William Shakespeare wrote that "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." That was surely the case on Nov. 23 when real life took center stage (with the help of many players) at North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach.

That's when North Coast Rep's acting education director, Matt Thompson, popped the question to his longtime girlfriend, Sunny, onstage with the assistance of more than 175 actors, friends, family and audience members.

Thompson and Smith have been dating for about two years. Last June, Thompson secretly asked her parents for her hand during a visit to her Wisconsin hometown, but he wanted to wait to propose in a special way. So Thompson, who is also a playwright, decided to pen a play in Sunny's honor, named "Mr. Geography."

With the help of the students at the Theatre School at North Coast Rep, along with the help of actor Ted Reis and the theater's staff, Thompson arranged a performance of "Mr. Geography" on the morning of Nov. 23. Smith was told that it would be a simple run-through that would be videotaped so it could be marketed to schools as an educational drama program. Smith, along with more than 175 friends, co-workers and well-wishers, showed up for the free "performance."

Midway through the show, staged as a comedy geography bee hosted by Reis, Thompson and Smith were called up from the audience as "volunteers." Thompson grabbed a guitar and began singing her a song that he'd written about how much he loved her. Smith was stunned by the proposal and broke down in tears (and, of course, accepted). A wedding date has not been set.

"She had no idea, and she was very confused as to what was happening until I started singing about her in front of everyone -- and then it slowly clicked into place," Thompson said. "She was overwhelmed and overjoyed. She started crying, I started crying, the entire theater started crying. It was one of the most joyful moments for both of us, to tell you the truth. The support of friends, family, and especially, the theater community, was just amazing."

Just in case you're wondering what it was like in the theater that morning, wonder no more. Thompson uploaded the entire 20-minute video to youtube.com (keywords: Matt Thompson proposal).

This isn't the first time the North Coast Rep stage has been used for matrimonial purposes. In March 2004, actor Randall Dodge (who was playing El Gallo in the theater's production of "The Fantasticks") interrupted a post-show reprise of his character's signature song "Try to Remember" with a proposal to his surprised girlfriend, Brenda, who was in the audience with her parents. And two of the theater's board members, Jay and Julie Sarno, were married onstage at North Coast Rep.

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Economic woes have forced some significant changes to the long-planned CowParade exhibition scheduled for San Diego next year, but never fear -- the exhibit of artfully decorated fiberglass cows has not been put out to pasture.

CowParade, billed as the world's largest public art event, was scheduled to feature 200 fiberglass, life-size cows in locations all over San Diego early next year. But with the downturn in the economy, not enough sponsors could be found to underwrite the costs of the cows. So instead, a much-smaller parade of 50 cows will be installed next spring in La Jolla.

"The economic climate in our area simply can't accommodate that today," said Bill Trumpfheller, director of CowParade La Jolla, which is producing the event with CowParade Holdings Corp. of West Hartford, Conn. "We are no different than tens of thousands of businesses nationwide that have had to adjust their operations due to the turbulence in our economy."

When CowParade first announced plans for a San Diego exhibition last May, more than 350 artists submitted bids to design cows. Some of those designs have already been selected by sponsors, and artists have been commissioned to produce them. CowParade maintains an artist lab at Liberty Station in Point Loma to allow artists to work on their cows. The lab, at 2855 Perry Road, is open from noon to 2 p.m. Saturdays for public viewing.

CowParade La Jolla will take place from March 15 to June 15. After the exhibit, the cows will be auctioned, with all proceeds benefiting Rady Children's Hospital and the Zoological Society of San Diego.

CowParade has been held in 55 cities around the world since the first event in Chicago in 1999. More than $25 million has been raised over the years for charitable groups.

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The perfect Christmas entertainment is full of warmth, cheer, joy and goodwill toward men, and that's just what Pioneer Players promises in its performance of "Hidden Gifts," at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 in Solana Beach.

The Pioneer Players is a theatrical program run by Solana Beach's Project Turnaround, a nonprofit group that offers educational, cultural, artistic and social programs for young adults with disabilities. The "Hidden Gifts" program will be part play, part concert and dance recital, with members of the troupe showcasing their own "hidden gifts" in a variety show program.

The program, which is preceded at 6 p.m. by a reception, will include a handbell choir, Greek-style dancing, scenes from the musicals "Grease" and "Little Shop of Horrors," and more. The show's goal is to raise money for Project Turnaround programs. Tickets are $8 to $10 and can be ordered by visiting firstgiving.com/projectturnaround.

The show will be presented at St. James Community Hall, 625 S. Nardo Ave., Solana Beach. Call (858) 481-3998.

Pam Kragen is the arts editor of the North County Times.