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PhD Student Sidra Bell on creative team for "Old Man and the Sea" at the Wex

August 28, 2025

PhD Student Sidra Bell on creative team for "Old Man and the Sea" at the Wex

Person with long black hair and black dress standing with microphon next to person with long blonde hair sitting

PhD in Dance Studies Student Sidra Bell worked with Slovenian director Karmina Sîlec as principal collaborator/movement advisor in collaboration with Beth Morrison Productions and renowned composer Paola Prestini to create the interdisciplinary opera "Old Man and the Sea" over several weeks at MassMoca and Arizona State University Gammage throughout 2023/2024. It also toured to UNC Chapel Hill through Carolina Performing Arts and will continue with the Ohio premiere at the Wexner Center for the Arts October 10 - 12, 2025. The Wex performances include the original international cast as well as new members from Opera Columbus and Bell on the creative team. 

This is Bell's fourth production with Sîlec having worked with her in Slovenia on "Fauvel" and "Threnos" and in San Francisco on "BABA". 

Photo: Bell at ASU Gammage during the premiere with the director Karmina Sîlec