Grief, ghosts and the search for meaning take center stage when writer, comedian and storyteller Bailey Swilley brings her solo show “Gimme A Sign!” back to New York City for two performances at SoHo Playhouse on Sept. 17 and 20.
The show, which Swilley performs and developed from her own experiences, explores mourning, empathy, family relationships and the ways people look for validation while trying to make sense of loss.
Rather than approaching grief solely through solemn reflection, Swilley mixes humor with personal storytelling, childhood memories and unexpected moments of the supernatural. The result is a performance that moves between the raw and the absurd as she considers the signs people seek from those who have died.
Swilley uses a slideshow to revisit her childhood and early adulthood, framing the memories as both a love letter to her younger self and a contemporary ghost story. The show examines the different beliefs, rituals and coping mechanisms people use when confronted with death and the uncertainty that follows.
The production has developed an audience beyond New York. Swilley performed “Gimme A Sign!” at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2024 and 2025, where it received four-star reviews. The show has also been selected for the United Solo Festival, Gotham Storytelling Festival, Days of the Dead Festival and the Unicycle Festival, where it received the Audience Choice Award.
Critics have highlighted the show’s ability to balance humor and vulnerability. Nerd Party described the production as an exploration of the experiences shared by a generation of women, while Theatre Village praised its combination of comedy and emotional openness. The Wee Review noted Swilley’s stories about teenage rebellion, menstruation and family alongside its supernatural themes.
Swilley is a Memphis, Tennessee, native and a Moth StorySLAM winner. Her storytelling work has appeared on “RISK!,” “Story Collider” and “Love Hurts,” among other platforms. She has also worked as a screenwriter, with a “Better Things” spec script reaching the semifinalist stage of the Austin Film Festival.
Since 2021, Swilley has hosted the monthly storytelling show “We ❤️ a Theme” at Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn.
“Gimme A Sign!” is directed by Timothy Dakin-Dunn, a multidisciplinary theater artist whose work spans directing, choreography, writing and performance. He is also assistant artistic director at Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill, New York.
The performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 17 and 20 at SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St. Tickets are available through the theater.