Mitski Brings Intimate Shows to Hollywood High

Singer-songwriter Mitski kicked off a highly unique concert residency this week, performing five nights in the auditorium at Hollywood High School while students are on spring break. The series is already being hailed as one of the most distinctive residencies of 2026.

Reflecting on High School Experiences

During the opening show on Monday evening, Mitski playfully addressed the unusual venue. “When I first got here, I slightly regretted having this out of a high school because I was immediately triggered,” she joked to the sold-out crowd of 1,900 seated on the auditorium’s foldout wooden chairs. “As soon as I set foot on campus, my brain immediately did this thing and clocked all the exits and places I can hide.”

A Historic Venue

Hollywood High School boasts a rich history, having been attended by notable figures like Carol Burnett, Sarah Jessica Parker, Judy Garland, and Cher. Mitski isn’t the first musician to grace its stage; Elvis Costello performed there in 1978, releasing a live album of the performance in 2010, and Morrissey played a show in 2013.

The Appeal of an Unconventional Space

Mitski’s team sought intimate and unconventional venues for this tour. Following shows at The Shed in New York, manager Dalton Sim suggested Hollywood High, recalling previous performances by Costello and Morrissey. According to Mitski’s team member, Zheng, Hollywood High quickly became the only school considered, with alternatives like Hollywood Forever Cemetery also explored.

Logistics and Collaboration

The auditorium’s capacity of around two thousand, expansive ceiling, and ample stage space made it well-suited for a concert. The school cafeteria was transformed into “Tansy House,” a pop-up space for merchandise and photos. Zheng emphasized the difficulty of finding unique venues in Los Angeles and praised the auditorium as a “fantastic little theater” offering a great listening experience.

Working with the School

Concert promoter Goldenvoice coordinated with Hollywood High School principal Samual Dovlatian. The shows were made possible by the timing coinciding with spring break, ensuring the school premises were vacant. Zheng noted Mitski’s fanbase’s reputation for being “sweet and understanding” as a factor in securing approval.

Giving Back to the Community

Mitski is donating $2 from every ticket sale to In the Band, an L.A.-based after-school music program. The school also benefited directly from the rental fee, which Principal Dovlatian designated to cover the cost of graduation caps and gowns.

Boosting Student Attendance

Hollywood High School held an attendance contest, offering tickets to students with perfect attendance for two weeks. The initiative resulted in a significant increase in attendance, rising from 89 percent to 96 percent among the 168 participating students, with 46 students ultimately receiving tickets.

The Concert Experience

Mitski launched her residency Monday, performing tracks like “In a Lake,” “I Bet on Losing Dogs,” “Where’s My Phone” and “Heaven.” The distinct atmosphere of the school auditorium enhanced the DIY aesthetic of the show. During her performance of “Two Slow Dancers,” she acknowledged the setting, prompting cheers from the audience with the lyric, “does it smell like a school gymnasium in here?”