By Roslyn Franken
On Saturday, October 19th, the Stage West Playhouse in Spring Hill came alive with outstanding performances by 15 world-class artists, all united to support the Helene and Milton hurricane victims in Hernando County. These performers generously volunteered their time, with some traveling hours to lend their talents to this crucial cause. Originally focused on aiding victims of Hurricane Helene, the event gained even greater significance following the devastation of Hurricane Milton, highlighting the community’s resilience and urgent need for support. The evening was not just a performance; it was a heartfelt gathering, celebrating Hernando County’s spirit of giving and solidarity in the face of adversity.
The “Hearts of Hernando” Hurricane Relief fundraiser was initiated by Jacob Hunt, owner of Hunt Talent LLC, whose company earned runner-up in the 2023 Hernando Sun Readers’ Choice award for DJ/Event Entertainment. An accomplished singer, impersonator, and comic performer, Jacob also won the 2023 Hernando Sun Readers’ Choice Gold award for Best Band/Musician and the Silver award in both the Best Band/Musician and Entertainer categories in 2024.
Hunt Talent provides a lot of talent to Stage West, making it an easy choice for Jacob to partner with them on this meaningful community event. As he put it, “I knew exactly what theater partner I wanted to use. Stage West is the best. It worked out great and I couldn’t be happier.” Stage West was the 2024 winner of the Hernando Sun Readers Choice award for Best Community Theatre.
When asked why he wanted to organize this fundraiser, Jacob shared, “I grew up here and spent a lot of time in Hernando Beach in particular. After the first hurricane hit, I had a bunch of close personal friends and some businesses that we work with down there that got totally flooded out. We watched people suffer and not find help, so we needed to help.”
Initially, the plan was to donate to the Red Cross, which handles national relief efforts. However, when Jacob discovered that Brooksville has a United Way in Hernando County dedicated to local needs, they decided to keep it local. “Things blossomed from there,” added Pam Dugle, a staff member at Stage West. The fundraiser raised a total of $4545.
Angie B. Walasek, CEO of United Way of Hernando County said, “When devastation hits your hometown at the level it has—with back-to-back disasters like hurricanes and historic river flooding—it’s sometimes hard to see the silver lining. But what has stemmed from this past month is a sense of community like I’ve never seen before. We are beyond grateful for our partners at Stage West and their theatre family, as well as Hunt Talent LLC, for recognizing the need and swiftly taking action to help.”
The evening featured an impressive lineup of performers from Hunt Talent. Comedian Gid Pool kicked off the night, inspiring the audience with his journey of starting his comedy career at the age of 61, proving that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. He is a three-time festival winner who has been featured on the Today Show and spotlighted on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.
Internationally acclaimed tribute artist, Jimmy Bush Jr., took the stage by storm with his powerful and heartfelt rendition of Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Please Release Me”, earning him a well-deserved standing ovation.
Mary Ellen DePetrillo, stand-up comedian and storyteller known for her thought-provoking humor, had the audience in stitches as she shared her real-life experiences moving to Spring Hill from Rhode Island, including the countless warnings she received about hurricanes.
The hilarious Fran Capo took the stage next, a comedy veteran best known as the Guinness World Records Fastest Talking Woman. The audience broke out in laughter as she showed them how she chews out her husband at a jaw-dropping 603 words per minute!
Stand-up comedian, Lou Angelwolf, known for his signature long white ponytail, literally let his hair down during his act, adding to the fun as he delivered joke after joke that had the audience laughing their heads off.
The next two performers were Stage West stars Kristen Nelson and Bella Bermei Bonati, both members of the Wonderettes cast. Kristen captivated everyone with her beautiful rendition of “Stars and the Moon,” while Bella belted out her powerful rendition of Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time.” As Pam Dugle from Stage West said, “She just blew the socks off of everybody in the audience.”
Jason Ensor and Sonali Oliver lit up the stage as a dynamic singing duo reminiscent of legendary pairs like Sonny and Cher and Donnie and Marie Osmond. Their performance of “Time of My Life” from Dirty Dancing showcased their wonderful blend of charm and showmanship.
Bob Lawson, one of America’s leading mentalists, known for serving as a Technical Adviser on the CBS TV show The Mentalist, brought an air of mystery and comedic flair to the stage. He amazed everyone with a mind-bending mentalism act involving three random audience members, leaving them and the rest of the crowd in awe.
Nate Johnson, a multi-genre vocal powerhouse who started singing at the tender age of 3, mesmerized the audience with his stunning rendition of the popular song “Drift Away”.
Johnny Petillo, a highly accomplished singer, impressionist, and comedian delighted the audience with his spot-on impersonations of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. With decades of experience, Johnny went from singing on the street corners of Asbury Park, NJ, to achieving chart-topping success.
Elliott Smith had the crowd roaring with laughter as he brought a volunteer from the crowd on stage to help demonstrate his hilarious magic trick of making water vanish. A three-time winner of the Hernando Sun Readers’ Choice Gold award for Best Entertainer, this comedy magician known for his charm and talent has performed for past Prime Ministers of Canada, international ambassadors, the late Liberace, as well as Jay Leno.
Stan Prinston moved the audience with his silky smooth vocals, delivering a heartfelt rendition of the Spanish version of “Angel.” He has enjoyed national success over a decades-long career while becoming a local favorite, performing weekly at Brian’s Place in Hernando Beach and Silverthorne Country Club. His remarkable talent has inspired many, including Hunt Talent’s own Jacob Hunt.
Louie Fortunato charmed the audience with his rendition of the popular Italian song “Mala Femmina.”
He has shared the stage with notable acts like The Belairs and has opened for performers such as The Brooklyn Bridge, the Johnny Maestro tribute band, and RuPaul.
The show culminated in a high-energy finale as Jacob took the stage alongside the other performers to sing Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” The audience instantly rose to their feet, waving their arms high and proudly singing along with a strong sense of community. It was the perfect ending to a fantastic evening.
To catch video clips of the event, be sure to check out the post on the Hunt Talent LLC Facebook page, where you can share in the excitement. You can help make this the fundraiser that keeps giving by making your donation at www.UnitedWayHernando.org/GIVE
