Then her dad died of lung cancer. She was 18. Her career faltered. “I just collapsed,” she said.

She had to get out of town. Friends had moved to Dallas. Why not join them?

Ms. Lerner got a job as the manager of a gelato shop. Then she enrolled in acting school, and landed roles in some well-received local productions. She worked princess parties for kids. (She still teaches vocal technique and acting to children.)

A year and a half ago, she saw a notice on a school bulletin board for a princess job at Medieval Times. She was hired in an instant.

There weren’t many guests left in the lobby on this night, so her shift ended early. She handed her dress and cloak to the woman in charge of cleaning costumes and pulled on an oversize Walmart T-shirt printed with an American flag superimposed over a white tiger.

When she heard that some audience members didn’t seem to grasp the larger social significance of replacing the king with a queen — and that some even wanted the king back — she seemed slightly crestfallen.

“Well, at least a seed has been planted,” she said.

Ms. Lerner grabbed the Medieval Times umbrella that management gave her as a holiday gift, punched out and said good night to the operations manager camped at a desk near the back door. She walked out into the damp Dallas night, a foil-lined bag of chicken and vegetables in her hand.

Hoppy Joe was waiting.

Follow NYT Food on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. Get regular updates from NYT Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice.