Local

Gay Men’s Chorus performer Mark Hennen dies at 58

Worked for Phil Collins, other notables

Published

12 years ago

August 13, 2014

Lou Chibbaro Jr.

Mark Steven Hennen

Mark Steven Hennen, a singer and dancer with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington for more than 10 years who has worked as a touring director for internationally known entertainers, died June 15 at a hospice in Arlington, Va., following a six-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 58.

According to information provided by his friend Rick Davis, Hennen was born and raised in West Branch, Mich., where he worked on his family’s dairy farm through his high school years. He graduated in 1980 from the University of Detroit Mercy, a Jesuit school, where he received a bachelor’s degree with a major in theater.

While pursuing a life-long career in the entertainment industry, Hennen lived and worked in Minnesota, Rhode Island and California, among many other places, Davis said in a biographical write-up.

Along the way he worked as an actor and model before becoming a tour director for many big-name acts, Davis said. Among them was his role in handling the logistics operations for a European tour of British singer-songwriter Phil Collins and Collins’ rock group Genesis.

Hennen also toured with U.S. country music singer, songwriter and actress Reba McEntire and with famed Beatles singer Ringo Star.

Most recently, Henning served for 11 years as a booking director for Feld Entertainment, which produces the Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus and Disney on Ice, among other entertainment acts.

“To those in the entertainment industry, Mark was known as ‘Radar,’ a moniker he received from Phil Collins, who felt Mark’s work habits matched the dutifully efficient character from the television show M*A*S*H,” Davis said in his write-up.

Among other things, Hennen was a “very active” member of the Washington National Cathedral Episcopal parish, Davis said.

The Gay Men’s Chorus honored Hennen with its prestigious Harmony Award recognizing his leadership and devotion to The Care Corps, a chorus project that supports chorus members in times of illness and other personal hardships.

Hennen is survived by his two sisters and their spouses, Maurene and Larry Hennen Schumann of Whitehall, Mich.; Lois and John Hennen Wheeler of Poway, Calif.; a nephew, Paul, and his spouse Jenny Schuman of Spring, Tex.; and a grandnephew and a number of grandnieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Marilyn Hennen of West Branch, Mich. Hennen is also survived by his life-long friend Drew Bell and a large loving family of friends.

A “Celebration of Life” service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at the National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C. Davis said Hennen’s remains were cremated “for scattering on the old Hennen farm” near West Branch, Mich.

Hennen has requested that any memorial contributions be made to the Federal City Performing Arts Association, Inc., the organization that operates the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, at 2000 P St., N.W., Suite 730, Washington, D.C. 20036.

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Baltimore

Popular Mount Vernon gay bar Leon’s to temporarily close after owner’s death

Ron Singer passed away on July 7

Published

2 days ago

July 17, 2026

Baltimore Banner

Leon’s Backroom Bar in Mount Vernon. (Photo by Jessica Gallagher for the Baltimore Banner)

By WESLEY CASE | Leon’s Backroom, Baltimore’s oldest gay bar, temporarily shut down after service on Wednesday night, according to a post on the business’s Instagram page.

The announcement comes a little more than a week after the death of the Mount Vernon bar’s owner, Ron Singer, who died at 66 on July 7.

The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

Local

Comings & Goings

New garden center offers array of products in Rehoboth

Published

2 days ago

July 17, 2026

Peter Rosenstein

Bay Laurel Home & Garden is located just outside Rehoboth on Route 1.

The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected].

Congratulations to Stuart Ortel and Scott Marker, and Dave Lyons and Rick Hardy, on the recent opening of their garden center on Route 1 in Rehoboth Beach, in the former Farmer Girl site. It is called Bay Laurel Home and Garden and debuted earlier this year. The four owners are all well known to the denizens of Rehoboth Beach.

Stuart and Scott have been active members of the Rehoboth Beach community since 1999. Stuart is a landscape architect, and has established relationships with many local folks in the building and landscape industry. When this opportunity for Bay Laurel Home & Garden presented itself, and they had the perfect team of people in place, he and Scott were committed to making it a reality. So, when Scott and Stuart introduced this opportunity to create a new garden center to Dave and Rick, they embraced the chance to cultivate a business where beautiful plants, inspiring home and garden products, and outstanding customer service come together. Dave and Rick knew about owning a business in Rehoboth as they previously owned Coho’s Market, where they discovered firsthand the value of serving their community, and the rewards of running a locally owned business.

The garden center launched with a refreshed brand identity, updated merchandising, and expanded product lines, all designed to create an inspiring and welcoming environment for your home. Bay Laurel Home & Garden offers a beautifully appointed garden center and curated home and gift shop.

The new center features a full nursery with annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and seasonal selections; a garden center offering pottery, fountains, and garden ornamentation, and essential tools and garden supplies. It has a garden shop featuring unique indoor/outdoor furnishings and accessories, and a gift shop featuring botanical and coastal style items for home and entertaining.

Rehoboth Beach

Celebrate Pride in Rehoboth Beach this weekend

‘A vital space for community, healing, and connection’

Published

4 days ago

July 15, 2026

Thomas Weaverling

Rehoboth’s Pride festivities kick off Friday. (Washington Blade file photo by Daniel Truitt)

Pride in Rehoboth Beach is kicking off this week on Friday, July 17, with events happening throughout the weekend.

“Rehoboth Beach Pride is more than a festival — it is a vital space for community, healing, and connection,” said David Mariner, director of Sussex Pride, which organizes many of the events.

The weekend will begin with the Grand Opening & Community Preview from 1-4 p.m. on Friday, July 17, celebrating the opening of Novus Medical Services and the new Sussex Pride Community Center.

This will be followed by an Interfaith Pride Service at 6 p.m. at the Metropolitan Community Church Rehoboth to gather for healing and the affirmation of queer spirituality with Rev. Carla Christopher, chair of Sussex Pride Faith.

Members of the community are then invited to head over to join the Rehoboth Beach Bears at the Pines to have dinner, mingle, and give back to local initiatives.

End the first night of Pride in Rehoboth at Diego’s Bar & Nightclub with music by DJ Joey P from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

Rehoboth Beach Pride Festival will take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. inside the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. A full list of events is available at rehobothbeachpride.org.

Roxy Overbrooke will host on the main stage as live performances take place throughout the day, featuring music from DJ MK and Tribe 9 Entertainment.

The festival will include educational workshops, community meetups, and a raffle dedicated to raising funds for unhoused LGBTQ+ youth across Delaware.

Feature workshops include panels discussing topics such as unhoused LGBTQ+ youth in Delaware, the needs of trans and non-binary youth, as well as the increase in HIV and syphilis diagnoses amid federal budget cuts, in a panel moderated by Blade Editor Kevin Naff.

Saturday night will also feature an evening comedy and entertainment show at the Convention Center presented by the Gay Women of Rehoboth. Performers will include comedians Suzanne Westen h oefer and Karen Mills as well as musician Kristen Merlin. Tickets are available at gaywomenofrehoboth.org.

The Rehoboth Beach Pride Ride will take place at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 19, hosted by the Dykes on Bikes Rehoboth Beach Women’s Motorcycle Club, starting at Lefty’s.

Goolee’s Drag Brunch will also take place on Sunday from 12-2 p.m at Goolee’s Grille. This is a family-friendly event hosted by Regina Cox and Ruby, featuring Aurora Sterling, Michelle Leigh Sterling, Scarlet St. Cartier, and Joanna Blue. Tickets can be purchased online.

Pride in Rehoboth will conclude at 2 p.m. with the official Rehoboth Beach Pride Closing Party at Aqua Bar & Grill, celebrating the venue’s landmark 20th anniversary with DJ Biff until 7 p.m.

Due to an influx of visitors for the summer season, those coming from out-of-town are encouraged to use the Park & Ride.