Photo Flash: Drama League Founding Supporters' Flash Mob Proposal in Times Square

By: Nov. 26, 2013
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Bruce Arakelian and Tom Bodkin have been in a relationship for thirty years. Same Sex marriage is not legal in their home state of North Carolina so Arakelian decided to surprise Bodkin with a flash mob proposal in Times Square on Friday morning, and Bodkin said, "yes!" A November wedding is planned at the Manhattan Penthouse of Broadway producers, Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley. Carole will be the officiant and Leah Lane is the couple's Best Person. Scroll down for photos of the flash mob proposal!

Bruce Arakelian is an anesthesiologist with Carolinas Healthcare System, the nation's second largest health-care system. He has served as director of anesthesia services and as clinical and didactic faculty member at the Carolinas College of Health Sciences and the University of North Carolina. Mr. Arakelian specializes in open heart, vascular and thoracic anesthesia, and is a team member of the Carolinas Foot and Ankle Surgical Institute, the official surgical care center for the NFL, NBA and MBA. Thomas Bodkin is a Certified Pharmacy Technician at Carolina Health Care System- Mercy Hospital. The couple are Founding Supporters of the new Drama League Center in Tribeca in addition to many other theater and arts charities.

The flash mob was organized by Zohar Adner, Director of Business Development at Big Hit Events and choreographed by Derek Mitchell (Broadway Bares, So You Think You Can Dance). Big Hit Events clients include: JP Morgan Chase, USPS, IBM, Clarins, Brookfield Homes & RP, Ecolab, MSG/Cablevision, Tourism Board of Colombia, Redbox, Henry Schein Dental, and ZS Associates.

In the Times Square crowd to celebrate the surprise proposal were: Tony Winners Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley, and family and friends Kimberli Zecchin, Tom Derham, Gerry O'Brien, Jean Wiegand. Derek Mitchell's Flash Mob Dancers included: Alyssa Renzi, Leah Lane, Alex Washer, Therese Broberg, Alyssa Fuhrman, Franziska Wilde, Sarah-Kate Chiovitti, Devon Lubar, Nick Leos, Justine Ayala, Victoria Calascribetta, Bria Walton, Megan DelSanto, Signe Ahlsten, Sandy Shelton, Hannah Ulmer, Jessica Aronoff, Bjorn Nabbe, Matilda Sandstrom, Alli Greenstein, Dina Tamm, Samantha Varona, Ianthe Mellors, Amelia Stilby, Agnetta Ottosson, Isabella Sjoons, Antony Diep, Brandy Hill, Marian SolSomma, Felicia Goossens, Lourdes Varela, Aisia Roberts, Ayesha Hassanwalia, Megan Wooldridge, Anne Oliviera, Hector Lopez, Gabby Grywalski, Sonia Maria, and Saige Madison.

For more information about marriage equality see: www.marriageequality.org.

Photo Credit: Rob Rich/SocietyAllure.com © 2013

Photo Flash: Drama League Founding Supporters' Flash Mob Proposal in Times Square
Derek Mitchell (choreographer) and the Flash Mob Dancers

Photo Flash: Drama League Founding Supporters' Flash Mob Proposal in Times Square
Stewart F. Lane, Leah Lane, Alex Washer, Alyssa Renzi, Bonnie Comley

Photo Flash: Drama League Founding Supporters' Flash Mob Proposal in Times Square
Stewart F. Lane, Bonnie Comley, Bruce Arakelian , Tom Bodkin

Photo Flash: Drama League Founding Supporters' Flash Mob Proposal in Times Square
Flash Mob Dancers

Photo Flash: Drama League Founding Supporters' Flash Mob Proposal in Times Square
Flash Mob Dancers

Photo Flash: Drama League Founding Supporters' Flash Mob Proposal in Times Square
Flash Mob Dancers

Photo Flash: Drama League Founding Supporters' Flash Mob Proposal in Times Square
Bonnie Comley and Bruce Arakelian join the Flash Mob Dancers

Photo Flash: Drama League Founding Supporters' Flash Mob Proposal in Times Square
Bruce Arakelian and Tom Bodkin

Photo Flash: Drama League Founding Supporters' Flash Mob Proposal in Times Square
Bruce Arakelian and Tom Bodkin

Photo Flash: Drama League Founding Supporters' Flash Mob Proposal in Times Square
Bruce Arakelian and Tom Bodkin with the Flash Mob Dancers

Photo Flash: Drama League Founding Supporters' Flash Mob Proposal in Times Square
Emily Greenwell, Derek Mitchell (choreographer), Zohar Adner

Photo Flash: Drama League Founding Supporters' Flash Mob Proposal in Times Square
Alyssa Renzi and Derek Mitchell (choreographer)

Photo Flash: Drama League Founding Supporters' Flash Mob Proposal in Times Square
Derek Mitchell (choreographer) and Alex Washer

Photo Flash: Drama League Founding Supporters' Flash Mob Proposal in Times Square
Tom Bodkin, Leah Lane, Bruce Arakelian

Photo Flash: Drama League Founding Supporters' Flash Mob Proposal in Times Square
Gerry O'Brien, Tom Derham, Tom Bodkin, Bruce Arakelian, Kimberli Zecchin and Jean Wiegand



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