Why We Created the First All-Dominican Comedy Show

First-generation Dominican American comedian and digital creator Sasha Merci says her career in comedy was shaped by a need for representation, cultural identity, and laughter as a form of survival. After meeting fellow comedian Glorelys Mora in the comedy scene, the two quickly bonded over shared experiences as Dominican performers who felt overlooked in an industry that often centers other voices. That connection led to the creation of Morir Soñando, a comedy platform designed to elevate Dominican and broader Latine voices on stage.

Merci describes comedy as both a personal coping mechanism and a communal language. Growing up with depression and emotional struggles, she says humor helped her avoid isolation and gave her a way to talk about painful subjects without being overwhelmed by them. For her, joking about difficult realities — including family complications and identity — creates connection, relief, and a sense of belonging for audiences who may share similar experiences.

The comedian says her perspective on the industry deepened after seeing performers like Aida Rodriguez, whose work resonated with her own background and experiences. That recognition also highlighted how few Dominican and Spanish-speaking comedians are given prominent space in mainstream American stand-up. Merci and Mora built Morir Soñando to challenge that gap, offering a platform where Dominican stories are not treated as a side note but as the main attraction.

The show, launched in 2019, has grown from an idea rooted in necessity into a cultural event that celebrates Dominican heritage, bilingual humor, and the diversity within Latinidad. Merci argues that Latino identity in the United States is not a monolith and that comedy can reflect the many ways people live between languages, cultures, and communities. She says the goal is not exclusion but visibility: creating a stage where underrepresented talent can be seen, heard, and embraced.

Morir Soñando reached a milestone last year with a performance at United Palace, a venue that marked a major step forward for the project. The show will return to United Palace on July 26, with plans to move to the theater’s main stage in November, expanding its reach to an audience of up to 3,350 people. Despite that momentum, Merci says the production has faced significant financial and logistical challenges, including limited sponsorship opportunities for Latine events. She and Mora have often funded the project themselves, underscoring the larger struggle for support faced by minority artists.

Still, Merci says the audience response and growing visibility of the event have strengthened their resolve. For her, Morir Soñando is more than a comedy show: it is a celebration of Dominican culture, a platform for voices too often ignored, and a reminder that community support is essential for artistic inclusion and growth.