The last time I spoke with Ricky Martin, he was a bit emotional. Mostly anxious.

His nerves were getting the best of him as his acting skills were about to be on full display. Martin was one of the stars of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, the tense TV anthology exploring the murder of the iconic designer that aired in the first quarter of 2018 on the FX network. The international pop star played the role of Antonio D’Amico, a model and designer and Versace’s longtime partner.

“It was very challenging, a very dramatic story and I had some really insanely deep scenes,” he said. “I get a little emotional just talking about it because the level of focus you need to do a good job as an actor portraying a man suffering the loss of his partner, it’s heavy.”

It was a big job, but he wouldn’t want it any other way. Martin is a born performer, a fact that’s obvious to anyone who’s seen his show All In at Park Theater at Park MGM. “I said yes to the role because we need to talk about this and shed some light on this story,” he said. “It feels great every time you finish a scene but it’s also very nerve-wracking. Once you do the shot, you can’t go back.”

Since Assassination aired to great reviews—86 percent on Rotten Tomatoes—Martin has returned to his electrifying residency on the Strip and continues to thrill audiences with English and Spanish hits. He also released the fiery new single, “Fiebre,” with reggaeton duo and fellow Puerto Ricans Wisin and Yandel and returned to Las Vegas yet again to open the Billboard Latin Music Awards at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Martin’s show at Park Theater is one of the biggest dance parties on the Strip. He opens with “Livin’ La Vida Loca” and doesn’t let up, powering through the dance-pop hits and soaring ballads that turned him into one of music’s brightest stars when the one-time member of teen group Menudo found fame on the U.S. charts.

But then something magical happens: Martin switches into Spanish language hits like 2016 chart-topper “Vente Pa’ Ca” and his earlier, still-infectious “María,” and every last one of the thousands of concertgoers are out of their seats dancing right along with him.

The energy behind those musical moments is there by design. “We wanted to go through my life in music with this show and it really doesn’t matter what the language is,” Martin said. “At the end of the day, when that amazing moment happens and those drums hit and those Latin sounds come in, no matter where you’re from, you react.” Whether on television or onstage, Martin knows how to connect with an audience.

Park Theater at Park MGM, 8 p.m. May 23, 26-27, 30 & June 2-3, $59.50 plus tax and fee. 844.600.7275