Boston Firefighter's Theater Acting Career Ignites

Nov. 12-- Dwaine Devonish-Daye's theater career is about to heat up.

The Boston firefighter works out of Ladder 14 in Allston and takes the stage at the Strand Theatre in Dorchester next week in the Fiddlehead Theatre Company's holiday season presentation of "A Little Princess." Devonish-Daye's featured role as a merchant in this story of an African schoolgirl in London will be followed next spring by his turn as the king of Nubia in "Aida."

"I have this very (demanding) job," he said. "I love the structure and the order of the Fire Department, but I have creative juices, and the guys are the most supportive people."

The 27-year-old said fellow firefighter Steve Hunter, who heard Devonish-Daye singing around the station, recommended formal vocal instruction.

"He's a well-known church musician. He pulled me aside and said, 'You have a unique voice,' " he recalled. "I took his advice."

The baritone started auditioning and got his big break in a benefit performance of "Ragtime" music in Marblehead last year.

"I totally bombed it. I was shaking I was so nervous," he recalled. "I went back for a second chance and nailed it. I had a principal part and got to go up and show my chops."

The concert turned out to be great timing (and a little good fortune) when Fiddlehead announced plans to do the stage version of the Terrence McNally show.

"One of the cast members was sick or pulled out, and they liked me," Devonish-Daye said. "I was in a regional theater show with all these Boston Conservatory people."

Said Fiddlehead director Meg Fofonoff: "He is just one of those people who had a natural gift. He's always a team player. He'll help anyone with anything."

While Devonish-Daye's day job is intense, Fofonoff said, the experience of performing live is also a visceral experience.

"It's not something you pre-record," she said. "The kind of good feeling Dwaine must get when he's done something so amazing in theater, you've really achieved something at the end of the day, which isn't so easy to achieve."

For those reasons -- and for the thrill of a character's journey -- the 7-year BFD veteran believes his star is on the rise.

"When I'm actually getting the starring roles, I'll have made it. I see that starring role over the horizon. I'm getting there," he said.

"A Little Princess," at the Strand Theatre, Nov. 21-Dec. 8. Tickets: $25-$45; fiddleheadtheatre.com. Call 617-229-6494.

Copyright 2013 - Boston Herald