Seven Stage Plays That Explore the Complexities of Dating

At Blue Dasher Press, we believe in the power of storytelling to illuminate the human experience. Through our collection of stage plays by award-winning playwright Wren Valentino, we invite artists, directors, and theatre companies to explore the theme of dating in all its complexity—its joys, heartbreaks, and unexpected connections. Best of all, our entire catalogue is available as printable PDFs, with no royalties required. This ensures that theatre-makers of all sizes and budgets have the opportunity to bring these compelling narratives to life.

Here are seven stage plays that delve into the triumphs and tribulations of modern romance:

1. Awake
After a night of drinking at a local bar, Justin brings Misty back to his apartment, offering her a place to sleep on his couch. When morning comes, their casual encounter reveals a deeper need for connection. 

2. Before Harmony Sleeps with Jeff
Gilbert is infatuated with Harmony, a young woman he meets in a fast food restaurant. Determined to win her over before she sleeps with her unfaithful boyfriend, Jeff, Gilbert faces the challenge of proving he is the better choice. This one-act play features roles for two men and one woman and contains adult language and subject matter. It has been featured in The Best Men's Stage Monologues.

3. Don't Say Bad Things About Me
Keith and Carla meet at a bar at the request of their best friends, who have recently broken up. Each has been led to dislike the other—despite never having met before. What starts as a conversation about their friends’ failed relationship turns into a humorous and unexpected connection. This short comedic play features roles for one woman and one man and has been featured in The Best Men's Stage Monologues and The Best Women's Stage Monologues.

4. Let's Not Confuse the Situation
Janessa Martin struggles with her decision to give her new boyfriend, Colby Varner, a key to her apartment. As their past relationship wounds resurface, Janessa and Colby must confront their trust issues and fears about commitment.

5. The Seventh of August
Erica’s decade-long relationship has ended without warning. 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 where Lloyd works as a customer service manager, their broken hearts and fractured lives collide in unexpected ways.

6. Sloe Gin Fizz
On a rainy night, two male co-workers, Marco and Christopher, find solace in each other’s company. Marco is trapped in a loveless marriage, while Christopher is reeling from yet another failed relationship. Over the course of one night, they navigate the complexities of love, societal expectations, and emotional vulnerability.

7. Trixie's Last Date with the Boogey Man
Southern belle Trixie Howard is determined to survive a date from hell—literally—in a desperate attempt to avoid being single any longer. This darkly comedic play takes an imaginative and absurd approach to the trials of modern dating.

Each of these plays presents a unique perspective on romance, heartbreak, and human connection, offering rich material for performers and audiences alike. By making these works available without financial barriers, we hope to empower theatre-makers to share meaningful stories with their communities. Whether you are an independent artist, a community theatre, or an educational institution, these plays are ready to be brought to life on your stage.

Explore our full catalogue and download these plays today at our digital store. Let’s create theatre that resonates, inspires, and brings people together.

Why We Don’t Charge Royalties – A Message from Blue Dasher Press

From a recent production of
The Bray of The Belles

At Blue Dasher Press, we believe that theatre should be accessible to everyone. It’s as simple as that. The joy, the impact, and the stories that theatre brings to life shouldn’t be gated by high production costs or steep licensing fees. That’s why we’ve made the conscious decision to not charge royalties for the works we publish. We want artists, directors, and theatre companies, no matter their size or budget, to have the opportunity to produce and share meaningful stories with their communities.

Our co-founder, Wren Valentino, has written more than seventy stage plays, which have been performed in twelve countries and in three languages. Wren’s vision is clear—he wants theatre to be a tool for expression, a means of connecting people across cultures and backgrounds, and a space where everyone can find themselves in the characters and stories presented on stage. It’s a mission that we wholeheartedly embrace at Blue Dasher Press.

To further that commitment, we’ve made our entire catalogue of stage plays available in printable PDFs at a pay-what-you-want rate. We trust that those who find value in these works will contribute what they can, whether that’s a few dollars, a lot more, or simply nothing at all. The key is accessibility, and we believe that if we make the work available in a way that’s open and flexible, we can help ensure that anyone who wants to create can do so without financial barriers standing in their way.

From a recent production of
Just Before the Drop

Theatre is for everyone. Whether you’re a student putting on your first production, a professional company looking for a fresh voice, or a community theatre group putting on a show for the joy of it, we want our plays to be available to you. By removing the financial hurdles often associated with licensing and royalty payments, we hope to empower artists to take these scripts and bring them to life in whatever way speaks to their audience.

We know that when theatre is made accessible, it has the potential to do incredible things. It can provoke thought, stir emotions, and even change lives. And at Blue Dasher Press, we’re proud to contribute to that mission, one play at a time.

From the Australia premiere of
Somebody's Baby

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We can’t wait to see where these plays will go next, and we hope you’ll join us in making theatre a little bit more accessible, one production at a time.

— The Team at Blue Dasher Press