Donor Spotlight: Ret. Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling & Sue Hertling
Sharing joy, building community and inspiring others through the arts
The night before then–18-year-old Mark Hertling entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, he spent the evening exploring New York City, where the United Service Organizations surprised him and his soon-to-be cadet classmates with tickets to a Broadway show. The experience made a lasting impression on the now–retired Lieutenant General, opening his eyes to the power of live theater and a world beyond his hometown of St. Louis. From that moment forward, he embraced every opportunity to travel from West Point into the city to see a show.
Later when a friend set Mark up on a blind date during his senior year of college, Mark knew just the plan: take her to Broadway. That date was with Sue, born and raised on Long Island, and she was instantly intrigued when she heard Mark was taking her to see Pippin on Broadway.
Fast forward to today: Mark and Sue Hertling recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and the arts have been a constant thread throughout their lives. During Mark’s 38-year military career, the family moved all over the country, but one ritual always remained the same: find the local arts center. See the plays. Hear the music. Experience the community.
New Beginnings in Orlando
After decades of travel, Mark retired from the army and was offered a job with a healthcare system in Orlando. Within months Mark and Sue made their way to the newly opened Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. While the specific production has slipped from memory, they do remember the feeling: joy.
“We remember walking out that first night thinking ‘This arts center is a true gem for the city,’” said Sue with a smile. They have seen the evolution of the arts center since the very beginning and lovingly refer to it as the “crown jewel” of Orlando. "We spend as much time there as possible,” she added.
Mark and Sue bring nearly every visitor to the arts center, making countless memories along the way. Their favorite performance is Hamilton, but they’ve had many special nights including Hadestown, A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, seeing the Ukrainian Ballet (especially meaningful since Mark worked with the Ukrainian military during his time in uniform), a Jason Mraz concert and most recently, taking their two grandsons to see Disney’s The Lion King. “That was an incredibly special evening for three generations,” Mark shared.
Why They Give
To Mark and Sue, the arts center is more than a venue.
“The more we’ve gotten involved, the more we see the programs, the outreach, the focus on Arts & Wellness and Arts For Every Life®. We see that this is more than a cultural center—it’s a center of community,” said Mark.
They love the feeling of being connected to the people around them and all the others who know how arts affect human interaction. One special highlight for them was in 2024, when they supported and attended a reading of Brooklyn’s Bridge—a new musical fully produced by Dr. Phillips Center with an all-Orlando cast. “To know that play will have the history of starting here in Orlando is just phenomenal,” Sue said.
“That was wonderful to witness,” said Mark. “Being at the reading was more than watching artists recite lines— it was learning about how art is made and how it takes others to help artists create a new work. Experiences like that are part of what make us donors.”
“The arts connect all portions of the community. They connect to your heart and soul, but now because of the innovations of the team at Dr. Phillips Center and the support of partners and donors, we’re seeing the arts play a meaningful role in supporting health and wellness,” Sue added.
Through Mark and Sue’s support of Arts For Every Life®, they help bring opportunities to reach others, whether it’s a child seeing their first show or a lifelong theatergoer discovering something brand new.
As Mark put it, “A strong and vibrant community contributes to a healthy civilization, and we need that now more than ever.”
How You Can Join Them
Like Mark and Sue, you can help share the love of the performing arts with more people in our community. Your gift can support our vision of Arts For Every Life®.
Interested in becoming a donor and gaining early access to your favorite shows? Enjoy exclusive benefits while supporting a cause you love. Learn more here.