First Gay Couple to Get Engaged During a Broadway Show

On August 13, during the curtain call of Broadway’s “Priscilla Queen of the Desert,” a man called up on to the Palace Theatre’s stage by Tony Award winner Tony Sheldon proposed marriage to his partner. They became the first gay couple to get engaged during a Broadway show.

Since same-sex marriage was made legal in New York on June 24, the “Priscilla” cast has been celebrating marriage equality. What better way to celebrate than with a proposal? When Yuri Rodriguez approached them with the idea to surprise Stephen Troiano with a marriage proposal, the producers happily set a date.

On the video you can hear the audience bursting into applause when they realize what is happening. This proposal was especially exciting for me to watch because the couple met last year at my wedding. Rodriguez, one of my best friends from college, sang at my wedding, and Troiano is my “cousin” (our moms are best friends). I sat them at a table together and the rest is history. Broadway history.

Congrats Yuri and Stephen. Can’t wait to come to NYC for the wedding!

--Jessica Gardner