice, you grasp the power of the human voice,” said Stacy Whittle, Artistic Director of Heart Theatre. “His singing radiates pure joy. That’s exactly why we’re bringing Jess to Whitefish. We want the community to share in that joy.”
At the piano, Hernández will be accompanied by Mitchell Zeidwig, who performs professionally as ZeidwiG and now resides in Whitefish. A Juilliard-trained concert pianist and comedian, ZeidwiG has played at Carnegie Hall and alongside orchestras worldwide.
Whitefish tenor Mike Eldred will join Hernández to perform John Denver’s “Perhaps Love.” Eldred has spent over four decades as a professional performer. His Broadway credits include playing Jean Valjean in Les Misérables and appearing in the original Broadway cast of The Civil War. For this concert, he will share the stage with Hernández for one song.
The concert is directed artistically by Whittle and produced by Felipe Benítez, Co-Founder of Heart Theatre and Executive Director of Corazón Latino.
Heart Theatre describes itself as a theatre on the run, never intended to be confined to a single building. Whittle and Benítez established the company to bring professional theatre and music directly into communities. This sometimes means staging a play. Other times, it means bringing an artist like Hernández to a place like Whitefish and inviting local musicians to become part of the evening.
Recent Heart Theatre projects have included scenes from Terrence McNally’s Master Class, with Whittle portraying Maria Callas in both the United States and Spain. The company is also creating work inspired by the life and music of Mario Lanza.
Heart Theatre strives to keep its performances accessible to everyone, including free community events like the September 26 concert. This accessibility relies on individuals willing to help make the work possible, and Heart Theatre has discovered many such supporters in Whitefish.
Heart Theatre depends on community backing to take its work on the road while keeping events like this one free of charge. The company’s founding idea has always been straightforward: where you live or how much you can pay for a ticket should not decide whether you get to experience outstanding art.
You don’t need any knowledge of opera to attend. Simply show up.
Join Heart Theatre for the evening.
THE WALKING TENOR IN CONCERT SUMMARY
Presented by Heart Theatre / Teatro del Corazón
Saturday, September 26, 2026
7:00 p.m.
North Valley Music School
1998 River Lakes Parkway
Whitefish, Montana 59937
Admission is free.
Jesús Daniel Hernández, The Walking Tenor with ZeidwiG
Special appearance by Mike Eldred
Artistic Director: Stacy Whittle
Produced by Felipe Benítez
ABOUT HEART THEATRE / TEATRO DEL CORAZÓN
Heart Theatre / Teatro del Corazón is a theatre on the run founded by Stacy Whittle and Felipe Benítez.
The company brings professional theatre and music into communities and nontraditional spaces. Work includes the development of Master Class, concerts, and original projects created with artists in the United States and abroad.
Heart Theatre believes geography and the price of a ticket shouldn’t determine who gets to experience great art. The company relies on donors and local partners to help keep that work accessible.
For more information about Heart Theatre or to support its work, visit www.HeartTheatre.net.
Stacy Whittle
Heart Theatre / Teatro del Corazón
+1 202-664-4013
stacylwhittle@gmail.com
