Lady Gaga has officially launched her long-awaited Mayhem Ball residency at the Park Theater in Paradise, Nevada, delivering a darkly opulent, theatrically rich performance that critics and fans are lauding as a career milestone.
The nearly two-and-a-half-hour show unfolds across five dramatic acts, incorporating cinematic storytelling. It weaves a visual journey from innocence to controlled chaos—complete with gothic gowns, sleek choreography, and orchestral flourishes. As Rolling Stone described, this opening night was nothing short of “a spectacular and theatrical performance” that “thrilled fans and dominated social media.”
The production begins with a short film introduction, The Mayhem Manifesto, featuring Gaga’s dual portrayals of light and dark personas. It sets the tone for a bold, multifaceted show. The first act dazzles with the red-clad “Abracadabra,” a highlight heralded for its towering stage visuals, followed by hits like “Judas” and “Aura.” Critics noted that this section established Gaga’s intent to marry theatrical art with pop spectacle.
In the second act, Gaga produced a visually striking cape transformation mid-performance of “Paparazzi,” while cigar-chomping dancers added to the show’s edgy theatricality. The third act offered a nostalgic yet emotionally resonant rendition of “Applause” from Artpop, signaling her move to reclaim and recontextualize parts of her artistic legacy that had been previously dormant.
The fourth act proved the emotional core of the evening. A poignant reimagining of “Shallow” echoed Phantom of the Opera, while operatic elements emerged in new original compositions. The show concluded with a high-energy encore, “How Bad Do U Want Me,” igniting the crowd before they were escorted out in awe.
Gaga’s 27-song setlist traversed her expansive eight-album career. Classics like “Poker Face,” “Bad Romance,” “Born This Way,” “Paparazzi,” and “Just Dance” sat alongside fresh material from her March 2025 album Mayhem—including “Disease,” “Killah,” “Zombieboy,” and “Abracadabra.” Spanish outlet Los40 reported a 29-track evening, with fan favorites like “Summerboy” making a triumphant return after nearly two decades off setlists. The bold integration of Artpop — often neglected in recent performances — was also a surprise delight, eliciting cheers and applause.
Beyond its visual and musical grandeur, Mayhem Ball didn’t shy away from social commentary. Rolling Stone noted that Gaga “made bold political statements throughout, projecting messages supporting LGBTQ+ rights, immigration reform, and international justice.” These messages appeared woven into the performance as multimedia visuals and stage moments, reinforcing her identity as an artist deeply rooted in advocacy.
Critics across publications praised Gaga’s fusion of spectacle and sincerity. Variety emphasized the show’s emotional resonance alongside its scale, while Rolling Stone called it “career-best” material. The Daily Beast raved about its operatic ambition, describing it as a concert “divided into four acts depicting a transformation from innocence to chaos.” Local observers echoed this sentiment. The San Francisco Chronicle previewed the Bay Area leg, noting topics like “gothic gondola” staging and powerhouse vocals, forecasting an unforgettable visual and sonic experience.
Fans, too, have taken to social media to share viral clips of potent onstage moments—especially the “cloak transformation” during Paparazzi and the intimate gondola ride during Shallow.
The residency is just the first chapter in Gaga’s international arc. Beginning July 16 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, the Mayhem Ball residency will run through mid-July, before transitioning to North American and European arenas, and ultimately reaching Australia in December for her first stadium shows there in over a decade. Billed as Gaga’s most personal and theatrically refined tour, this run marks her first arena tour since 2018’s Chromatica Ball. For Mayhem Ball, she chose arena venues to allow greater stage control and intimacy, in contrast to expansive stadium shows.
Following the theatrical success in Las Vegas, Gaga’s residency continues with performances on July 18 and 19. The tour progresses to major U.S. cities including Seattle, New York at Madison Square Garden, Miami, Chicago, and Toronto, before crossing over to London, Berlin, Stockholm, Milan, Barcelona, and concluding in Tokyo next January.
The Mayhem Ball represents a new zenith in Lady Gaga’s live performance legacy. With its rich narrative, elaborate staging, socially aware messaging, and nostalgic yet fresh setlist, the show reaffirms Gaga’s standing as a powerful innovator in pop music. Her mix of theatre, activism, and multi-generational hits is resonating onstage—and online. As tickets continue to sell out and new tour locations are added, the Mayhem Ball is positioning itself as 2025’s cultural phenomenon.
For fans of theatrical pop and political spectacle, Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball is far more than a concert—it’s an immersive, emotional odyssey. The world is watching—and waiting for the next act.