Featured Dancers

Lauren Ochs

Clara, Snow, Waltz

Lauren has been dancing under the direction of Sharon McCormick for 13 years. This is her 11th year in LACBC’s production of The Nutcracker. She has danced numerous roles, including Angel, Young Guest, Lilac, Candy Cane, Mouse, Butterfly, Candy Cane Princess, Baker, Intermediate Snow, Harlequin, Snow, and Waltz.

Lauren has also auditioned for and been accepted to summer intensive programs at the Joffrey School New York, The Pennsylvania School (The Rock), and the Jillana School. This past summer Lauren traveled to New Mexico for a four week summer intensive dance program.

Lauren is 16 years old and is a junior in high school. She is honored to be dancing the role of Clara this year, as it has always been her dream. Lauren hopes to continue dancing through college, and possibly join a professional dance company. In addition to dance, Lauren also enjoys playing the fife in the Mountain Fifes and Drums Corps, spending time with her family and friends, and riding her horse Lily.

Max Cibelli

The Nutcracker (Battle Scene), Butler

Max is returning for his seventh season with LACBC in The Nutcracker. He has performed the roles of Toy Soldier and Mouse, and has graduated from 3 years of dancing the role of Fritz to his new role as the Nutcracker in the battle against the Mouse King. You will also see him (without the mask) as the Stahlbaum’s butler.

Max has studied ballet at the Lake Arrowhead School of Dance for the past six years and hopes to continue dancing through college. Max is fourteen years old. He is taking ninth grade classes at the Grove School in Redlands where, in addition to his academics, he cares for farm animals and is working to restore the historic Barton School House.

Max’s other interests include traveling and bio-medical engineering. He wishes to thank his family and his teachers for their continued support and encouragement.

Andrew Newman

Fritz, Mouse Commander

Andrew has been performing in The Nutcracker for four years. In the past he has had the roles of Fritz's Friend, Toy Soldier, and Mouse. This year he performs as Fritz and as the Mouse Commander. He says that dancing as Fritz is “fun, but hard work”.

Andrew is a 5th grader at Lake Gregory Elementary. He is a skilled baseball player. He has two sisters who are also in The Nutcracker cast.

Marge Cox

Frau Stahlbaum, Narrator

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.

Apart from dancing, she is “Doctor Marge” — greatly loved as a pediatrician, now enjoying her retirement.

Chris Cox

Herr Stahlbaum

This is Chris’ fourth season as Herr Stahlbaum.

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

Tom Zepko

Herr Drosselmeyer

Tom became involved with 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 fourth 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, an ice skating and fitness center complex in Artesia. He’s comfortable tackling a wide variety of construction and maintenance projects, but he often wishes his toolbox contained just a little bit of Drosselmeyer’s magic dust.