Featured Dancers

Keegan Guest

Clara, Snow, Waltz

Keegan has been dancing for nine years under the direction of Sharon McCormick. She has danced in four previous Nutcrackers with LACBC in roles including Harlequin and Toy Soldier. Her last Nutcracker was as a sophomore in high school, and she feels honored to be able to return as a sophomore in college.

Keegan is currently attending Chapman University in Orange, CA where she is majoring in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Dance and a minor in Psychology. In February, she will be leaving to study abroad in Salzburg, Austria for four months. She feels honored to be dancing in the role of Clara, as it has always been her dream. She will continue dancing, and hopes to return for more Nutcracker seasons.

Max Cibelli

Fritz, Soldier

Max is thrilled to be dancing the role of Fritz with Keegan Guest as his sister and Courtney Cochran as his dance partner. This is his fourth year performing in The Nutcracker under the direction of Sharon McCormick and he continues to appear in his original role as a soldier.

He has studied ballet and jazz at the Lake Arrowhead School of Dance for the past three years and hopes to continue dancing through college. But that is still quite a way off because Max is just 11 years old.

Max also enjoys traveling and exploring the world, breeding snakes, and carving.

Marge Cox

Frau Stahlbaum, Narrator, Rehearsal Director

Marge has performed in the LACBC Nutcracker every year since it began back in 1994. She received her dance training from Sharon McCormick, and has also danced in productions of Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, La Boutique Fantasque, and La Fille Mal Gardee. Her favorite role is that of Clara and Fritz’s mother in The Nutcracker.

Lots of work goes into preparing the dancers for each new season, and Marge is there through the entire process in her role as Rehearsal Director — coordinating, coaching, and encouraging the dancers.

When she is not dancing, she is “Doctor Marge” — greatly loved as a pediatrician. She is also a glowing newlywed, having married Chris Cox this year.

Chris Cox

Herr Stahlbaum

This is Chris’ debut performance as Herr Stahlbaum. During last year’s program, he volunteered his time to the backstage crew.

Chris recently returned to California after living in Arizona and working in commercial project management. He is now in land development and is happily and newly married to Marge Cox, Frau Stahlbaum.

Tom Zepko

Herr Drosselmeyer

Tom became involved with the The Nutcracker as sound technician for the LACBC’s first full production 1994. He joined the cast the following year and has been immersed in many aspects of the production ever since. On stage, he has most often been the Russian party guest, but has also taken a couple of turns as Herr Stahlbaum. This is his first season as Drosselmeyer.

Tom’s diverse skills include software engineering, website construction (including the ballet company site), photography, music editing, and driving a Zamboni ice resurfacer. He is now the facility manager at East West Ice Palace, a new ice skating and fitness center complex in Artesia. He has been involved there since the start of construction.