We Had a ’Ton of Fun at ‘The Queens Ball: A Bridgerton Experience’: What to Expect from Netflix’s New Live Show And Party

Dearest readers… The ‘ton is abuzz with the latest gossip: The Queen has arrived in New York City. Your Majesty has marked her attendance for several nights filled with extravagance and performance – and she has her eyes set on all who will attend.

Or, to translate into plain English: Bust out your ball gowns and get ready to impress royalty, as The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience has opened in New York City, offering an experience that will leave you drunk on romance, seduction, and laughter. 

Set at MediaPro Manhattan Studio in Hudson Yards, the event – co-produced by Netflix, Shondaland, and Fever – transforms the hustle and bustle of the big city into a Regency-era soiree, straight out of the world of Bridgerton

Decider had the opportunity to attend a press preview of the event on Wednesday (April 26) and meet the team who brought this experience together. Here’s everything you need to know about attending The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience as it takes residence in the Big Apple, with tickets on sale until July 2. 

What to Expect From The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience

When visitors enter the large warehouse home of the experience, they will be immediately immersed into the world of the franchise as they glide through a flower tunnel that leads to a large ballroom. The 90-minute affair itself is a daring mix of performance and fanfare, centering around one large dance floor where performers and participants alike will compete for the Queen’s attention. Surrounding the dance floor is a mix of activities, such as a bar with themed cocktails (we recommend The Lady Bridgerton for something sweet) and several photo opportunities. There is also live orchestral accompaniment of modern songs (à la Bridgerton) and royal guards to interact with and ask questions. 

The most popular activation was the photo booth that transforms your image into a Renaissance-esque portrait. We recommend hopping in line early as the images are displayed on framed photo monitors throughout the night, drawing more people to the booth as they get inspiration for their own photos. Guests can access the photos through a QR code after viewing them on a digital canvas.

The live performance starts roughly 30 minutes into the event when the familiar voice of Lady Whistledown is heard over a speaker, and the Queen enters the dance floor. Once she takes her seat at the throne, a delightful pair of lovers tell their Bridgerton-inspired story through interpretative dance and acrobatics. Additional characters are introduced, like various suitors who invite the guests to dance and a saucy dancer dressed as a bee, who teaches a choreographed dance to volunteering participants. 

At the end of the performance, the queen comes to her conclusion about the lovestruck duo and then selects a guest to crown as the belle of the ball. Then, the entire space transforms into a dance party for guests to show off their coolest moves. 

What Does Netflix Have to Say About The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience?

The Bridgerton Experience previously ran in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Atlanta, among others – and even premiered internationally in Toronto, Canada – but there’s something special about bringing it to Manhattan, a city known for its flashy Broadway productions and avant-garde performance scene. 

“As we continue throughout the year, we really go to see how different cities approached Bridgerton and how different communities came to the ball,” Isis Arias, who works in Live Experiences at Netflix, told Decider. “We’ve seen lots of cultural garb and we’ve seen a variety of different styles of outfits.”

She describes the experience as a “romantic space… People have shown up in horse and carriage and in full costume. We’ve hosted milestone birthdays, we’ve had some really special guests, like people bringing their grandmothers.”

When it comes to The City That Never Sleeps, Arias is expecting to catch a few unforgettable looks. “I’m excited about fashion in New York. I think people are going to take regency and ball and make it their own,” Arias added.

The Experience website states that the event welcomes all people, whether they’ve seen the show or not – which aligns with Arias’s description of the creation process. “This is definitely inspired by the series,” she explains. “Our characters here have their own unique storyline.”

But that doesn’t mean die-hard fans should dismiss the experience as a streamer-fueled gimmick.  “We worked really closely with Shondaland’s team to develop this into something that felt within the world and the franchise of Bridgerton. Our floral tunnel really pulls you right in and brings you to the 1800s regency in England. We really wanted to bring that garden feel and outdoor romance,” Arias said.

There are also specific nods to the show, like Queen Charlotte’s “Orangerie” gown, and motifs like pocket watches and tiaras – sold as merchandise – present throughout the space.

Arias’s favorite part of the event is the dance floor, and when guests have the opportunity to learn an elegant ballroom dance in particular. Sharing advice for attendees, she says, “You get out of it what you put into it. Half of the fun is getting ready for the ball. Enjoy it. There’s not many opportunities where you get to come out and prepare yourself for something.”

She continues, “Now, you’re in the show, you’re at the ball – enjoy every moment, bring friends and come and have a ball.” 

The Bridgerton experience isn’t the first time Netflix and Fever have collaborated to bring an epic television series to life. Last May, the two companies opened Stranger Things: The Experience at the Duggal Greenhouse in Brooklyn, which saw a 35,000 sq. ft. space transformed into Hawkins Laboratory and the Starcourt Mall. Arias says the two experiences intentionally launched in opposite cities with Bridgerton opening in Los Angeles around the same time Stranger Things hit NYC, before moving to Los Angeles in November. 

While Arias only has her sights set on Bridgerton for now, she feels excited for all of Netflix’s franchises that invest time in “real world building.” Speaking about the future of immersive experiences, she said, “They’re such rich spaces for storytelling. We’re looking to engage fans in a new way. You can run the gamut between fantasy and reality, and I think there’s going to be a lot of opportunities to build new opportunities for our fans.”

A Wednesday Dance Party next, perhaps?

Tickets for The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience start at $39.