A marriage proposal at 'Cinderella'

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NEW YORK, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- At the end of a Broadway staging of "Cinderella," a real-life Prince Charming, a police officer, took the stage to propose marriage to his longtime girlfriend.

New York Police Sgt. Alan Chau, 30, brought Maria Roca, 28, onto the stage of the Broadway Theater as the cast of "Cinderella" took its final bows Monday night, and said "I'm here because I love you" as he got down on one knee and presented Roca with an engagement ring.

Roca nodded yes, the audience cheered and the cast burst into song, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday.

Chau and Roca, who live in Queens, N.Y., were the first to take advantage of the theatrical production's "Royal Proposal" promotion, which encourages theatergoers to begin engagements on stage at the play's conclusion.

"I decided to purchase the tickets for her birthday," Chau said later. "While looking it up I noticed that you can propose. I thought this was the perfect time."

Audience members congratulated Chau and Roca as they left the theater, the newspaper said, noting a wedding is planned for some time this year.