Things to Do in SoHo This Week: Catch the Solo Show Everyone’s Talking About
- Sidney Marie
- May 18
- 3 min read
Grace Aki’s To Free a Mockingbird is a funny, raw, and unforgettable solo show — and it’s gone after May 25.
We’re not here to waste your time — just to give you the best thing to do in SoHo this week: what it is, why it’s worth it, and how to make a night of it.
The What, Where, and When of Grace Aki’s Must-See Show
Full Title: To Free a Mockingbird
Theater: SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St., New York, NY 10013, map
Main Cast: Grace Aki
Running Time: 75 minutes, no intermission
Tickets: See Availability Here
Plot: To Free a Mockingbird is a solo show written and performed by Grace Aki that blends storytelling, stand-up, and family history. Through humor and heartbreak, she unpacks her Southern upbringing, family secrets, and the impact of generational trauma. It’s a fast-moving, deeply personal performance that’s as funny as it is gutting.
Funny Even When It Hurts: What Makes This Solo Show Unforgettable
What makes To Free a Mockingbird stick with you isn’t just the story Grace Aki tells, but how she invites you in. Even before Grace fully steps on stage, she has the audience act as her theme music — a playful, disarming moment that breaks the fourth wall and sets the tone for what’s to come: not a monologue, but a conversation. You don’t feel like you’re watching someone perform at you; it’s more like a friend sat down, steadied herself on a bar stool, and said, “Okay. Here’s what I’ve been through.”
What follows is a story that manages to be incredibly specific and, somehow, still wildly relatable. Grace moves through the weight of grief, difficult family dynamics, identity, trauma, and breakups. And she does it all without ever drowning you in darkness. That’s the magic of her pacing. Just when a moment starts to hit a little too hard, she makes a sharp left into humor, like an emotional quick-cut edit. You’re laughing again before you even realize how close you came to tearing up. Grace effortlessly creates a rhythm that gives the audience just enough emotional space to breathe.
One of the most poignant elements is a recurring metaphor: a brick. We never see it on stage, but the way she threads it through the show is subtle and effective. The brick becomes a symbol of her parents’ relationship, and by the end, you feel the weight of it just as much as she does. That emotional layering is where Grace’s writing really shines: you’re not being told how to feel, you’re experiencing it in real time.
And while her life story is uniquely hers — growing up in Georgia with a family legacy that includes an almost legendary guitarist dad and a post-war military tie-in that may teach you something new about American history — the emotional beats feel familiar. After the show, I told her how brave she was to be that open on stage. She brushed it off with a smile, saying something to the effect of how common the experience really is. And she’s not wrong. Even if the details differ, the emotions hit home. You might not share her story, but at some point during To Free a Mockingbird, you’ll feel like she’s telling yours.
More Things to Do in SoHo: Theater, Bites, and Vibes
Usually, we map out the perfect night around a theater show, but Grace has already done some of the heavy lifting. Just a two-minute walk from Soho Playhouse is Haraz Coffee House, where you can sip on the limited-edition Mockingbird Matcha—a sweet nod to the show. We popped in after our performance, and between the cozy interior and adorable desserts, it’s the perfect post-show treat.
If you’re making it a girls’ night (which we highly recommend), start your evening at Lanterne Candle Lab in Chinatown. You can pour your own custom candle with a scent that brings you comfort. It'll come in handy once you’re home, reflecting, and maybe feeling a little misty-eyed.
Runny mascara or not, we want to see you showing love to this one-of-a-kind show. Snap a pic, tag us @popupgirlsnyc, and with it being AAPI Month, there’s no better time to support an Asian American–led production.
