After last Saturday’s performance of New Stages’ production Taking Shakespeare at Peterborough’s Market Hall, a couple of audience members stole the limelight — but in a way The Bard himself would have approved.
After the play ended and the actors took their bows, New Stages’ Artistic Director Randy Read came on stage to announce a contest: the audience member who found a photo of William Shakespeare under their seat would win a prize.
The woman who found the photo was invited onto the stage along with her boyfriend — who then proposed to her in front of a delighted cast and audience.
The marriage proposal was a complete surprise to everyone except proposer Dustin Sanders and Randy, who used the contest as a ruse to get the intended Diane Jenkins on stage so Dustin could propose.
About five years ago, Dustin was dating Diane while she worked in wardrobe on Meghan Murphy’s I, Claudia at the Market Hall. The first time Diane and Dustin exchanged those magic words “I love you” was after one of the shows. So, with plans to go see Taking Shakespeare, Dustin thought it was the perfect time to propose and contacted Randy to help set it up.
The cast and audience were so surprised and thrilled during the proposal that no one thought to take a photo.
Taking Shakespeare continues with three more performances from Thursday, May 28th to Saturday, May 30th at the Market Hall. For more information, read our review of the production.
Oh — and Diane said yes.
