Why just watch Bridgerton when you can experience being in Bridgerton?
Of course, unless your name is Simone Ashley, Jonathan Bailey, or any other member of the series’ cast, knowing exactly what it feels like to be a part of Shondaland's hit Netflix series will likely be a feeling that escapes you. Unless, that is, you get to take part in The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience, an over-the-top, deeply immersive extravaganza that lets guests feel as though they’ve been transported to Regency-era England for a smashing soiree. After a similar Bridgerton immersive experience opened in London, the Queen’s Ball arrives stateside, currently in Los Angeles, before heading to Chicago, Montreal, Washington, D.C., and, if you’re lucky, a city near you in the near future.
The Los Angeles experience kicked off March 24, bringing a gaggle of awestruck revelers to the majestic and historic Millennium Biltmore Hotel. Like the show it’s based on, the Queen’s Ball is a dazzling, irresistibly charming spectacle — able to romance all the senses in ways television can’t, at least for now. After attendees enter through a gorgeous archway dripping with lavender-colored wisteria — one of many moments made for the perfect Instagram snap — guests glide into a ballroom and find themselves deep inside a real-life fairy tale. Flower arrangements are perched on nearly every surface. Several dozen actors in exquisite period costumes mill about, welcoming all in unshakable period-perfect dialect. Musicians in powdered wigs play live classical renditions of pop hits like Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams.” Actual costumes from the series sit encased in glass display cases — and all of this is just the beginning. For attendees like actor Kyla Pratt, the whole experience was nothing short of breathtaking.
“I knew this experience was going to be absolutely amazing,” she tells Shondaland upon leaving the Queen’s Ball. “I had no doubts in my mind that it would be spectacular. And that’s what it is.”
The Queen’s Ball is a highly calculated and choreographed affair, one that not only woos patrons with a visual and auditory feast but gives them a story too. “This is really meant to put the fan at the center of the story,” Greg Lombardo, the head of experiences at Netflix, tells Shondaland. Given Bridgerton’s massive, history-making popularity — some 82 million viewers watched star-crossed lovers Daphne and Simon burn for each other in season one — Lombardo says the decision to do a Bridgerton experience, as Netflix has done for Stranger Things and Money Heist, was a “no-brainer.” When it came time to figure out what to do exactly, the ball kept coming up in conversation. Thus, the idea to do a Queen’s Ball was born, and in conjunction with Shondaland live-events company Fever, hundreds and hundreds of people worked to bring the idea to life, with a meticulous eye to detail and a goal to fully absorb patrons in the Bridgerton world.
“The narrative is that the Queen is hosting a ball and we are her invited guests,” Lombardo explains. “She is looking for her Diamond of the evening.” One of the most intense and totally believable elements of the event begins when entering a chamber of the ballroom and finding the Queen perched on her throne, wearing the most opulent regalia and the most brutally shady expression. Those brave enough to greet the Queen (and you should; it would be impolite not to, no?) curtsy to her and peacock in an attempt to win her favor. Throughout the 90-minute affair, the voice of Lady Heartell, a Lady Whistledown protégé created for the event, is heard over the room’s booming speakers. Played by a live actor, she is, as the kids say, playfully throwing shade at guests, commenting on people’s outfits, and casting a discerning eye on all royal decorums. Guests in the most resplendent costumes (which are highly encouraged, by the way; go hard with your lewk, or go home) who seem worthy of the ton are sized up and down all evening as the Queen deliberates on who’ll be her pick. “You have to really bring your A-game,” Lombardo says.
And if that wasn’t enough, the ball takes on an even more fantastical element when guests are ushered into yet another room, with a magnificent dance floor, where they witness a choreographed dance, aerial performances, and an enchanting romance play out. Our love story features Marie and Wilford, who are representative of the ethos of the show, and their romance unfolds through a series of dances that guests are at times invited to participate in. As their performance, which includes an eye-popping aerial ballet, winds down, the event hits its climax: The Queen’s Diamond is chosen, and she’s showered in glitter and applause. On opening night, Snowfall star Angela Lewis became the Diamond — a vision of loveliness in a voluminous gown accented with tulle and jewels.
For journalist and podcaster Gia Peppers, the Queen’s Ball hit all the right notes. “I loved seeing how [they] brought Bridgerton to life. We experienced magic with the performers, the beautiful people looking like they just walked off set. Everyone delivered on the assignment. It was literally like being transported into Bridgerton.” Many people in attendance remarked that they felt like they were at a grown-up prom.
Although it very much feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the lavish Queen’s Ball allows guests to step back into Regency-era London as many times as they wish; one need only a ticket, their most splendid attire, and a love for the Bridgerton world to relive the magic over and over. The only real constraint is time: The Bridgerton Experience only runs in select cities for a limited period, so do make haste! And if you’re unable to make it to the Bridgerton Experience this go-round, don’t worry. The world of Bridgerton is expanding, with more stories, more characters, and more ways to engage with the series on the way. What’s the best way to stay tuned for all the latest on Bridgerton and the Queen’s Ball? Why, coming back right here to Shondaland, of course, my dear!
Malcolm Venable is a Senior Staff Writer at Shondaland. Follow him on Twitter @malcolmvenable.
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