About Us
Second Act Theater is a community-based performing arts organization dedicated to bringing the joy and therapeutic power of musical theater into senior living communities.
Our Mission
To bring the transformative power of musical theater into senior living communities through intergenerational collaboration, creating joyful performances that honor the talents of older adults and inspire the next generation of artists and citizens.
Our Vision
A world where every senior living community has access to meaningful performing arts programming, and where the stage becomes a place of connection between generations.
Our Story
Second Act Theater was born from a simple observation: senior living communities are filled with people who have rich stories to tell and songs still left to sing—but rarely get the chance. Meanwhile, high school students looking for meaningful community service are often relegated to one-off tasks that lack personal connection or lasting impact.
We saw an opportunity to bridge these two worlds. By bringing musical theater directly into senior living facilities and partnering residents with student volunteers, we create something rare: a program that is therapeutic for residents, educational for students, and deeply meaningful for both.
Second Act Theater is built to serve. Every dollar goes toward bringing the transformative power of live performance to communities that need it most.
Our Values
Dignity First
Every resident is a performer, never a passive audience member unless they choose to be. We design every session to honor the talent, experience, and agency of older adults.
Intergenerational Connection
Meaningful relationships between young people and older adults are at the heart of everything we do. Our students aren't volunteers passing through—they're partners, scene mates, and friends.
Accessibility
Programming is designed for all ability levels, including participants with limited mobility, hearing challenges, or early-stage cognitive decline. Seated performance, large-print materials, and flexible casting ensure no one is left out.
Joy
Musical theater is, at its core, about celebration—and every session should reflect that spirit. We prioritize laughter, connection, and creative expression above perfection.
Community Partnership
We succeed only when facilities, families, schools, and volunteers are all invested. Second Act Theater is built on collaboration, not isolation.
Our Team
Second Act Theater was founded by three people who believe the stage belongs to every generation. Meet the team behind the mission.
Jana Leard
Co-Founder
Jana Leard brings more than 25 years in the arts and theater to Second Act Theater. Over a decade at Redding's historic Cascade Theatre she served as General Manager, Producer and Artistic Director, Executive Producer, and Education Manager—directing productions, building education programs, and coordinating the volunteers who make community theater thrive. Today she works with a range of local community theaters, including San Diego Musical Theatre, Theatre for Young Professionals, and the Cajon Valley School District, designing props and costumes and leading volunteer outreach. A lifelong champion of community arts and arts education, Jana shapes Second Act Theater's artistic vision and its mission to bring performers of every generation to the stage.
Jacob Mears
Co-Founder
Jacob Mears is a recent high-school graduate and now a Theater and Engineering student at UC San Diego. He brings more than a decade of performance and arts leadership experience, having appeared in almost 30 productions with both youth and professional companies, alongside leadership roles in FIRST and service as Youth Board President of a theater nonprofit. At Second Act Theater, Jacob helps shape the company's artistic direction with a focus on meaningful, intergenerational work that reflects his passion for theater.
Alan Leard
Co-Founder
Alan Leard is a San Diego–based entrepreneur, technical leader, and business advisor. As the founder of Evolve Advising, he helps founders and executives align business strategy with technology execution—work grounded in a career spent building organizations from the ground up, including co-founding and scaling Limelight Health from an idea to a successful acquisition and leading teams as a CTO and Chief Innovation Officer. An Eagle Scout and longtime sustainability advocate, Alan brings that experience creating durable, mission-driven organizations to Second Act Theater, helping build a foundation for programming that can grow and last.
Second Act Theater is also building a diverse board of directors with expertise across performing arts, senior care and gerontology, organizational leadership, education, and fundraising. Interested in joining our board? Get in touch.
Our Commitment
Second Act Theater is dedicated to making meaningful arts programming accessible to senior living communities.