The show was originally conceived as a more intimate, theater-based production, with only one or two smaller indoor arena dates; however, as Perry's global popularity was rising, the tour was upgraded and revamped to accommodate significantly larger venues, capable of holding anywhere from 5,000 to nearly 30,000 spectators.

"[7][8][9] While promoting the Teenage Dream album, Perry expressed that she wanted her upcoming tour to be very visual, stating "I hope that it's going to engage all of your senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, touch".

She stated that the tour would display "super girl power", with female artists, like Swedish pop star Robyn, Yelle, Marina Diamandis, and Janelle Monáe, as opening acts on various dates.

[15] While Perry was performing at the TSB Bank Arena in Wellington, New Zealand, on May 10, 2011, a 24-year-old female was injured in the floor section of the venue (in front of the stage), suffering a black eye along with small cuts and bruises.

The show begins with a video screen introduction directed by Cole Walliser which tells the story of a girl named Katy who lives in a colorless world wasting her life cutting meat for a mean old butcher.

One night, Perry escapes her dreadful reality by falling asleep and visits a vibrant candy land in search of her pet cat, Kitty Purry, and also for her love interest, the Baker's Boy, played by Nick Zano.

[22] "Hummingbird Heartbeat" and "Waking Up in Vegas" are performed next, the latter accompanied by a human slot machine, showgirls and an Elvis Presley impersonator.

Then, she goes on to perform an acoustic medley of songs such as Rihanna's "Only Girl (In the World)", Jay Z's "Big Pimpin'", Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair", and Rebecca Black's "Friday" while interacting with the public.

Trying to decide on what to wear, Perry starts performing "Hot n Cold", magically going through seven costume changes[24] bursting immediately into "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)".

[28] This is followed by a cover of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody", in which Perry and her cat Kitty Purry invite up to 20 fans onto the stage at the end of the number.

After a high-energy and sparkly performance of "Firework" the encore begins with the final interlude of the show, which reveals that Perry has been dreaming all along, suddenly the Baker's Boy enters her room dressed in a gingerbread costume to deliver cupcakes she has ordered for breakfast.

Perry returns to the stage for a performance of "California Gurls" dressed in a silver bra shaped like Hershey's Kisses, dancing with a line of Gingerbread men, and dousing the crowd with a whip cream bazooka.

[30] Jon Mitchell from MTV reviewed the concert at Uniondale and said that "The show stuck so impressively to its storyline about Perry's travels through Candy Land in pursuit of "the baker's boy" that it could almost be a jukebox Broadway musical in the vein of "Rock of Ages" or "Mamma Mia.

He gave it a positive review, but said: "Say what you will about Katy Perry—sure, she has a weak singing voice and her songs are mostly devoid of substance—but as a courier of frothy delights and eye-catching effulgence, she's become one of today's most-satisfying pop stars.

They had said, "The show had a sweet theme and Katy performed in a front of a candy cane staircase against a backdrop of giant lollipops in a characteristically outlandish outfit of glittery fishnet stockings, a sparkly heart-shaped corset and a bright pink tutu.

He had said "It was colorful, triumphant and the perfect way to end a near-perfect pop show" and also added, "Unlike many of her dance-pop contemporaries (think Lady Gaga or Britney Spears), Perry left most of the dancing to her talented backup troupe, who were introduced individually during solos to popular candy-related songs.