The Netflix hit series “Bridgerton” captures a 19th-century British family during high society’s social season – and now the show is inspiring an immersive experience in the heart of 21st-century New York City. “The Queens Ball: A Bridgerton Experience,” a traveling event newly opened at Mediapro Manhattan Studio on 37th Street, is bringing fans together to celebrate what they love about the show.
The TV series, created by Shonda Rhimes’s production company Shondaland, is based on a series of historical novels by Julia Quinn, which centers the Bridgerton family as they try to find love in a competitive upper-class setting. The TV series departs from the books, emphasizing racial diversity in its casting – a choice that garnered widespread response, and sparked recognition and identification among fans online. The live recreation invites those fans into the show’s grand ballroom scenes in person, to drink, dance and party in period style.
“This book originally was written by a white author, featuring white characters,” said Sirena Martinez, a fan who came in from New Jersey to attend. “As a woman of color, it's being able to see Black princesses and Hispanics on the show, being able to be dressed to the nines – it’s amazing. I am fully dedicated to the show, and I want to be able to experience it the same way.”