Dakota Silvey is a playwright, wildland firefighter, and U.S. Air Force veteran. He is a passionate advocate for the environment and a strong believer in the power of storytelling. In the winter, Dakota lives in New York City, where he writes plays, stage manages productions, and volunteers as an EMT. During the summer, he travels the United States and neighboring nations battling wildfires with an elite Interagency Hotshot Crew. Dakota is an avid nature enthusiast and a passionate theatremaker. He is currently pursuing an M.F.A. in Playwriting at the Actor's Studio Drama School.
Plays
Wildfire is a harrowing tale about a squad of firefighters facing the largest fire of their lives. With the looming threat of death, they must confront past traumas, generational prowess, and outdated ideals of masculinity and femininity. Alex, an experienced woman in a male-dominated career field, must endure these hardships while augmenting an elite team of firefighters. The young rookie Wallace attempts to prove himself during his first firefight. Ultimately, their bond will carry them through this unforgettable experience together.
An Oregon bar owner hangs an Idaho flag above his establishment, much to the chagrin of his progressive patrons. In this pseudo-father-daughter comedy, the question is asked- can neighbors continue to separate politics from personal relationships?
Hell lets loose as a misogynist children's show host, a pothead puppeteer, and a new-age showrunner battle for control of a beloved children's program in this dark comedy.
A detective who fancies himself a noir narrator and his young partner, ready to crack her first homicide. This comedic murder mystery is riddled with twists and laughs.
Baron, a Manhattan doorman and aspiring writer, spends one of the most memorable shifts of his life amidst a colorful array of tenants. During his shift, he seeks career advice from an aging writer, proclaims his love for one of the tenants, nearly gets fired by his demanding boss and receives romantic advice from a retired opera singer. The entire play takes place in an art deco lobby with a one-way mirror, acting as the lens for the audience to peer into the action.
Sisyphus and Hades square off in this retelling of the Greek myth. What happens when Sisyphus manages to elude Hades until the modern day? Along his centuries-long journey, Sisyphus meets benevolent doctors, frenzied inventors, wanderlust merchants and power-hungry monarchs, each with a different take on the purpose of life.
Successes
Intermission Play second place in the VetRep 2023 1 act script competition.
Flight Risk First Place in The Gene Frankel Theatre's 15 Minutes of Frame Competition
Wildfire was selected as a semi-finalist for the 2022 Arts in the Armed Forces Bridge Award Competition