Goin' To The Chapel

I was working on a production of Grease at American Musical Theater of San Jose. It was opening night, November 3, 2001. It couldn't have been a worse ordeal getting to the theater that night (culminated by stepping in dog poop in the driveway on the way to the car). We had been shopping all day, and I was frantic to get to the theater in time to get all the opening night goodies to my girls. (So frantic that I didn't really notice how unusually patient Mark was being all day - he normally doesn't like to shop for girl stuff.)

Mark and my best friend Ricky had tickets together, and waited patiently for us in the loading dock after the performance. My friends were taking FOREVER to get ready - Do you think I should wear my hair up or down? I don't like it up, I'm going to take it down, what do YOU think? Oh, maybe I should just wear it up - OH FOR PETE'S SAKE, you'd look good with a paper bag over your head, let's GO!

The opening night galas for AMT are hosted by Palermo's Restaurant in San Jose. At the restaurant, we picked a big table in the back room for us and our friends. We were all having a great time - Mark and the boys went back and forth to the bar to fetch drinks and to do a few shots. (Again, I only found it mildly strange at the time that doing a bunch of shots was not Mark's usual M.O.). Our friend Steve suggested a round of shots for the table, and away they went again.

When the guys came back with the tray of shots, I was oblivious to the crowd of people that had started gathering around our table. We all drank and cheered (woo-hoo, go us, we're getting drunk!) Ricky had the videocamera in my face the whole time (again... oblivious). Stewart Slater, AMT's Executive Producer, got the crowd's attention and made a speech. He went on to say how wonderful the production was, how great the buzz in the house was, how this was the largest opening night they've seen in recent years, thank you to everyone who was involved in the production, yadda yadda yadda... then at the end of his little speech, he asked if anyone else had anything they'd like to add... any special announcements...?

(SILENCE)

Mark's hand shot up in the air - I have a special announcement!!

Mark asked me to sit down, and he pulled a ring box out of his pocket. He then made a speech (by this time there were over 100 people watching the whole production) - For those of you who don't know, Annie and I have been together for almost two years, and I wanted to share this with all of you because you're like family to us. I love Annie more than anyone else I've ever loved in my whole life, and I just want to say this...

(He gets down on one knee - meanwhile, I'm completely freaking out)

...Annie, will you marry me?

I squeaked out a yes, and everyone cheered. They then broke into a round of Going To The Chapel - if you've never had a roomful of professional singers sing Going To The Chapel to you, then you just ain't lived. Amazing thing - ALL OF MY FRIENDS WERE IN ON IT, and NOBODY LET IT SLIP! My friend James even wrote us a rap. It was a night I will never forget...

Best thing is, we have it all on videotape. How cool is THAT?

Annmarie Martin