Sunday, June 8, 2025

Welcome


Hello. Thank you for stopping by. We're happy you're here

We are Blue Dasher Press. We are a small, indie press based in Sacramento. We publish stage plays, novels, short stories, and collections of poetry exclusively by writer Wren Valentino (who also writes as Jaxon Sevyn), who co-founded the company with us in July of 2017. 

To date, we have published more than seventy of Wren's plays. Five of these scripts have been adapted into films. 

All of our stage plays are available to purchase at affordable rates in our digital store.  

If you're an actor, we encourage you to check out the Monologues section, especially if you're looking for a contemporary audition piece.

Interested in performing one of our plays? Visit the Producing Our Plays section where you will find more information about the simple three-step process for requesting free production rights. 

All of our plays can be produced royalty-free. There is never a cost to produce one of our scripts. We believe theatre is for everyone.

To learn more about our novels and short stories, the Fiction section includes information about them.

Similarly, the Poetry section is devoted to our collections of poetry. 

Don't forget to check out our Giveaways page where you can find information on when the Kindle Unlimited editions of our books and short stories are available free every month. 

Wren Valentino created a series of workshops for writers of all levels of experience, genres, and form. Visit Workshops with Wren for more information.

You can find us on FacebookBluesky and Instagram

Please reach out to us at anytime with questions via our contact form. We will be happy to help you. 

Again, thank you for being here!

Saturday, June 7, 2025

Blue Dasher Productions Announces Short Film Homecomings to Begin Filming This September in Sacramento

Blue Dasher Productions is proud to officially announce Homecomings, a poignant and powerful new short film that will begin production this September on location in Sacramento, California.

Written and directed by Wren Valentino, Homecomings is a moving character study set in a small-town laundromat where two former high school rivals—now in their sixties—unexpectedly cross paths for the first time in over forty years. What begins as an awkward reunion soon unearths buried memories, deep-seated regrets, and the fragile hope for redemption.

The film stars acclaimed actress Hester Wagner as Leslie, a once-revered beauty queen whose glow has long since faded in the eyes of the town—and perhaps herself. 

Opposite her, Desirae Velasquez delivers a layered performance as Cathy, a woman who has fought hard not to let the disappointments of life embitter her entirely. Together, they bring to life a story about time, memory, and the elusive nature of forgiveness.

Wren Valentino not only penned the screenplay but will also direct and serve as executive producer under the Blue Dasher Productions banner. The film is produced in association with Candid Life Entertainment and Hoop Earrings Entertainment, with Adam Michael producing on behalf of Candid Life and Frankie Hernandez representing Hoop Earrings.

Additional producers include Cynthia Lopez-Spencer and Edward C. Ortiz for Blue Dasher Productions, with Mindy Scranton-Morgan serving as Associate Producer. Seth Scranton-Morgan has been named Second Unit Director, contributing additional visual storytelling to enrich the film’s emotional landscape.

Valentino shared his inspiration for the project, stating:

“I’m deeply committed to exploring the lives of ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary emotional circumstances—those pivotal moments that shift the course of a life forever. I’ve always been inspired by the inner worlds of women and the untold stories they carry. With Homecomings, I wanted to give voice to two women shaped by time, silence, and the things left unsaid.”

Homecomings marks another exciting step forward for Blue Dasher Productions in its mission to tell emotionally resonant, character-driven stories. With an evocative script, a powerhouse cast, and a dedicated production team, Homecomings promises to leave a lasting impact on audiences.

Stay tuned for more updates as production begins this fall.


Thursday, June 5, 2025

21 Plays for Pride Month

Pride Month is the perfect time to spotlight stories that reflect the richness and diversity of the LGBTQ+ experience—and at Blue Dasher Press, we’re proud to share a vibrant collection of plays that center gay, lesbian, and bisexual characters. Whether you're seeking a poignant 15-minute piece or a full-length production that celebrates love, identity, and resilience, this curated list offers something meaningful for every stage and every audience. Each script is available as a printable PDF in our digital store, and best of all, every play can be produced royalty-free. Because at Blue Dasher Press, we believe theatre should be bold, inclusive, and accessible to all.

Connect with us on Bluesky Facebook, and Instagram













BABY IN THE BASEMENT
Story: In this gritty and urban drama, two homeless teenagers meet while seeking refuge in the basement of an abandoned building. What begins as a friendship sadly evolves into a mutual suicide pact. 
Highlight: Official selection for the NYC 15-Minute Play Festival.  
Highlight: Adapted into an award-winning short film. 
Length: 15 Minutes
Cast: 1f, 1m; both characters are teenagers
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language; contains content related to sexual assault; contains content related to suicide













BETTER PLACES TO GO
Story: A horrendous storm looms overs a rundown truck stop diner in Grand Island, Nebraska, bringing together ten people who start to reveal damaging secrets as the night goes on. 
Highlight: The Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance awarded the world premiere with two awards: Best Original Script and Best Original Production. 
Length: Full Length (90 minutes)
Cast: 7f, 3m
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language; depiction of violence on stage; suicide














BOXCAR
Story: Unable to attend their high school dance together, Austin and Harley decide to skip Homecoming and seek refuge in an abandoned boxcar. There, they dream of escaping the ultra conservative small town they live in, hoping to discover a place where they can exist and love without fear. 
Highlight: Adapted into the award-winning Dutch film Wagon.
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 2m; both characters are teenagers
Audience: Contains adult subject matter


CRUMBLE
Story: As the end of the world draws near, two men who were once in love reunite after a decade apart to spend the last night together.
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 2m; both characters are in their 40's
Audience: Contains adult subject matter 


DEFENSELESS
Story: After their relationship is discovered by their classmates at school, Alberto and Justin are being separated by their parents and the school’s administration. In the morning, Alberto is being sent to a military school in Utah. Realizing the chance to say good bye is now, they meet in the night.
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 2m; both characters are teenagers
Audience: Contains adult subject matter 

FRACTURED
Story: In 1965, a young college student named Anthony befriends a classmate out of sympathy because she's struggling to fit in at their school. In an attempt to deny his homosexuality, Anthony spends a night with Wendy, causing her to become frighteningly obsessed with him. After Anthony reveals to Wendy that he's transferring to another school in the morning, Wendy reaches her breaking point.
Highlight: Featured in The Best Women's Stage Monologues
Length: 15 Minutes
Cast: 1f, 1m; both characters are in their late teens to early 20's
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language; contains content related to suicide












FROZEN STARS
Story: This Latin-flavored coming-of-age stage drama explores the lives of several young people as they struggle with personal and religious beliefs, peer pressure, family relationships, and the overwhelming power of love and friendship.
Highlight: Featured in The Best Women's Stage Monologues
Highlight: Adapted into a feature film
Length: Full Length (90 Minutes)
Cast: 8f, 8m; most of the characters are teenagers
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language; depiction of violence on stage

GROUP PROJECT
Story: Meeting to work on an assigned group project, three college students explore the boundaries and perceptions of labels related to sex when one of the students shares that he identifies as bisexual. 
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 1f, 2m
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language













HELL WITH THE LID OFF
Story: On the hottest day of the year, five people suffering from different types of addiction each reach their breaking point while attending a healing retreat in the middle of nowhere. 
Length: 15 Minutes
Cast: 3f, 3m
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language


JOHNNY RAMIREZ REALLY WANTS TO KISS ME
Story: When star student Johnny Ramirez is selected to be the math tutor for the always-misunderstood Alex Wilde, the two young men discover love for the first time.
Highlight: Official Selection, DC Queer Theatre Festival (Washington, D.C.)
Highlight: Off-Off Broadway Production, Short Play Lab, Roy Arias Studio Theatre
Highlight: Winner, Slam Boston Award, Boston Center for the Arts, Best Stage Play
Highlight: Official Selection, Stage This, Too! (New York City)
Highlight: Official Selection, Queer Shorts, Stage Q (Madison, Wisconsin)
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 2m; both characters are teenagers
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language

JUST BEFORE THE DROP
Story: Moments after her husband of 24 years leaps to his death from a 12 story building, a woman comes face-to-face with a man who claims to have been her husband's lover of five years. On the rooftop, sorrow, regret, and anger culminate in a second tragedy in this chilling short play. 
Highlight: Official Selection, Short Plays & Contemporary Dance, Firehouse Theatre (Virginia)
Highlight: Featured in 105 Five-Minute Plays for Study and Performance
Highlight: New York Premiere, Short Stories 8: Urban View, Native Aliens Theatre Collective
Highlight: Adapted into an award-winning short film
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 1f, 1m
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language

LAST DANCE
Story: While attending their senior prom, Spencer and Camden seek a quiet moment together, away from the crowd and away from their dates. Sitting on a bench outside of the ballroom, the two young men reveal why the night has been such a miserable experience - because they really just want to dance with each other.  
Highlight: World Premiere, Spectrum: LGBT New Play Festival, Funky Little Theater Company 
Highlight: Featured in The Best 10-Minute Plays
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 2m; both characters are teenagers
Audience: Contains adult subject matter


OST UND WEST
Story: Shortly after the start of the Gulf War, a young American traveler is being questioned at an embassy before he’s allowed to board a plane back to the United States because of a brief relationship he had with a man from East Germany. 
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 2m
Audience: Contains adult subject matter

RELOCATIONS
Story: Inspired by Alix Smith's photograph States of Union #3, this short play is about two women who - as mothers and partners - realize how important geography is in America.
Highlight: World Premiere, Rough Writers Festival, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 2f; both characters are in their mid to late 30's
Audience: Contains adult subject matter
Printable PDF













SLOE GIN FIZZ
Story: On a rainy night, two male co-workers, Marco and Christopher, are drawn together out of loneliness. Marco is married to a Korean woman whom he does not love. Christopher is suffering from a broken heart after another failed relationship. In the course of one night, the two men emotionally confront the expectations of a new relationship, the pressure of conforming to society, the traditional roles expected of men, and the powerful and consuming feelings of love. 
Highlight: Official Selection, Fifth Annual Lavender Footlights Festival (Miami)
Highlight: Featured in The Best Men's Stage Monologues
Highlight: Featured in Audition Arsenal for Men in Their 20s 
Length: Full Length (90 Minutes)
Cast: 2m
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language















SYRUP
Story: To bring an end to their longstanding feud, the daughters of two former First Ladies convince their mothers to appear as special guests in a charity fashion show.
Highlight: Featured in The Best Women's Stage Monologues
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 5f
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language















THERE IS NO 'D' IN REVENGE
Story: Fed up with the cruel antics of a lip gloss-stealing mean girl named Brenda, fifteen-year-old Jenessa is faced with the opportunity to seek revenge by outing her nemesis to their entire school when she discovers Brenda has carefully hidden the truth that she's a lesbian.
Highlight: Featured in 222 More Comedy Monologues 2 Minutes & Under 
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 2f; both characters are in high school
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language










TROPHY
Story: Georgina, a self-admitted trophy wife, tries to murder someone’s husband at a dinner party she’s a guest at. With the police on the way, Georgina turns to Toby, a new trophy husband, to help determine her next move.
Highlight: Featured in The Best Men's Stage Monologues
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 1f, 1m both characters are in their late 20's
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language










THE TRUANTS
Story: When Marc, Sandi, Ethan, Jana, and Chad decide to cut school and spend the day together hanging out in Marc’s basement, many truths are revealed that threaten to change their friendship forever. Set in Sacramento in 1989, this award-winning dramatic play explores the lives of five young people living on the edge. 
Highlight: Winner, Best Stage Script, Script and Storyboard Showcase (Los Angeles)
Highlight: Nominee, Best Stage Play, Woodbury Film Festival (Salt Lake City)
Highlight: Finalist, Storyline, DaVinci International Film Festival (Los Angeles)
Length: Full Length (90 Minutes)
Cast: 2f, 3m; all characters are in high school
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language; contains content related to suicide













TWO OF HEARTS
Story: Deciding to skip gym class together, high school students Donovan and James pass the time by playing a card game but end up revealing their true feelings for each other. Set in 1986, this nostalgic short play and homage to the iconic Stacey Q dance hit explores the complicated feelings connected to discovering your first love.
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 2m; both characters are in high school
Audience: Contains adult subject matter









WE NEVER MADE IT TO PARIS
Story: We Never Made it to Paris is a creative fusion of language, music, movement, dance, photography, and light. The story spans over the course of eighteen years in the lives of two men: Eros, a former model, and Bird, a former actor. Fearing real love doesn't exist, Bird sabotages their young affair, only to realize years later they are soul mates. 
Highlight: Off-Off Broadway Production, The Producer's Club
Length: Full Length (60 Minutes)
Cast: 2m
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Blue Dasher Press Announces the Publication of Home by Wren Valentino — A Poignant, Romantic Sequel to Northanger Abbey

Blue Dasher Press is delighted to announce the exclusive Kindle Unlimited release of Home, a brand-new short story by bestselling author Wren Valentino. A finalist in the international Jane Austen Writing Contest, Home is a moving, romantic imagining of what might come after Austen’s beloved Northanger Abbey.

In this atmospheric sequel, Valentino introduces us to Molly Hutchinson, a young woman descended from Catherine Morland, who embarks on a heartfelt journey from London to Bath and beyond. Drawn by the weight of her great-great-grandmother’s legacy and an unshakable desire for belonging, Molly sets out for the legendary Tilney estate—Northanger Abbey. Along the way, she meets Duke, a charming and enigmatic driver whose presence soon becomes entangled in her search for truth and connection. As the abbey's gothic silhouette appears on the horizon, Molly finds herself pulled into a deeply emotional experience where memory, identity, and romance converge.

Wren Valentino shares the inspiration behind the story:

“When I was a student years ago at Oglethorpe University, I took a class taught by the acclaimed poet Karen Head that focused on the literary canon of Jane Austen. That class was my gateway into Austen’s world—and her brilliance has stayed with me ever since. Northanger Abbey, in particular, spoke to me with its mix of satire, sincerity, and heart. Home is my love letter to Austen, to that class, and to the lasting power of stories that shape who we are.”

Home blends historical imagination with contemporary emotional depth, offering fans of Austen—and readers new to her legacy—a fresh yet faithful continuation of one of literature’s most quietly enchanting stories. Romantic, reflective, and steeped in literary tradition, Home is available now exclusively in a Kindle Unlimited edition.

Readers can begin their journey back to Northanger Abbey by downloading Home on Amazon.

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Workshops with Wren — Kick Off Your Writing Journey!

We are thrilled to introduce Workshops with Wren — a new series of interactive and inspiring writing workshops designed to support writers at every stage of their creative journey.

Whether you're just getting started or ready to take your work to the next level, these sessions are designed to be a safe, encouraging space where your ideas can flourish. With over twenty-one novels, numerous short stories, more than seventy stage plays, and eight produced screenplays under his belt, Wren Valentino is excited to share the tools, insights, and real-world experience that have shaped his creative path — and help you shape yours.

🌟 First Up: A Free Introductory Workshop!

📅 June 21 | 🕙 10 AM Pacific | 📍 Zoom

Join Wren for a 45-minute free session that introduces the basics of storytelling in a welcoming, pressure-free environment. This introductory workshop is perfect for writers who are:

  • Just starting out,

  • Returning to writing after a break,

  • Or simply curious about how Workshops with Wren can support your goals.

In this session, we’ll explore fundamental storytelling concepts and get you inspired to begin — or reignite — your writing journey.

👉 Reserve your spot today — space is limited!


What Are Workshops with Wren?

Each workshop is designed to be more than a lecture — it’s a creative conversation. We’ll focus on practical techniques, develop your unique voice, and work together in a supportive, writer-focused environment. Whether you're working on a novel, a script, a play, or simply want to stretch your writing muscles, there’s something here for you.

Workshops are available in a variety of formats to suit your schedule and learning preferences:

  • One-day sessions (great for focused learning)

  • 3-week and 5-week immersive formats, meeting every two weeks

  • Available virtually or in person

And yes — personalized feedback is a part of every workshop.


Let’s bring your writing to the next level — together.

📍 Save the Date: June 21 at 10 AM Pacific
🎟️ Free to attend | Held via Zoom

We can't wait to see what you create!


Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Our Summer Themed Stage Plays

Summer is the perfect season for storytelling under the sun—or the stage lights—and at Blue Dasher Press, we’re thrilled to share a curated collection of our summer-themed stage plays! Whether you're looking for a quick 15-minute piece or a full-length production to anchor your summer lineup, we've got something for every stage and every audience. Each script is available as a printable PDF in our digital store, and best of all, every play can be produced royalty-free. That’s right—there’s never a cost to produce one of our scripts, because we believe theatre is for everyone.

15-MINUTES OR LESS








BRACELETS AND BOYFRIENDS
Story: Best friends since childhood, Judy and Olivia decide to return to a quaint seaside town that they once visited on family vacations during their early teen years. Reminded of love's lost, choices made, and the fading of their youth, Judy and Olivia reaffirm their friendship; a play about two women who must look back before they can move forward.
Highlight: Winner of the Carrie McCray Memorial Literary Award for Best Stage Play. 
Highlight: Adapted into the award-winning short film Bracelets.
Length: 15 Minutes
Cast: 2f; both characters are in their early 50's
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language











THE CLUTCH
Story: Moments after rejecting a marriage proposal, a woman is tempted by a somewhat obnoxious stranger she meets at a sidewalk café in Greece. 
Highlight: Official Selection, In the Works, One Night Stand Theater 
Highlight: Off-Off Broadway Production, The Producer's Club
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 1f, 1m; both characters are in their early 30's
Audience: Contains adult subject matter













HELL WITH THE LID OFF
Story: On the hottest day of the year, five people suffering from different types of addiction each reach their breaking point while attending a healing retreat in the middle of nowhere. 
Length: 15 Minutes
Cast: 3f, 3m
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language












HOT RATES TO OMAHA
Story: After his estranged father dies as a result of a drug addiction, Cooper is determined to carry out his father’s final wishes by embarking on a road trip to Omaha. Along for the ride is Shelley, who is aware that Cooper has been unfaithful and plans to end their relationship before they get home.
Length: 15 Minutes
Cast: 1f, 1m
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language










I BET SHE HAS A PARTY TO GO TO
Story: After watching a beautiful, free-spirited woman roller skate through a city park, three women respond to the resentment they feel about her assumed carefree life. 
Highlight: Featured in The Best 10-Minute Plays
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 4f
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language










THE SEVENTH OF AUGUST
Story: Erica's relationship of ten years has ended without her knowing how or why. Lloyd's girlfriend has slept with all of his friends and two of his relatives. When Erica loses her parking ticket in the underground garage Lloyd is the new customer service manager of, their shattered lives and bruised hearts collide.
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 1f, 1m; both characters are in their early 30's
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language

SHALLOW END
Story: Moments after she’s almost sexually assaulted by a classmate, high school student Vanessa Martin seeks solitude at the local swimming pool despite the late hour. There, a swim class instructor and fellow high school student named Zane Armstrong encourages Vanessa to face her fear of drowning but not before first sharing a scar and secrets of his own. 
Highlight: Named a Top 15 finalist for the Billy Roche International Short Play Award
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 1f, 1m; both characters are in high school; contains content related to sexual assault
Audience: Contains adult subject matter












SHIMMER
Story: Questioning how happy she is with her life and marriage, suburban housewife Claudia Veramonte shares a flirtatious but meaningful conversation with Tito Benavides, the beautiful young man who cleans her swimming pool.
Highlight: Featured in The Best Women's Stage Monologues
Highlight: Featured in The Best Men's Stage Monologues
Length: 10 Minutes
Cast: 1f, 1m
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language











STAY
Story: On the same day her boyfriend Jessie is released from a work camp, eighteen-year-old Alison Freeman receives a letter from her estranged mother who wants a second chance. Alison must decide whether to accept a marriage proposal from Jessie, continue living with her lonely Aunt Carla, or leave her small hometown to join her mother for a new life in New York. 
Length: 15 Minutes
Cast: 4f, 2M
Audience: Contains adult subject matter and adult language

FULL LENGTH

PENSACOLA
Story: Pensacola explores the lives of four Southern women. Trudy has been a single mother since her husband went to work one day and never came home. Since then, she has tried to find a cure for her loneliness while working as a cocktail waitress at The Tide Pool. Charlotte is married and has two daughters of her own. Recently, Charlotte suspects that her husband has been unfaithful and that their marriage is falling apart. Marie, a recent high school graduate, is having a difficult time deciding on the right career for herself and ponders over going to secretary school, competing for the title of Miss Florida, or becoming the U.S. Ambassador to Cuba. Always armed with the best gossip in town, Trudy’s best friend Berniece decides to end her affair with a younger man when a life-altering tragedy hits home. Pensacola is a powerful and heart-warming celebration of family, love and strength.
Highlight: Nominated for three Elly Awards by the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance
Length: Full Length (90 Minutes)
Cast: 4f, 2m
Audience: Contains adult subject matter; contains content related to violence

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

New Release from Blue Dasher Press: Mind Fields by Wren Valentino

Blue Dasher Press is thrilled to announce the exclusive Kindle Unlimited release of Mind Fields, a gripping and sensual new M/M romance novel by bestselling author Wren Valentino. A paperback edition will be available soon.

Set against the seductive backdrop of wealth and power, Mind Fields follows struggling college student Adam Parsh as he takes a job tutoring for one of the world’s most influential families. What begins as a chance to make ends meet quickly spirals into a dangerous entanglement with Dario Vassalos—a magnetic Greek tycoon and his married employer. As Adam is pulled deeper into a world of luxury, lust, and manipulation, his heart begins to lean toward someone else entirely: his loyal best friend, Victor Maldonado.

Caught between temptation and true connection, Adam must navigate a storm of secrets, lies, and impossible choices. Sometimes love can blow you away—and sometimes it can save you.

In speaking about his creative process, Wren Valentino shared:

Mind Fields explores the emotional minefield of what money, power, and greed can do to people—and what happens when someone who’s never had any of those things still manages to hold onto his goodness. Adam’s story is deeply personal to me. He knows grief, he knows loneliness, and yet he still chooses love over corruption. That’s the kind of hero I believe in.”

This is a must-read for fans of emotional tension, forbidden romance, and characters who refuse to lose themselves in the shadows of others.

Mind Fields is now available exclusively through Kindle Unlimited. Don’t miss your chance to experience this haunting, provocative novel from one of today’s most distinctive voices in LGBTQ+ romance.

Read the Kindle Unlimited edition now. 

Paperback coming soon.