Otherwise known as Doña Maria Isabella, queen of the Lyndhurst, New Jersey, Medieval Times.
Since the first Medieval Times opened in Florida in 1983, the chain of dinner theater monarchies has been ruled by men. The announcement that it would be replacing kings with queens arrived in October, just as the first wave of #MeToo stories emerged, and the introduction of a female ruler seemed irresistibly resonant. Media outlets from Vogue to the New York Times covered the news, and when Zapcic appeared on local TV, she described guests approaching her with tears in their eyes.
Whatever the coverage, the transition had actually begun 18 months ago, inspired by requests on audience comment cards: People wanted to see women featured more prominently in shows, and corporate answered. It was more a question of entertainment than politics, Zapcic explains, as she gives me a cheerful all-access tour of her castle. “Women make great stories.”
This story is from the April 16, 2018 edition of New York magazine.
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This story is from the April 16, 2018 edition of New York magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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