Artistic Team

It takes a village to bring The Nutcracker to life and GCB is excited to announce this year’s seasonal staff…

2025 Artistic Team
Artistic Director – Marie Barnett
Assistant Artistic Director – Michele Antonioli
Choreographers – Michele Antonioli, Marie Barnett, Ashley Hagler DeGroot, Jen Kerber, Haley Budge Nord, Colleen Rosbarsky
Costumes – Melissa Moss-Larson
Lighting / Sound / Communications – Aaron Torgerson
Technical Director – Brian Gregoire
Backstage Manager – Virginia Rutherford
Assistant Backstage Manager – Rachel Danielson

Interested in choreographing for Garden City Ballet?
GCB seeks to be inclusive and build community by hiring choreographers who represent all of the local dance studios. We also strive to produce a cohesive show — so it is a balancing act to decide how many choreographers to hire each season. If interested, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact info@gardencityballet.org (by January 1) if you’d like to be considered for the upcoming season.

Music:  San Francisco Orchestra with Martin West

GCB has been extremely fortunate to have many talented choreographers over the years, including:

Heather Adams
Michele Antonioli**
Damon Banks
Marie Barnett**
Nicole Bradley Browning
Jordan Dehline Burt**
Kelley Durbin-Williams
Pam Copley**
Lisa Deer
Joy French
Meagen Hensley
Anna C. Keller
Jennifer Kerber
Tara McFarland
Faith Morrison
Jes Mullette
Matthew Murphy
Martha Jane Newby
Haley Budge Nord
Colleen Rosbarsky**
Steve Rosbarsky
Riley Sanders
Lindsey Schwickert
Lori Stevens
Paige Thomas

(**These choreographers have also served in the role of Artistic or Co-Artistic Director.)

Nutcracker Program Credits:
(Does anyone have a program from prior years? If so, please contact us!)

December 13-15, 2024
Artistic Director – Marie Barnett
Assistant Artistic Director – Michele Antonioli
Choreographers – Michele Antonioli, Marie Barnett, Jen Kerber, Faith Morrison, Haley Budge Nord, Colleen Rosbarsky
Pas de Deux Coach – Mark Nelson
Costume Design – Amy Brown, Marie Hopper, Norma Jerome, Melissa Moss-Larson, Michele Nokleby, Mary Shaffer
Lighting / Sound / Communications – Aaron Torgerson
Technical Director – Brian Gregoire
Backstage Manager – Virginia Rutherford
Assistant Backstage Manager – Rachel Danielson
Scenic Design – Alessia Carpoca
Scenic Artists – Kinsey Church, Brenna Holgate, Megan Johnson, Jessica Lang, Hannah McLean, Eleanor O’Brien, Laila Sission
Production Crew – Montana Pro Audio, UM School of Theatre and Dance
Photographers – William Munoz, Neil Chaput de Saintonge, Jason Tupeck
Videographers – MCAT, William Munoz
Graphic Design – Caroline Kurz
Textile Artist – Jennifer Jones
December 15-17, 2023
Artistic Director – Marie Barnett
Assistant Artistic Director – Michele Antonioli
Administrative Director / Graphic Design – Caroline Kurz
Choreographers – Michele Antonioli, Marie Barnett, Jennifer Kerber, Faith Morrison, Haley Budge Nord, Colleen Rosbarsky
Costume Designers – Amy Brown, Marie Hopper, Michele Nokleby
Costume Mistress – Norma Jerome
Lighting / Sound / Communications – Aaron Torgerson
Technical Director – Brian Gregoire
Stage Manager – Virginia Rutherford
Assistant Stage Manager – Barbra West
Set Designer – Alessia Carpoca
Production Crew – Montana Pro Audio
Photographers – Neil Chaput de Saintonge, Jason Tupeck
Videographers – MCAT, William Munoz
Industrial Seamstress – Mary Shaffer
Textile Artist – Jennifer Jones
GCB Intern – Meriwether Schroeer-Smith
December 16-18, 2022
Artistic Director – Marie Barnett
Assistant Artistic Director – Michele Antonioli
Administrative Director / Graphic Design – Caroline Kurz
Choreographers – Michele Antonioli, Marie Barnett, Haley Budge Nord
Costume Designers – Amy Brown, Marie Hopper, Michele Nokleby
Costume Mistress – Norma Jerome
Lighting / Sound / Communications – Aaron Torgerson
Technical Director – Brian Gregoire
Stage Manager – Virginia Rutherford
Assistant Stage Manager – Rachel Danielson
Set Designer – Alessia Carpoca
Production Crew – Montana Pro Audio
Photographers – Neil Chaput de Saintonge, Jason Tupeck
Videographers – William Munoz, MCAT
Industrial Seamstress – Mary Shaffer
Textile Artist – Jennifer Jones
Production Assistant (UM Intern) – Caroline Tuss
December 17-19, 2021
Artistic Director – Michele Antonioli
Assistant Artistic Director – Marie Barnett
Administrative Director – Caroline Kurz
Choreographers – Michele Antonioli, Marie Barnett, Haley Budge Nord
Costume Designers – Amy Brown, Marie Hopper, Michele Nokleby
Costume Mistress – Norma Jerome
Lighting Designer / Technical Director – Aaron Torgerson
Stage Manager – Virginia Rutherford
Assistant Stage Manager – Rachel Danielson
Set Designer – Alessia Carpoca
Production Crew – Montana Pro Audio
Photographer – Neil Chaput de Saintonge
Videographer – William Munoz
Industrial Seamstress – Mary Shaffer
Textile Artist – Jennifer Jones
December 12-13, 2020 / No Live Audience
Artistic Director – Michele Antonioli
Assistant Artistic Director – Marie Barnett
Administrative Director / Graphic Design – Caroline Kurz
Choreographers – Michele Antonioli, Marie Barnett, Colleen Rosbarsky
Costume Designer – Amy Brown
Costume Mistress – Norma Jerome
Lighting Designer / Technical Director – Aaron (aka Torg) Torgerson
Set Designer – Alessia Carpoca
Production Crew – Montana Pro Audio
Photographer – Neil Chaput de Saintonge
Videographer – William Munoz
December 13-15, 2019
Artistic Director – Michele Antonioli
Assistant Artistic Director – Marie Barnett
Administrative Director / Graphic Design – Caroline Kurz
Choreographers – Michele Antonioli, Marie Barnett, Jes Mullette, Haley Budge Nord, Colleen Rosbarsky
Costume Designers – Amy Brown, Marie Hopper, Michele Nokleby
Costume Mistress – Norma Jerome
Lighting Designer / Technical Director – Aaron Torgerson
Stage Manager – Virginia Rutherford
Assistant Stage Manager – Rachel Danielson
Set Designer – Alessia Carpoca
Production Crew – Montana Pro Audio
Photographer – Neil Chaput de Saintonge
Videographer – William Munoz
Industrial Seamstress – Mary Shaffer
Textile Artist – Jennifer Jones
December 14-16, 2018
Artistic Director – Jordan Dehline Burt
Administrative Director / Graphic Design – Caroline Kurz
Choreographers – Nicole Bradley Browning, Haley Ann Budge, Jordan Dehline Burt, Joy French, Meagen Hensley, Anna C. Keller, Tara McFarland, Colleen Rosbarsky, Lindsey Schwickert, Lori Stevens
Costume Designers – Amy Brown, Amber Cantalope, Marie Hopper, Michele Nokleby
Costume Mistress – Norma Jerome
Lighting Designer / Technical Director – Aaron Torgerson
Production Crew – Montana Pro Audio
Set Designer – Alessia Carpoca
Stage Manager – Virginia Rutherford
Assistant Stage Manager – Rachel Danielson
Photographer – Neil Chaput de Saintonge
Videographer – William Munoz
December 15-17, 2017
Artistic Director – Michele Antonioli
Assistant to the Artistic Director – Jes Mullette
Administrative Director / Graphic Design – Caroline Kurz
Choreographers – Michele Antonioli, Marie Barnett, Nicole Bradley Browning, Jordan Dehline Burt, Joy French, Anna C. Keller, Jes Mullette, Colleen Rosbarsky, Lindsey Schwickert, Lori Stevens
Costume Designers – Amy Brown, Amber Cantalope, Marie Hopper, Michele Nokleby
Costume Mistress – Marie Hopper
Lighting Designer / Technical Director – Aaron Torgerson
Production Crew – Montana Pro Audio
Set Designer – Alessia Carpoca
Stage Manager – Virginia Rutherford
Assistant Stage Manager – Rachel Danielson
Party Scene Rehearsal Assistant – Lori Stevens
Photographer – Neil Chaput de Saintonge
Videographer – William Munoz
December 16-18, 2016
Artistic Director – Michele Antonioli
Assistant to the Artistic Director – Jes Mullette
Administrative Director / Graphic Design – Caroline Kurz
Choreographers – Heather Adams, Michele Antonioli, Nicole Bradley Browning, Jordan Dehline Burt, Pam Copley, Lisa Deer, Jes Mullette, Colleen Rosbarsky, Lindsey Schwickert, Lori Stevens, Paige Thomas
Costume Designer – Amy Brown
Costume Mistress – Marie Hopper
Lighting Designer / Technical Director – Aaron Torgerson
Production Crew – Montana Pro Audio
Set Designer – Alessia Carpoca
Stage Manager – Virginia Rutherford
Assistant Stage Manager – Rachel Danielson
Party Scene Rehearsal Assistant – Lori Stevens
Photographer – Neil Chaput de Saintonge
DVD Producer – William Munoz
December 18-20, 2015
Artistic Director – Michele Antonioli
Administrative Director / Graphic Design – Caroline Kurz
Choreographers – Heather Adams, Michele Antonioli, Marie Barnett, Jordan Dehline Burt, Lisa Deer, Colleen Rosbarsky, Lindsey Schwickert
Costume Designers – Amy Brown, Marie Hopper
Costume Mistress – Marie Hopper
Lighting Designer – Aaron Torgerson
Production Crew – Montana Pro Audio
Set Designer – Alessia Carpoca
Stage Manager – Virginia Rutherford
Assistant Stage Manager – Rachel Danielson
Party Scene Rehearsal Assistant – Lori Stevens
Photographer – Neil Chaput de Saintonge
DVD Producer – Jason Gutzmer
December 12-14, 2014
Artistic Director – Michele Antonioli
Administrative Director / Graphic Design – Caroline Kurz
Choreographers – Heather Adams, Michele Antonioli, Marie Barnett, Jordan Dehline, Colleen Rosbarsky, Lindsey Schwickert
Costume Designers – Amy Brown, Michele Nokleby
Costume Mistress – Marie Hopper
Lighting Designer – Aaron Torgerson
Production Crew – Montana Pro Audio
Set Designer – Alessia Carpoca
Stage Manager – Virginia Rutherford
Photographer – Neil Chaput de Saintonge
DVD Producer – Jason Gutzmer
December 13-15, 2013
Artistic Director – Michael Murphy
Producer – Linda Murphy
Choreographers – Heather Adams, Michele Antonioli, Marie Barnett, Riley Sanders
Administrative Director – Caroline Kurz
Set Design – Alessia Carpoca
Lighting Design – Aaron Torgerson
Costume Design – Amy Brown
Costume Mistress – Marie Hopper
Production Crew – Stageworx, Inc.
Stage Manager – Virginia Rutherford
December 14-16, 2012
Director – Mike Verdon
Director / Choreographer – Colleen Rosbarsky
Choreographers – Heather Adams, Michele Antonioli, Jordan Dehline, Kelley Durbin, Matthew Murphy, Martha Jane Newby
Costume Design – Amy Brown
Lighting Design – Jason Blanchard
Artistic Consultant – Michael Murphy
Producer – Linda Murphy
Administrative Director – Caroline Kurz
Costume Mistress – Marie Hopper
Production Crew – Stageworx, Inc.
Stage Manager – Virginia Rutherford
Production Photography – Matthew Murphy
December 16-18, 2011
Director – Mike Verdon
Assistant Director / Choreographer – Colleen Rosbarsky
Choreographers – Michele Antonioli, Jordan Dehline
Stage Manager – Virginia Rutherford
Lighting Design – Jason Blanchard
Costume Mistress – Kelly Wilson
Guest Choreographers – Matthew Murphy, Kelley Durbin, Martha Jane Newby, Steve Rosbarsky
Production Crew – Stageworx, Inc.
Graphic Design – Shauna Murphy
Tutu Reconstruction – Connie House
December 17-19, 2010
Producing Director – Michael Murphy
Associate Director / Choreographer – Colleen Rosbarsky
Choreographers – Michele Antonioli, Lisa Deer
Scenic Design – Alessia Carpoca
Lighting Design – Jason Blanchard
Costume Mistress – Amber Cantalope
December 18-20, 2009
Producing Director – Michael Murphy
Choreographers – Pam Copley, Colleen Rosbarsky
Rehearsal Director – Michele Antonioli
Scenic Design – Alessia Carpoca
Lighting Design – Jason Blanchard
Costume Mistress – Michelle Nokleby
Properties / Carpentry – John Knudsen
December 12-14, 2008
Artistic Director – Pam Copley
Producing Director – Michael Murphy
Rehearsal Director – Colleen Rosbarsky
Technical Director / Lighting Designer – Jason Blanchard
Scenic Design – Alessia Carpoca
Carpenter – John Knudsen
December 14-16, 2007
Artistic Director – Pam Copley
Rehearsal Director – Colleen Rosbarsky
Technical Director / Lighting Designer – Jason Blanchard
Scenic Design – Alessia Carpoca
Costume Mistress – Michelle Nokleby
December 15-17, 2006
Artistic Director – Pam Copley
Technical Director – Pat Nelson
Stage Manager – Virginia Rutherford
Costume Design Mistress – Amy Brown
December 16-18, 2005
Artistic Director – Pam Copley
Technical Director – Pat Nelson
Stage Manager – Virginia Rutherford
Costume Design Mistress – Amy Brown