Audiences for Lady Gaga’s groundbreaking new residency at Park MGM Las Vegas will be the first witnesses to a new era in the career of the superstar performer. The box office and critical success of A Star Is Born has catapulted her to a new level of celebrity status and creative confidence that will surely inspire her onstage, but as her Little Monster superfans know, Gaga was already in transition. Now she’s fully exploring her range with the career-celebrating Lady Gaga: Enigma headliner show, complemented with the special stripped-down engagements of the more intimate Lady Gaga: Jazz & Piano.
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta started to evolve long before she accepted Bradley Cooper’s invitation to take the lead role in his directorial debut. Establishing herself as a synth-pop, self-empowering chameleon influenced by changelings such as David Bowie, Cher and Madonna, Gaga discovered a newfound songwriting confidence during the recording of 2013’s Artpop. She then explored the Great American Songbook with Tony Bennett on the No. 1 album Cheek to Cheek, and sat at the piano for a spell at every concert while touring in support of 2016’s Joanne.
A Star Is Born introduced a new Lady Gaga to mass audiences, her raw talent uneclipsed by wigs, artful makeup or outrageous fashions. Her performance garnered Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress and Best Original Song for “Shallow,” which also earned a 2019 Grammy nomination for Record of the Year. Expect her to duet the song with Cooper at the Academy Awards in February, by which time her transition to the highest levels of the superstar stratosphere will be complete. She kicks off her residency with the wind of total success at her back.
Although details about Lady Gaga: Enigma have been scarce, Gaga has said it’s her dream to play Las Vegas and will surely try to push the envelope of what is possible with a headlining residency. Her touring productions have always been divided into sections, allowing for costume changes and shifts in scenery, but not having to transport an elaborate set from city to city will give her room to play with the set lists. The restrictions of the Joanne World Tour’s production design, for example, meant that hardcore Little Monsters didn’t get to experience material from Artpop. Expect that phase in Mother Monster’s career to be represented at Enigma.
It wouldn’t be unusual for guests to appear at shows. Cooper wouldn’t pass that opportunity up unless he’s prevented by filming obligations, and Beyonce may be too tied up with her own tour to join Gaga for “Telephone.”
Then again, she has more than 70 Enigma dates scheduled through November, and four opportunities for Tony Bennett to stop by during the Jazz & Piano shows. She has an entire song set with Bennett to deliver, and arrangements of compositions such as Elton John’s “Your Song” and “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” at the ready. Whatever happens, Lady Gaga is going to leave her mark on Las Vegas and usher Strip headlining residencies into the future.
Park Theater at Park MGM 8 p.m. Dec. 28 & 30-31, starting at $77.90 plus tax and fee. 844.600.7275
