Sarah Mahmoodi
With the trauma, heartbreak and awkwardness that come with the high school experience, who would ever go back after graduation? Mitski is who, and she invited nearly ten thousand fans to join her last week at a five-day residency at Hollywood High School, March 30, 31 and April 2, 3 and 4.
The singer-songwriter, born in Japan to an American dad and Japanese mom, held the run as part of the world tour for her eighth studio album, Nothing’s About to Happen to Me. Known for her emotional depth, minimalist yet dynamic sound, and blend of indie rock, pop, and folk, her music centers on themes of identity, isolation, inner conflict and love.
The show being held in a high school auditorium magnified the power of her lyrics, as her subject matter is ever-present in the minds of her young listeners, especially high schoolers, with most fans in attendance being teens and young adults (and their chaperoning parents).
One night, Mitski addressed the irony of holding her show in a high school. “We’re basically bringing y’all to possibly one of the most traumatizing places, get you all in emotional turmoil, sit you down, and then unleash this music on you,” she joked.
But she encouraged her fans to embrace their emotions. “You know, it’s dark in here. No one can see you. You can cry,” she laughed, “I’m crying on the inside.”
Mitski at Hollywood High School, March 30, 31 and April 2, 3, 4, 2026. (Photo: Lexie Alley)
Supported by opener, singer-songwriter Haley Heynderickx, Mitski’s 90-minute sets featured tracks primarily from her albums Nothing’s About to Happen to Me and its predecessor, 2023’s The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We. Other notable inclusions were “I Bet On Losing Dogs,” “Francis Forever,” and “Working for the Knife.”
The stage design for the show included a tattered silkscreen backdrop, with unique visuals for each song: scenes from old Hollywood films, plus cats and ocean waves interspersed with intense strobe lights. The stage was adorned with a vintage desk, rugs, lamps, and two half-dome disco balls that were beautifully illuminated during the song “My Love, Mine All Mine.” She choreographed deliberate movements that set the tone of each song, whether dancing and twirling, stumbling disoriented at times, or standing tall, gazing deep into the audience.
The concert also had an interactive fan experience called the Tansy House, a whimsical walk-through space and photo opp. The gold velvet-draped path to Tansy House led into a deconstructed house with mock stained-glassed doors, vintage desks full of photographs, books, cat food, hanging apples, and a 1998 iMac G3 desktop computer covered in Post-It Notes. Paper was left out for fans to write letters to Mitski, as well as vintage rotary dial phones, where fans could listen to a message from the artist, or leave her a message of their own.
Hollywood High School has a history of hosting popular artists in its theater. We spoke with Principal Samuel Dovlatian about the school’s history. “When Mistki’s team reached out to us a year ago to hold the concert series here, I was thrilled that the tradition continues,” he said. “From iconic performers like Elvis Costello in the 70s and Morrissey back in 2013, I think it’s neat that artists want to come back to the smaller venue, the smaller setting, and give the audience members that experience. I think it really adds to the memory and the value.”
Mitski’s Tansy House (Photo: Lexie Alley)
He also mentioned how much it meant to him to bring the show to the school, where his own students were able to attend. “I love my parents, students, and school community. I want to do what’s best for them.” He continued, “Concerts like Mitski’s are an opportunity for students to see that high-value, high-production, concert experiences are possible for them. My hope is that they are inspired by Mitski to continue to pursue their own singing, dancing, technical work, and set design studies.”
Hollywood High prides itself on its rich history and continued legacy of providing vigorous arts, theater, and production programs. Dovlatian shared that fifty students were awarded tickets to the shows in a raffle, adding to the positivity and excitement the shows brought to campus, and rental fees for the auditorium were used to pay for the 2026 graduating class’s caps and gowns. Fans of all ages packed the shows, with a notable demographic of youths and teens chaperoned by their parents.
Mitski’s ongoing world tour just completed its North American stops in New York, Mexico City and LA, and now moves to Turkey, Europe and the Pacific Rim. Though, fans abroad probably won’t get the chance to sit in a school auditorium to reminisce on their high school days.
Follow Mitski on Instagram @mitskileaks.