MonologueBank is thrilled to recommend the writing of Marco Antonio Rodriguez. ASHES OF LIGHT is a well-wrought portrait of a family in crisis. Standout monologues include JULIO CESAR's surprising moment of self-discovery at a funeral and DIVINA's explosive explanation of the demise of her marriage. Each of the family members in the play carries with them the weight of secrets and history which shaped their perceptions of the world, and of each other. The characters are all fully realized and have their own distinctive voices. This is a beautiful example of a family drama that has never been written before.

I was lucky enough to catch a production of this play recently and wow! Rodriguez has an ease capturing the heart of the culture, while managing to tell a universal story of love lost between mother and son, creating in the end a powerhouse work that is as funny as it is heartbreaking.

Heartbreaking as it is beautiful, this story hits you right in the feels as well as tickles all the funny bones. This is a great play for actors to really sink their teeth into. All the characters are fully realized and give audiences much to chew on. It's rare to see dynamic Dominican stories on stage, and Marco does not disappoint in his storytelling.