Love Rekindled: A San Antonio Romance Spanning Decades
In the vibrant city of San Antonio, a beautiful love story has come to light, showcasing the magic of second chances and the enduring power of theatre. Linda Ford and Michael Howard, two talented actors who first crossed paths in the early ’70s, have reunited late in life and currently share a marital bliss that is deeply rooted in their shared passion for performance.
Young Love and Memories
Looking back at their younger days, Howard, now 77, fondly recalls the first time he fell hard for Ford while they were starring in a production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in 1971. “I was madly in love with her, of course,” he says with a smile, gazing at an old photograph of his younger self holding Ford, who played Honey in the production. “It was sickening, that’s the way it gets you sometimes.” Unfortunately, the timing wasn’t right back then. Ford had just gotten married, and though she liked Howard, her feelings didn’t match his at the time.
“We knew each other well enough, and we trusted each other as workers and actors, and we were good friends,” Ford explains. Life took them on different paths: she moved around-the-theatre globe while Howard made a life for himself in New York and then Maine.
The Course of True Love
As Shakespeare famously noted, the course of love never did run smooth. After decades apart, opportunities brought them together again at a reunion for the First Repertory Company in 1992. At this gathering, Howard couldn’t help but recognize that his old feelings for Ford had resurfaced. “I realized I was still in love with her,” he admits. However, much like before, both were in relationships, leaving nothing to spark between them.
Fast forward to a second reunion, and everything had changed. Ford had gone through a divorce, and Howard had experienced the loss of his wife. This time, their connection blossomed into a beautiful romance. Ford says, “Michael’s a very dear soul. And I’m absolutely confident and secure in how he feels about me.” As the stars aligned, they began to email and travel to see each other. Their bond intensified, leading to Howard inviting Ford to see him perform in King Lear. From that moment on, everything began to fall into place.
A Wedding and a New Life
After deciding to sell his Victorian home, Howard and Ford tied the knot in 2017, surrounded by friends and family who had witnessed their journey. They are now settled in San Antonio, where they focus on producing plays that unite them both on and off the stage.
“Chapatti” Unveils Their Shared Story
The couple’s latest production, Chapatti, explores themes of love and hope in late-life romance, mirroring their own journey together. Howard portrays Dan, a widower navigating the loss of his late wife, who stumbles into a new relationship at a veterinarian’s office. He describes the play as “a love story about hope when there doesn’t seem to be much chance for that. It’s about the persistence of spirit and flesh and possibilities.”
Opening this Friday at the Woodlawn Pointe Center for Community, Chapatti represents the couple’s second self-produced project. Recognizing that finding roles in the San Antonio theatre scene had become challenging, they realized they needed to take matters into their own hands. “If you want something to happen, you have to make it happen,” Howard shares, echoing a key line from the play.
A Journey Through Theatre
Theatre has consistently been the core of Ford and Howard’s relationship, blossoming in their early years with innovative San Antonio productions. Their journeys brought them back together, and their shared love for performance now informs every detail of their work. As they prepared for their latest show, they invested over a year into practicing and developing the script, showcasing their dedication and passion.
The Future of Their Love and Craft
Ford expressed her excitement about opening night: “We’ve seriously been learning the lines for about a year. So when this is over, it’s gonna be a little bit of a let-down.” Yet, they are already looking forward to their next project, continuing a creative duo that embodies resilience, love, and an unyielding passion for the arts.
As they take their bows this weekend, it’s clear that the magic of theatre has intertwined their lives in a most extraordinary way. Here’s to love stories that continue to inspire and remind us that sometimes, a shared passion can lead to a beautiful romance that transcends time.
