CREATIVE TEAM

Sabrina Gail Lobner
Director & Choreographer, Nutcracker 2025

Sabrina received her training from the Northwest Florida Ballet. Upon graduating high school, she accepted an invitation to join Martha Graham Dance Company’s second company, Graham 2. Lobner has since performed in Dior’s “Carousel of Dreams”, Die Schweigsame Frau with Bard SummerScape, La Traviata with Seattle Opera and Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Carousel with The Wick Theatre, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with The Wick Theatre. Her television work comprises HBO’s The Plot Against America and Amazon Prime’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Lobner choreographed her first evening-length work, If I Reach You, while attending Sarah Lawrence College. She was selected to present a new full-length work, Little Marble Kisses, at The Tank NYC. Additional choreographic credits include commissions for Westchester Ballet Company and Northwest Florida Ballet, contributing choreography for The Mechanicals Theater Co. in NYC, and premiering Drink Me in Developments: Original Works by New York Choreographers, a festival she produced. She recently performed in Boston Lyric Opera’s premiere production of Carousel, directed by Anne Bogart and choreographed by Shura Baryshnikov.

Joshua McWhortor
Associate Choreographer, Nutcracker 2025

Josh is originally from Phoenix, Arizona, and moved to New York City, where he received training from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Broadway Dance Center, and Steps on Broadway. He has since had a career spanning over 12 years as a performing artist across the country from National Tours to regional theatre. He has had the pleasure of performing work by renowned choreographers such as Randy Skinner and Mia Michaels. In NYC, Josh has performed on countless occasions including play festivals, readings, concerts, dance films, and workshops. His performance credits include Finding Neverland (National Tour), 42nd Street, White Christmas (The Gateway), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Anything Goes, No, No, Nannette (The Wick Theatre), Crazy for You (Tent Theatre), Spamalot (Arizona Broadway), A Chorus Line, Beauty and the Beast (Riverside Center),  A Christmas Story (Woodstock Playhouse), and Breaking Up is Hard to Do (Pines Dinner Theatre).

As an educator, Josh is on faculty at Logrea Dance Academy, Broadway Dancer, Steps on Broadway. Josh is also a certified 500-hour yoga instructor.

Chloe Singer
Ballet Master, Nutcracker 2025

Chloe Singer began her dance career with Valentina Kozlova (New York City Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet) in Manhattan, New York. She attended George Mason University where she earned a BFA in Dance Performance & Education. Since graduating, Chloe has performed on & off Broadway in works of various esteemed New York-based choreographers such as David Neumann, Chase Brock, James Kinney, & Sabrina Lobner. Her theater credits include La Traviata (Seattle Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City) Die Schweigsame Frau (The Fischer Center), & Le Jazz Hot (Broadway Backwards). When she’s not performing or teaching dance, Chloe works as a behavior therapist for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is expected to complete her masters in Applied Behavior Analysis by Spring 2026. Chloe is thrilled to be a part of Westchester Ballet Company as Ballet Master for this production of The Nutcracker.

Cooper Everson
Rehearsal Director, Nutcracker 2025

Cooper Everson is a New York City based freelance artist who combines his years of classical training and professional work with his adept contemporary ability. Beginning his training in his home of Northeast Connecticut, Everson studied tap, jazz, contemporary, ballet, hip hop, and partnering and earned scholarships and awards through organizations such as NYCDA, NUVO, JUMP, and Dancers Inc. 

Everson shifted his focus to classical ballet after joining Orlando Ballet’s trainee program in the fall of 2015. He went on to study under the directorship of Mariaelena Ruiz and Heather Iller of the Cary Ballet Conservatory. Everson performed with the Cary Ballet Company as a principal artist in The Nutcracker and many original works. Upon completing his training at Cary Ballet Conservatory, Everson moved to Columbus, OH to join BalletMet as a member of their second company, BalletMet II. Everson performed in numerous works by the company’s then artistic director Edwaard Liang, and guest choreographers such as Alexander Ekman and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. 

Everson returned to Cary Ballet to join their staff as a contemporary coach, choreographer, and conditioning teacher. He had the absolute pleasure of coaching the students of the PTP program and Cary Ballet Academy, and created numerous works for their seasons competing at YAGP and ADC/IBC.

In the winter of 2022 Everson transitioned to living in New York City where he now performs, works in dance education, is a Certified Personal Trainer in affiliation with The American Council on Exercise, and is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique. Everson has been enjoying jumping from stage to stage performing with companies and creators such as The International American Ballet, The Lexington Ballet, American Liberty Ballet, Conflux Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre of Jacksonville, Venus Williams, Wilmington Conservatory of Fine Arts, and many more.

Max O’Connell
Rehearsal Director, Nutcracker 2025

Max is originally from Cortland, New York , and is a graduate of UNC School of the Arts. Max spent two years as a company member with Graham 2 after a season with the First National Tour of “Fiddler on the Roof,” directed by Bartlett Scher and choreographed by Hofesh Schecter. He now lives full time in New York City as a performer, teacher, and musician.

Gwen Appenfeller
Stage Manager, Nutcracker 2025

Gwen Appenfeller (they/them) is a free-lance technical theater artist who likes to think of themselves as the Swiss Army knife of technical theater. Their work as a Stagehand/Carpenter has been seen at the Juilliard School, as well as during events at Battery Park City where they also help with audio. Gwen’s work as a Lighting Designer/Board Operator is often seen at The Tank, spanning five shows varying from dance to full length plays. As a Stage Manager Gwen has worked performances at The Tank, The Martha Graham Studios, and Chappaqua Performing Arts Center. This is the second show Gwen has Stage Managed for Westchester Ballet Company.