Chris is a consultant at TexCap Insurance, helping businesses navigate the complexities of their employee benefit plans.
A native of Marshall, Texas, he is a fifth-generation Texan and a proud alumnus of Baylor University. Chris serves on the investment committee at Good Shepherd Episcopal School and is a volunteer at The Hockaday School.
Chris favorite things are traveling with his daughters, cheering for the Baylor Bears and eating Texas barbecue.
But Connor’s first love is and always has been theatre. A native of Colleyville, Texas, and Wichita, Kansas, Connor grew up performing on stage with Music Theatre of Wichita and Music Theatre for Young People – Wichita. Connor received his B.F.A. in Drama: Acting Emphasis from the University of Oklahoma Peggy Dow Helmrich School of Drama in 2015, where he spent four years music directing the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity in the annual “U-Sing” and “Scandals” musical revue shows. Connor is also a member of the OU Theatre Guild Board of Directors and attributes much of personal and professional growth to his theatre background. Connor truly appreciates the irreplaceable value of youth theatre and theatre education. (And he misses performing a lot!)
Connor spends his free time rooting for OU football and basketball (Boomer!), volunteering as your “”resident bartender”” for NTPA’s Collegiate Pursuits productions, sailing, traveling, playing with his dog Judge, raising Eloise, and listening to Bethany talk about how much she loves her NTPA kiddos.
Shona has loved watching her daughters grow in their confidence on stage, build friendships with cast members, and have the best time with each production.
The Bell family has now performed in over 25 NTPA productions. Shona has volunteered in many capacities for NTPA shows from creating the playbill to being the Show Manager. Shona decided to go further by joining the board in Fall 2023. She has really enjoyed learning even more about the program and being able to further support its longevity and growth.
In her “prior” life, Shona practiced construction law for over a decade in Washington, D.C. which she thoroughly enjoyed. Upon their move to Dallas, she turned her not insubstantial energy and skills to motherhood and becoming a “professional” volunteer. Shona also volunteers at her daughters’ school and with Girl Scouts and NCL.
Chris holds a BA as well as an MFA and has served in many capacities in the theater world – actor, director, producer, electrician, carpenter, administrator, fundraiser, and more. He has worked in those capacities for some of the best theater companies in Chicago and Dallas, including as the Associate General Manager of Dallas Theater Center and the Co-Artistic Director for Second Thought Theatre.
Chris’s other passion has always been technology. He left the producing and administration world of theater behind and has spent over a decade working as an IT Consultant and as the Director of Infrastructure for one of the leading arts and culture software companies in the world.
Chris has an amazing wife Leslie and two children. He and his family enjoy attending as much theater as possible not only in Dallas but wherever their travels take them.
Beyond her role on the board, Laura is a speech therapist and the owner of a private practice in the Dallas area. Her practice serves children and families with a variety of speech and language needs, with a particular focus on supporting individuals who stutter. Laura is passionate about building confident and joyful communicators through her work, a sentiment that resonates with NTPA’s mission for her daughter and other children.
Donna has worked in a variety of leadership roles in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. She lives in Dallas with her husband Ralph and their daughter Nadine.