Chromatica Ball

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Lore & Background

The tour was conceived as an abstract story combining art, fashion, dance, music, technology, and poetry, depicting Gaga's personal journey through grief. On the day of the first show, Gaga explained on Instagram that the stage drew inspiration from brutalist architecture to create a "savage and hard" aesthetic. Media outlets compared the black-and-white design to a "nightmarish Soviet dystopia" or Fritz Lang's *Metropolis*. The narrative followed distinct segments separated by video introductions directed by Nick Knight, moving Gaga from a trapped state toward liberation. While she omitted the pink cyberpunk imagery of earlier promotions in favor of a darker, edgier look, the show remained a carefully designed experience considering her fibromyalgia, with complex choreography reserved for later sections when she felt more pain-free.

In Their Own Story

The show opened with dancers performing to a synthesized Bach arrangement transitioning into "Bad Romance," where Gaga appeared atop a concrete slab inside a leather sarcophagus. The production featured five-story high screens and two catwalks, with the audience wearing LED wristbands that changed color for each song. A secondary stage housed her piano, bedecked in tree branches reminiscent of H.R. Giger's work. Costumes included a metallic gold moiré suit by Alexander McQueen, a claw-like headpiece by Philip Treacy, and a blood-red gown that revealed a nude latex bodysuit splattered with red goo. During the piano ballad section, Gaga wore a purple-and-black bodysuit described as a "purple praying mantis." On numerous American dates, she interpolated political statements addressing gun violence and abortion rights into her performances.

Reader's Guide

Fans attended one of 20 stadium shows running from July to September 2022. The tour grossed $112.4 million with 834,000 tickets sold, breaking multiple personal attendance records. Designers featured in the wardrobe included Alexander McQueen, Gareth Pugh, Christian Lacroix, and Gaga's sister, Natali Germanotta, via Topo Studio NY. The show ran approximately 130 minutes, divided into a prelude, four acts, and a finale. On May 16, three additional North American dates were added in Hershey, Houston, and Miami Gardens. For those unable to attend the live events, Gaga's September 2022 performance at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles was recorded for a concert film released on HBO and Max on May 25, 2024.

Did You Know?

• The tour was initially announced as a limited six-date series before expanding to 20 shows after pandemic delays.
• Gaga's September 2022 show at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles was recorded for a concert film released on HBO and Max.
• During the piano segment, Gaga addressed political topics including gun violence and abortion rights on numerous American dates.
• Two shows in Japan were announced but later canceled, so the tour did not include any concerts in Japan.
• Gaga's wardrobe included outfits designed by her sister, Natali Germanotta, under the brand Topo Studio NY.