I watched Spelling Bee during the first run and really enjoyed the play. Thus I decided to buy the July 4 8pm show and found myself laughing much harder this time around.
What made July 4, 2009 8pm show of Spelling Bee so special?
1. Three (3) celebrity guest spellers instead of the usual two (2). The soprano Anna Fegi, newscaster Mari Kaimo, and the crowd favorite Tessa Prieto Valdes.
2. Perfect day. Perfect weather. Very good crowd who laughed heartily at the witty jokes.
3. The special event for the night – a marriage proposal was done at our Spelling Bee show!
Finally the big secret is out!
It has been very challenging for me to suppress my excitement in sharing the marriage proposal plan for the July 4 8pm showing of Spelling Bee with friends and ticket buyers. I’m glad it pushed through and today we have one very happy couple.
Here’s how it happened.
I received an email from one of my ticket buyers one day asking if I can secure the exact seats they had when they watched Avenue Q because he plans to propose that night at the show. They first met watching Avenue Q and from there the romance blossomed. I gave them the exact seats and emailed Atlantis Productions if it was possible to incorporate the proposal to the show. On the same day I got a reply from Atlantis, prayer answered, director Bobby Garcia said Y-E-S and agreed to the idea. Later on I found out Sherilyn wanted to be one of the spellers for the show, so I relayed this to Atlantis and the plan was hatched.
Below is a summarized transcript of what transpired during the proposal. You can also check out the video below.
On the night of the show, Sherilyn Sy, the last guest speller to leave the stage was called back up the stage after the curtain call.
Vice Principal Panch: “Apparently we just had a complaint from the school board that one of the spellers we eliminated spelled the word correctly. We’d like to rectify the situation, we’d like to call on stage now, Ms Sherilyn Sy.”
(clapping of hands from audience)
Rona Lisa Peretti: “…Also to make sure that everything is completely above board, we are getting up here a guest word announcer, his name is Mr. Charles McJilton. Mr. Charles McJilton are you here? Please come on up stage.”
(clapping of hands from audience)
Charles: “Did you read my name?”
Rona Lisa Peretti: “Yes of course, you’re the guest pronouncer.”
(Chip Tolentino hands over microphone to Charles McJilton)
Charles: The word is “MARRY”.
(There are some gasps from the audience.)
Charles: A year ago, in those seats… I’m so in love.
(Audience starts cheering and clapping)
Charles: “If you can’t spell the word I’ll give you a sentence. It is my great pleasure spending the rest of my life waking up to you…” “…I’ll be a happy happy man.”
(Audience continues to cheer. Charles gets something from his pants pocket)
Charles: “My father gave this ring to my mother twenty years ago, thirty years ago. I’d like you to pass it on to our children. Will you marry me?”
(After all the gasps, some people cried, after the question was popped everyone in the audience cheered loudly and clapped. Sherilyn stood speechless, overwhelmed by what’s happening. But you guessed it, the answer was…)
Sherilyn: “YES”
(Sealed with a kiss amidst the roaring cheer of the audience and standing ovation from the cast)
And that was how the show ended, happily ever after. People were smiling, laughing or crying (tears of joy) from the grand finale they just witnessed. The atmosphere was very light, celebratory, and joyful. After the show, my friends, family, and even my ticket buyers all commented on how much they enjoyed the show from the witty lines to the celebrity guest spellers we had. It was a fun saturday night. But to be part of that special wedding proposal moment made that night’s show simply unforgettable.
Thank you to all those who watched and supported the show last July 4, 2009! I hope you enjoyed the show as much as I did.
Thank you to Atlantis Productions for allowing the proposal to happen and for creatively incorporating it in the show!
Lastly, my warmest congratulations to Charles and Sherilyn!
Backstage with cast of Spelling Bee and the very happy couple
P.S. Backstage I was able to interview Sherilyn very quickly. Did she have any clue on the proposal? The answer was “no”. She was completely taken by surprise. It was truly a night to remember.
5 responses so far ↓
Mia // July 9, 2009 at 5:05 am |
That was so sweet!
jo macadaeg // July 9, 2009 at 6:31 am |
cant stop crying while watching, that was sooo sweet!
frannywanny // July 10, 2009 at 5:46 am |
congratulations to the happy couple!
Heidee C. // July 23, 2009 at 5:21 am |
..sweet naman….=)
Spelling Bee Marriage Proposal « Eatlaughdiscover's Blog // October 21, 2009 at 3:58 am |
[...] I know it’s so late, but here’s the video of the Spelling Bee marriage proposal that happened at the RCBC Theater last July 4. For more details, Spotlight Manila tells us more about it here. Enjoy! [...]