When Dallas Teague, studio arts student at Baton Rouge Community College, walked through the doors of the Shaver Theatre on Friday for Swine Palace’s production of “Pride and Prejudice,” she couldn’t have expected that she’d be walking out with a ring on her finger.
Teague, 21, and her 23-year-old boyfriend, BRCC history student Matthew Taylor, sat together during the performance, but he slipped away when the lights dimmed for curtain call.
Moments later, Taylor nervously took the stage and spoke quietly into the microphone.
“Seven years ago, I met the most important person in my life,” he began.
Taylor went on to describe his relationship with Teague, who he met in high school.
“My life would be perfect if I could spend every day with you,” he called out from the stage. “I would take the night stars to give to you if I could, but all I have to offer you is my heart.”
Taylor then called his girlfriend up to the stage to ask her the big question.
Even after saying yes, Teague was still shaken up.
“It was a little unexpected,” Teague said. “I’m still a little nervous, but I’m really happy.” Video of proposal
 
The proposal was part of a contest hosted by Swine Palace. In addition to professing his love on stage, Taylor also received four free tickets to the show and an engagement photo session with his bride-to-be.
Swine Palace announced the proposal contest early last month but kept the lucky man’s name a secret.
English senior Jessica Lowe attended the show with River Peterson, chemical engineering senior, because she wanted to see the romantic gesture in person.
“We were going to go to pay-what-you-can night, but we decided to pay to come to the proposal night,” Lowe said. “It’s just pretty cool.”
Lowe said she thought it was nice that the couple was able to celebrate their engagement with something they shared early in their relationship — in his proposal, Taylor said he and Teague watched a BBC adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” in their high school English class.
Peterson said the proposal was nerve-racking, but he thought Teague would say yes.
“If you do something like this, you have to know it’ll go well,” he said.
Lowe agreed.
“You really have to have the guts to do this,” she said. “And after seven years, he probably knew she was going to say yes.”
Teague said she was happy to share her special moment with the crowd after such a romantic play.
“I always hoped my engagement would be an exciting event,” she said. “My dreams have come true.”
 
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Contact Rachel Warren at [email protected]