It was a sultry summer evening, and the lights of the theater flickered with a warm, inviting glow. As I walked through the familiar doors, the scent of old wood and fresh paint welcomed me. Even though we were in a small town — and the crew was as amateur as it gets — the building was abuzz with activity.

I’m an actor — an unwavering romantic at heart battered by a few too many failed relationships and lousy jobs but still chasing my big break in love and on the stage.

That night, we were in the final week of rehearsals for William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, and excitement hummed through the cast like electricity. My heart raced not just from the thrill of the impending performance, but for the striking woman at the center of it all — Monica.

My leading lady... Read More