MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BILL SHEA
Managing Director and Founder
Bill has over 40 years of acting and directing experience. Originally from New York City, his early exposure to Broadway that fueled his love of performing and live entertainment. Bill made his DFW directorial debut with the 2024 Second Chance Players production of Bill W. and Dr. Bob. He also took on double duty by playing Dr. Bob in that show. He has since directed Next to Normal and The Laramie Project, and was executive director for Prodigal Son. Bill has a rich background in community theater in New York. Second Chance Players combines two main passions in Bill's life: theater and recovery.
WINTA BERHANE
Fundraising Director
Winta is new to the DFW theatre scene and feels grateful to have been embraced by the team at Second Chance Players from the moment she had the chance to audition for and take part in their 2025 production of The Laramie Project. The creativity, passion, and encouragement of that experience provided her with the motivation to continue to pursue theatre by participating in other productions. She is incredibly appreciative of the opportunity to work with Second Chance Players in their mission to afford artists and audience members alike the same "second chance to be heard, seen, celebrated" that she was.
EFREN PAREDES
Communications Director
Efren has lived in the DFW area for 20-plus years now, spending half of those years in theatrical spaces all around North Texas. He enjoys performing, writing, and composing, skills he employs within Second Chance Players' productions in multiple ways. He learned about the group's mission during his first production with them, Next to Normal. Efren found solace in the fact that he was able to not only help this small theater company, but also learn how to create space for theater on a managerial basis.
JOSH BLOYD
Fundraising Director
Josh discovered his passion for performing in plays and musicals while growing up in Grand Prairie, Texas. He excelled in competitive speech and drama, earning multiple awards on the UIL and Texas Forensic Association circuit. After college, Josh moved out of Texas and launched a professional career with the Nielsen TV Ratings and Amazon. After two decades, Josh is back in the Lone Star State, where he has renewed his passion for theater and performance as part of the Turtle Creek Chorale. He performed in Second Chance Players' The Laramie Project and actively supports the arts by attending performances at various theater venues throughout the area.
CALEB ROSS
Technical Director
Caleb Ross is a DFW local who grew up in the area's community and youth theater scenes. With over 15 years of on-stage and technical stage experience and at least 40 shows under his belt, he is thrilled to bring his experience to this company's thought-provoking and invigorating stories. Caleb played Gabe in Second Chance Players' 2024 production of Next to Normal. In that, he saw the purpose and potential of this amazing group of people and just couldn’t help but join the team. He was assistant director for The Laramie Project in 2025, director of Prodigal Son, and will play Peter in Bare: A Pop Opera in January 2027. He is pumped for what the future holds and can’t wait to see it.
HUNTER HOWARD
Awesomeness Director
Hunter is a Dallas native who grew up loving music and theater. From a young age, the playbills and merchandise his parents brought home from the musicals at Fair Park captivated his imagination. His love of theater grew larger as he performed in shows from middle school through high school. Hunter is a pastor in the Dallas community and believes deeply in the mission of Second Chance Players: to create a welcoming space where everyone can reconnect with their love for meaningful theater..
LEAH SHAFER GLASER
Marketing and Community Outreach Director
Leah leapt on stage at seven years old and found her first love in musical theater and has more than 20 productions to her name. She played Anne Smith in the 2024 Second Chance Players production of Bill W. and Dr. Bob. Leah also sings with The Women's Chorus of Dallas and brings more than 20 years of journalism, communications, and marketing experience to her work with us. She created the position of Community Outreach Director to support our mission and to bring the joy and healing of self-expression to people around North Texas.
About Second Chance Players
At Second Chance Players, we provide an inclusive, transformative space for individuals in recovery, LGBTQ+ community members, and those impacted by trauma to heal, grow, and inspire through the performing arts. We believe in the transformative power of storytelling and artistic expression to support those on their journey to a happier, healthier life. Our work fosters a sense of community, offers a platform for self-expression, and delivers quality entertainment. This offers everyone a second chance to be heard, seen, and celebrated.
Our first production, Bill W. and Dr. Bob, played to six sold-out audiences in February 2024. It was a perfect way to begin, bringing entertainment and inspiration to countless people in recovery and those who love them.
Since then, through a carefully curated selection of theater and musical theater, we have stayed true to our rallying cry:
Second Chance Players creates an inclusive, transformative theater space where individuals in recovery, LGBTQ+ community members, and those impacted by trauma can heal, grow, and inspire through the power of storytelling and performance – offering everyone a second chance to be heard, seen, and celebrated.
We hope you'll join us on this journey of expression, creativity, and joy.