Man Who Proposed to His Love Onstage at North Fork Community Theatre Set to Marry

MATTITUCK, NY — Chris Fretto, director of the North Fork Community Theatre's current production, "First Date," is a true romantic that knows how to seal the deal and win the leading lady in real life.

A delighted audience saw that firsthand last year when Fretto, 31, of Mastic, proposed to his girlfriend Katelyn Smith, 29, in November after a production of "Little Shop of Horrors," during the curtain call at the NFCT. Fretto, who played the voice of the man-eating plant Audrey II in the show, had the audience sighing in romantic delight as he serenaded his love with the song "So Close."

A year later, the couple will be married in November, and Fretto took a break from his directing duties at "First Date" to give an update on the couple's fairy tale romance.

The couple, he said, met online, and has been dating almost four years.

He decided to propose onstage, Fretto said, because he wanted to do something special. "That made me comfortable and a little uncomfortable as well," he said. "I rarely show my emotions outside of acting on stage so I wanted to make it special for her."

Describing the momentous day, he said, "The day was a whirlwind roller coaster. I had the show, Katie had no idea what was coming. Her parents and my parents went to see the show that day as well, knowing what was to occur after. Our families, brothers and sisters, knew as well and came during curtain call and to the restaurant after to surprise her. I was a nervous wreck trying to make sure everything would be just right."

After his proposal, which has the audience in happy tears, Fretto said his family was "blown away."

The moment that will forever be held in the couple's hearts also brought a rush of sudden notoriety, Fretto said, with an offer to appear on the "Rachael Ray Show" and audition opportunities.

"It was just a crazy response to doing something small and special for my love that people seemed to like," he said. "Some local news radio shows heard about it then some local theaters, and it just snowballed. I became 'The guy who proposed onstage to his fiancée'."

The couple will reprise their big moment onstage when they marry in November — onstage at the Suffolk Theater in Riverhead.

"It’s a beautiful place and totally fits us. They do beautiful events," he said.

Both were introduced to live theater at a young age, Fretto said. Smith was brought up seeing Long Island theater and she love Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and Fretto said he was was brought up loving the two musicals Oliver and Barnum.

Smith is a choreographer and dancer and Fretto loves to entertain — a match made in heaven.

The past year since the proposal, Fretto said, has been "a crazy fun rollercoaster. It has had a lot of ups some downs and a few loop de loops. It’s gone by like a blink of an eye."

When asked the secret to their forever love, Fretto said, "Even though we are still very new at this we have found out there are many keys to the secret of forever love. One being communication and listening, not just hearing, but honestly listening and talking to each other. Take it all in."

Another key element, he said, "is being yourself. Don’t change yourself but mold together to be the power couple you can be."

And lastly, the couple agrees it's important to something you both enjoy together and make it a point to engage in doing that at least three times a month.

"Whether it be watching a favorite TV show or cooking a meal together, or cuddling on the couch reading. Make time for each other. It’s a crazy world we live in and time is hard to come by but you have to make it happen for each other or you both will be unhappy," he said.

In the future, the couple said they'll show their children the YouTube video of the day Fretto proposed to his forever love.

"And we will tell them the story over and over and over again," they added.

Asked what they'd say to one another before their wedding day, Fretto said, " I love you and I am glad to have you at my side for the rest of my life."

Added Smith, "Chris, I never thought I'd find a love like ours. Thank you for loving me in both easy and difficult times. Love you more."